Why you should focus on growth and achievement now.

Focus on moving forward to lift your spirits now.

Harvard Health shared an article about Self-System Therapy. Unlike traditional cognitive therapy, it focuses your efforts on advancement of growth and achievement to make you feel better.

I have been apply the methodology in my work with a CBT coach over the last year. It’s been helpful to have an independent sounding board, encouragement and accountability to continuously move forward.

What also gives me hope now is the innovation that is not only addressing our immediate challenges but the holistic approach innovators are taking to help solve our bigger challenges such as climate change.

We will emerge from the Covid19 pandemic better than ever even if the economic news now is gloomy.

Growth + Achievement

Every sector of the economy is undergoing change. Researchers and entrepreneurs are developing new solutions that will make us stronger, healthier and better than before. For example:

1/ PPE Supply Chain

Researchers at the BioProducts Institute at the University of British Columbia are working on a biodegradable N95 mask that can be sourced from local materials. The new mask will eliminate the existing supply chain issues and result in a new product that is more environmentally sustainable for long term use.

2/ Universal Testing

San Francisco is developing a universal testing strategy with the capability of processing over 4000 tests/day with efforts focused on the most vulnerable to ensure equity. It may give other cities, states and countries a path forward to deal with Covid19 and future outbreaks.

3/ Food

Patagonia is “busting out of their lane” again to focus on food. An email from the founder of Patagonia, Yvan Chouinard this week outlined the revolution in agriculture that will restore the nutritional value of our food while reducing the environmental impact.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability surfaced again in my own work this week. It seems relevant to all leaders now given the amount of change underway.

Change will be hard because employees will struggle to estimate the probability of being harmed. If the perceived risk is higher than the probability, it will hard to establish the trust needed to lead change.

There are countless books about vulnerability and leading change. Reflecting back on my experiences, there are a few lessons that are top of mind for me right now:

1/ Be part of the process not the solution. Don’t shoulder too much of the burden to avoid burning out.

2/ Fight the right battles not every battle. If a bad decision is made, find another way to make it right.

3/ Communicate timely and in a way that resonates with the audience. Easier said than done but getting it right will help build trust.