Like it or not, the pandemic-interrupted career progress and job pressures will not change anytime soon. Whether work-from-home (WFH) or hybrid, the demands on your time and skills will likely increase, and more top talent will be vying to embrace the few new roles.
A recent survey of pan-India executives revealed the majority has experienced obvious signs of the stress of demanding jobs. These include difficulty in finding personal time & relaxation, stretched work hours & unfinished tasks, feeling of helplessness, and weakening physical & mental health. Managing stress is a skill too few senior leaders can display.
It is not enough that you can manage stress at work — you need to be able to display the same to the leadership team and that matters. The skill to acquire for the current times is the ability to prove how well you can manage work pressures and deliver productive results effortlessly. Here are a few thoughts on how you can create an impression as a great handler of work demands and recast your career progress…
Focus on the ‘jobs to be done’: Do this whether locked down or not. The level of stress will differ on days of lockdown and otherwise, but staying focused on the to-do list will take you far in your effectiveness and delivery of responsibilities.
Lend and seek help with work: Since the majority is struggling with the situation, you will always find a few colleagues who will need assistance. If you can help them complete their tasks, that will put you on a pedestal as a leader. At the same time, seek help from them if you need it. The objective is to get things done for the company, and as a team the delivery must happen. That will vouch for your readiness for demanding roles.
Let out steam, unseen: Find avenues to do this when under pressure. The skill is in being able to hold off on your responsibilities and almost akin to masking your fear of the neighbour’s pet dog. Whatever be the demands at work, don’t let the stress show on your behaviour with colleagues. As a colleague mentioned, leave a punch bag in the cafeteria to vent.
Step back, assess reality, clear the fog: When your team is stressed and off-target, sparks are likely to fly even in remote work situations. Disagreements and ego tussles should not come in the way of work to be done. Diffuse the situation and negative thinking by focusing on the positive, post-pandemic growth — economically and for own career. Step sway from potentially inflammable situations, think of the best resolution and carry the team together.
Volunteer to lead special initiatives: Complexity of problems and growth issues currently warrant special projects, and this is beyond the call of duty. Take part in some such initiatives that are growth-driven or cost-optimisers. Volunteering to find time for such activities will project your ability to not only break out of comfort zones but also work under pressure.
Break herd mentality in taking breaks: The earth won’t shatter if you take regular breaks, if not your annual vacation. Short breaks over long weekends are probably better than long ones in managing work stress. Demonstrate your leadership qualities by delegating work in your absence and show things could be accomplished even in your absence. Insecure leaders shy away from this.
Avoid all types of addiction: If you try to combat work stress with energy drinks and caffeine, that won’t help in the long run. Quality sleep and healthy food must replace coffee and drinks. Since, once addicted, those can cause myriad issues, including migraine and acidity, adding more to your work stress. Remember, more work is also addictive.
Keep your cool, come what may: It’s difficult for most people to remain calm under mounting disruptions from supply chain issues to inaccessible team members. However, you can practice this skill and improve it. This is a great quality that will help in getting recognised for larger roles.
As the pandemic will continue to bring in new business challenges, enterprises will look at executives who can get ‘jobs done’ for their customers. Career progress will then depend on some of these skills.
By M Muneer - The writer is the co-founder of the non-profit Medici Institute
TOI
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