Hannah, a vice president at a consulting firm, shares her journey through a challenging work season filled with humor and insight. She emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, setting boundaries, and self-care practices like walking and journaling to combat unhealthy coping mechanisms. The discussion also dives into the emotional toll of workplace stress and the necessity of maintaining emotional boundaries. Hannah's experiences highlight the value of collaboration and compassionate leadership in fostering resilience and personal growth.
Hannah learned that reducing her work hours during stressful times significantly improved her well-being and personal effectiveness.
By implementing the five-minute rule, she redirected her post-work habits towards healthier activities, enhancing emotional processing.
Establishing boundaries by affirming 'I am not responsible for other people's feelings' helped Hannah navigate leadership challenges with greater resilience.
Deep dives
Navigating Stressful Work Seasons
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life during stressful periods can be challenging. A client, Hannah, sought coaching to ensure that her intense work schedule did not negatively impact her personal relationships and creative pursuits. By acknowledging the difficulties she faced, she expressed the need for tools to prioritize her well-being while managing increased work demands. This proactive approach allowed her to navigate challenging times without succumbing to stress.
Reducing Work Hours for Greater Effectiveness
One significant insight gained was the importance of working fewer hours during high-pressure periods instead of pushing through. Initially surprised by the suggestion to reduce her workload, Hannah committed to this approach, discovering that she could still achieve her goals without compromising her health. By setting boundaries, such as not working before a certain hour, she was able to reclaim valuable personal time and redistribute her focus towards relationships and self-care. This shift ultimately improved her overall effectiveness and work relationships.
Identifying Problematic End-of-Day Behaviors
Hannah recognized that her post-work habits contributed to feelings of agitation and negatively affected her personal life. She had a tendency to snack and consume news as a means of distraction after work, thereby delaying necessary emotional processing. By defining this as a problematic period, she was able to establish the five-minute rule, which allowed her to redirect her energy towards more constructive activities. This newfound awareness helped her embrace healthier habits and facilitated better emotional transitions from work to home life.
Managing Emotions and Professional Challenges
Throughout her coaching journey, Hannah faced the challenge of managing her own emotions while leading others through difficult organizational changes. She struggled with the pressure of ensuring her team's well-being while enduring their frustrations and criticisms. By adopting the mantra 'I am not responsible for other people's feelings and experiences,' she established healthier boundaries and developed resilience. This mental shift enabled her to handle difficult conversations with greater confidence while staying grounded in her values.
The Transformative Power of Coaching
Hannah's experience highlights the profound impact of coaching in achieving personal growth and navigating life's challenges. Having set clear, practical goals, she found that even small, incremental changes led to significant improvements in her well-being and effectiveness. The coaching process, which encouraged self-reflection and empowerment, equipped her with tools to manage stress and prioritize her needs. This transformative journey underscored the value of investing in oneself to cultivate resilience and authenticity.
Today I’m interviewing my wonderful former client, Hannah.
Hannah came to me when she was going through an extremely tough season at work, and wanted to make sure she navigated that season skillfully, and also didn’t let it completely negatively impact her personal life. So many people I speak with are dealing with a similar issue, and Hannah has a lot of great insights + practices to share about what worked for her.
Plus, she's so funny, thoughtful + creative — I know you’ll enjoy hearing our conversation.
