Just like that we’ve ushered in the busiest time of the year. As a business leader, you’re focused on meeting year-end targets and goals, and looking forward to what you’ll achieve in the new year. You’re fitting in lunches and meetings with clients and partners, but there’s the personal side of your calendar and all the things that fight for attention there – getting to the high school choral concert, popping into your neighborhood cookie exchange, family plans, decorating, gift shopping, and, well, the list goes on.
You’re tired. Your team is grabbing some PTO time here and there before the calendar rolls over and you’d love to, but you’re not quite sure how to make that work for your own reality. You’re feeling the crunch. Sound familiar? Here’s the good news, three easy additions to your routine can ease the strain and give you back some peace: a solid succession plan, a daily dose of vitamin G, and a heap of vitamin H.
When you hear the term “succession planning,” you may think we’re talking about identifying who will take over the business (or key roles) when you and other company leaders retire or move on to new business challenges. Yes, that’s part of it. However, that’s not all of it. A solid succession plan also identifies who can step in and take on business functions in the here and now so you can step back and take a day off.
Are there tasks that feel like you’re simply the only one that can complete them? Aspects of the business that no one but you dips a toe into? Succession planning would include a backup plan to see that those things were covered in the event of your temporary absence. Give yourself space and flexibility to take a day off (or even the full week!) without worrying about what isn’t getting done without you there.
If you’re scanning the label of your multivitamin looking for this one on the list, you won’t find it. It’s not here. In fact, it’s not available in pill form or any other consumable form. Vitamin G is simply gratitude, and it should be part of your daily routine. In fact, multiple research studies have shown that gratitude can reduce stress, build resilience, and improve our overall well-being. You may even find you sleep better at night and have more patience.
Imagine what it would look like if you started with your day with gratitude. What if you took a moment to zero in on something you were grateful for even before your feet hit the floor? Doing so would set the tone for your entire day. It would send you out into the world feeling a little lighter, a bit more hopeful, and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. Sure, some days you’ll have to work a little harder to find something to be grateful for. Maybe all you can muster one morning is, “Okay, well, I woke up on this side of the grass today.” Here’s the good news: that’s enough. Being grateful just to wake up, even as the world around you feels out of control and chaotic, can be exactly what’s needed to settle the internal turbulence and give you the fortitude to face what lies ahead.
Gratitude is also a lot like a snowball. If you started your day with “I’m grateful I’m on this side of the grass,” you may find yourself musing moments later, “Good mercy, I’m grateful for a strong cup of coffee!” As you’re waving goodbye to your teenager as she climbs on the bus, it becomes, “I’m so grateful for my family.” As you walk into your office and see your team collaborating on a project or chattering about what went down on Monday Night Football you may find yourself thinking, “I’m grateful to work with such a great group of people…”
Once you open the door to gratitude, it keeps rolling and growing. It opens your mind to possibility. Instead of focusing on the challenges and problems that you face, you’ll start to see solutions and potential more readily.
(Here’s more on the subject: Good Leaders are Grateful Leaders)
Vitamin H is hugging, and research has shown that a 10-second dose of it can boost your mood. Of course, we’re talking about hugging someone who wants to be hugged and to be hugged by you. This is about paying attention to the people in your home. It’s about putting down the “must-dos” long enough to really focus on the folks you care about, to be intentional about listening to them talk about their day.
It’s about taking the moment before your spouse leaves for the office and wishing them a good day with a big hug. It’s about putting down the pile of work-related papers when your 15-year old comes in from school with that look on her face. It’s letting her lean into you as you wrap an arm around her and listen to her release the stress that’s built up. It’s about prepping your college son’s favorite meals and dropping them off in containers he can easily heat up, hugging him as you hand the loot over. It’s making space for the people that matter.
It’s a serotonin boost for them and for you that pays dividends in all aspects of your life by easing stress levels, connecting you to gratitude, and pulling your focus onto what matters most.
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