How to ROCK Your Work Mindset

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright (1856-1950)

You may have gone back to an office, still be remote, or be working a hybrid situation in your work world. All can work, and you can get through with each, or any circumstance, and yet wouldn't it be best to ROCK your professional world?

Here are 4 tips for being the one who ROCKs work. To ROCK, you will want to be:
R - Ready - have yourself set up for success. Clean up, clean out, and have the comfort and style in your space that you want to feel energized, ready, proficient and empowered. If that means new photos, new lights, fewer pictures and less clutter, make it happen. Investing 30-60 minutes in your surroundings can pay off immediately and continually! Being ready ROCKs!
O - Offensive (not offensive to anyone, rather to be an offensive thinker). Stop waiting to react or respond to others and get moving on idea generation, forward-thinking and offering to lead a project, meeting or another endeavor. Get ahead of the game by having quick check-ins with your leaders and your team members. Ensure people know you are on your game and they will want to "play" with you! Being an offensive thinker ROCKs!
C - Collaborative - that smart thinking means you are strong and proud, and yet you are humble and aware. When you are aware that others have their strengths and that you are stronger together, you can collaborate with a competitive edge to drive you all in the right direction rather than competing with a collaborative spin that can keep people down. Collaboration is to be intentional and a firm outreach and ask now, as some people are less visible and included than others. Make the effort to be inclusive in this way. Being collaborative ROCKs!
K - Kind - no matter what, winning, having a down day, keeping the pace, being kind is imperative for your well-being, and quite possibly, those around you physically and virtually. Kindness is one of the everlasting leadership qualities for stars in any field. Have compassion, speak with thoughtful messaging, and keep others in mind. Being kind ROCKs!

Whether in traffic to get to a meeting, or in a Zoom waiting room to get in a Zoom room, you can ROCK your business world with your readiness, offense, collaboration and kindness...all without missing out or "rollin'" off-track!

Mindset Shift to Positivity

"You try something, it doesn't work, and maybe people even criticize you. In a fixed mindset, you say, 'I tried this, it's over.' In a growth mindset, you look for what you've learned." 

~ Carol S. Dweck

American Educator.

(b. 1946)

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Recently, my expected 10:00 PM flight arrived safely at 5:00 AM the following morning. That was not my plan, nor was it any of the other 175 people on that itinerary! Hmmmmm...what to do!?! You've likely been there...a flight was just cancelled, you have a flat tire, someone is sick, or your meeting was moved and traffic is heavy, right?

These are not joy-filled moments or situations. We are not loving these circumstances, and yet if we let "not loving it" turn to negativity, the whole experience, attitude, and event he day can be ruined - not by the happenings, rather by how we allow the happenings to impact us!

How do we shift to a mindset of positivity in a negative situation? 

It's not easy, and yet here are a few simple ideas for processing out of "Ugh!" to "Okay - this will work!"!

1. Once you know things are not good, let there be a moment of disappointment. That's real, and being positive is not about being fake or ignoring reality.through the way you carried that mindset forward!
2. Close your eyes and picture something positive. Smile at what you are thinking about. With that smile on your face, open your eyes and think of one thing you can do to change your "now", and move toward a future that is less negative.
3. Think about 24 hours from that moment, and how different things will be. Create a plan for now-to-then.
4. Communicate to those impacted about the new plans, rather than the current situation.
5. Move away from those who are negative (if physically around them, or away in communication, if they are at a distance). Resist engaging in other's disappointment or despair, and/or attempting to "correct" or "fix" their mindset.
6. Fill the time or space with something useful and/or positively distracting. Be appreciative of what you have as you respect what you may not have (time, money, control of certain things) in that particular situation.
7. Focus on the end result and check back in on anything you can do to advance toward that.
8. Plan for ways to avoid these things/people in the future.
9. Be grateful for moving forward (even if it is slow or taxing on time/energy at moments).
10. Take breaths and walks for changes of position and scenery in order to keep grounded and focused.

I just did this in the Dallas Airport when a flight was delayed 7 times, we boarded and deplaned, and my arrival was a day later than expected, and yet two hours before my next engagement. Things went well, and my energy level for my second all-day presentation was good.

Similarly, when you shift your mindset to positivity, you aren't removed from the disappointment or change, rather you decide how to accept it and move through it to a new situation for ownership of your energy and outlook. And, with those 10 steps, you just may lead by example for those caught up in the negativity around you!