Maintaining A Steady Pace for Your Workplace Progress

The end of the year is fast approaching, and we know that some big deadlines may accompany it. So, today we’re looking at ways to keep calm and maintain your sense of steadiness within your workplace, no matter the circumstances you encounter. We also know that the excitement of upcoming holidays and time off of work may actually prove more distracting at times than beneficial, which unfortunately has the potential to contribute to tension within your professional environment. To harness your frustration and your cheer alike, check out these concrete methods from the pros below to help you maintain an even keel at this–and any–time of year.

We adore this suggestion from Jennifer Smith at Time that’s a surefire way to create workplace success amidst any situation that causes you stress: “Hit ‘pause’ before responding. A quick, emotionally charged reaction will almost always result in more work, more conflict and more of a mess to clean up. The next time you feel yourself about to snap, take a moment and pause. Take a short walk, even if it’s just a lap around the office, and force yourself to think about the perspectives of everyone else involved in the situation. Reflecting on where your colleagues are coming from, and why they might disagree with you, will help you come back ready to broker a solution…When you maintain your cool, you can see the big picture and offer a helpful response, which not only diffuses the tension, but also demonstrates your leadership abilities.” This tip offers up multiple ways to strengthen relationships within your workplace community as you take a moment to put yourself in others’ shoes before responding. They may be feeling a similar excitement to yours that could contribute to small workplace mistakes amidst the end of year rush. While impact matters more than intent, make sure you are still keeping your colleagues intentions in mind, and aim to support them in their own growth rather than tearing them down. Take a deep breath and allow yourself a momentary pause before diving into any charged response.

In addition to looking outward to your workplace community, we love the way this suggestion from Siimon Reynolds at Forbes provides a helpful way to consider your own internal workings: “DEVELOP A CLEAR VISION OF YOUR IDEAL VERSION OF YOU. Write down the type of person you wish to be. Not your career goals, just the kind of human being you aspire to become. Few people have ever done this, yet it can be incredibly inspiring and clarifying to do so. Be sure to include a sentence or two about remaining calm under pressure, being unattached, or perhaps staying optimistic in all circumstances. Becoming this person should become your primary aim. Read the summary of the Ideal You every morning, think about it throughout the day, make it a constant part of you. The more you do this, the more you will begin to exhibit the same excellent character traits of this person. As the great Hollywood icon, Cary Grant once wrote, ‘I acted like Cary Grant for so long I became him.’” We love the way this tip kicks off with the concrete suggestion of putting your aspirations into writing. Writing is an action that you can actively choose to engage in, and the kinesthetic component of it will help you to even better engage in reflection. It’s okay to not already be the ideal version of yourself! You’re only human, and practice makes perfect. And as you take strides towards the ideal version of yourself, we know that you’ll discover new goals along the way. Rather than considering this pursuit to be a frustrating challenge, think of it as an exciting adventure. Let that sense of excitement fuel you as you make sure to spread that positivity out over each and every day to maintain a steady progress towards your goals. 

The saying “slow and steady wins the race” exists for a reason! Make sure that instead of being guided by bursts of emotion (positive or negative), you’re instead cultivating a sense of calm that can pervade your every action. This will better help highlight your unique workplace strengths, and show off your leadership qualities as you take steps within your professional development. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the need for change that the new year can bring to the forefront or excited about its possibilities, the key thing is to strike a balance. So, hit pause when you need to. And also take a moment to put your ideal version of yourself into words! Finally, visit us again tomorrow for a midweek mood boost with our Wednesday Wellness: Steady edition.

Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.

This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston