Grace Under Pressure
Her eyes are wide and she stands alone, even as people race around her. The chaos is dizzying and the noise hurts her ears. “The train or the tunnel?” she asks herself, already knowing that neither is a true solution.
I’m half-awake, but I can’t stop this vision from playing out. I hear screams from the people inside the trains and see their fingers try to pry the doors open as they speed by. Too many people. They can’t escape. Now I’m that girl standing alone, my fingers slipping when I try to reach out and help and I search for a path not yet seen.
“The only way out, is in” says a voice that might be mine, but I’m confused, my logical brain trying to rationalize with this whisper. The world around me is in a panic, but they don’t stop moving, as if action alone will stop the madness. “Grace” I hear, but I don’t know if that’s my name. It feels like a command. I breathe and close my eyes. The silence envelopes me, a startling contrast to the loudness of the panic. As my eyelids open, I lift my face up to the clear blue. Just as I see it, I am there.
At the time I had this vision, I was listening to the U2 song called “Grace” frequently. I was struck by the fact that an idea could change the world and that a thought could transform terrible and ugly things into goodness and beauty. This resonated deeply with me before I even realized why.
Now, many weeks (I’m losing track of the exact number) into this global pandemic and resulting economic consequences, I am reminded of this vision I had so many years ago. As I look at my journal notes, there is much more to this story, but now is not the time for me to write about it. I want to focus on the shift from panic and fear to embodying grace under pressure. This is a much needed leadership skill, especially now.
At nineQ, we provide integrated, scalable solutions to the human challenges that leaders and their organizations face. Why? Because people matter. We are currently doing our best to provide tangible solutions to leaders and their teams on how to work and lead remotely, as well as manage stress and overwhelm during these new challenges.
We care about our clients as human beings (and their organizations as living, breathing organisms) and we know that the greater one’s ability to be calm and present, the greater the ability to have clarity and lead the world into a new way of living, working and being. What we are noticing with our clients is the power of being in flow, even during this challenging time. It not only helps you navigate the chaos, but it allows others around you whether family, community or your team to feel less anxious and see new possibilities.
To embody grace under pressure is a skill set. We can all grow and expand in this ability. It’s a time to turn inward for courage and strength, rather than look outside ourselves for someone else to make it better. To break it down further, there are four aspects of this concept of grace that you can start developing today. These ideas are inspired by the idea that you have the power to make positive change, even as the world is struggling with the uncertainty, fear, constant change and limited toilet paper.
You have an opportunity in each moment to choose how you want to show up. If the idea of grace in a storm intrigues you or if you know that’s what your team, your organization, your family needs right now from you, use Compassion, Calm, Clarity and Hope as guidelines on how you can show up as your best during difficult times.
COMPASSION for oneself and for others
True kindness comes from the heart. Most of us have little problem feeling compassion for others, yet struggle with doing the same for ourselves. The truth is that if you do not practice compassion for yourself, you cannot serve others at your greatest capacity (we have a whole section on this in our FREE Remote Work Essentials Guidebook). Want to help others during this time of need? First step is to care for yourself. How can you be more gentle and kind with yourself? What do you need to do to care for yourself? Are you actively aligning your actions with what really matters to you? Practice daily ways to feel compassion for yourself. As for compassion for others, practice letting go of judgment and recognizing that we are all doing our best. Ask what someone else needs or how you can help. Let others around you tell you how you can help them during the rough times.
CALM stability within a rapidly changing landscape
Who feels calm right now? Not many people would answer “me”. This is a huge opportunity for you. Perhaps you are a team leader, own your own business, are involved in community service and/or are a parent. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that we are not alone, even if we may feel isolated at times. The more you can be self-aware and mindful about how you feel and how you show up, the more you can help those around you. How do you do this when it is so easy to get sucked into fear and anxiety? Go within. Find a place of stillness and quiet. This may be new to you, but you can do it. Try different things to see if it works. Check out an earlier blog for some ideas on how to do this. The key is that by going within, you can feel more stable. This is essential during times of chaos and will help others around you feel less anxious and worried.
CLARITY in the chaos
Like CALM, CLARITY is extremely beneficial during times of chaos and stress. You don’t have to have all the answers and you don’t have to have it all figured out. You certainly don’t have to do anything “perfectly”. CLARITY is not certainty, it is simply getting still or CALM enough to get clear about what is out of your control and what is in your control. Asking yourself questions such as “What can I do in this moment that will help me? My family? My team?”. It’s challenging to take time to pause and reflect because it requires us to stop reacting, but the truth is one inspired and mindful action will be so much more powerful than chaotic reaction to events as they unfold. Be clear about what you need. Be clear about what you expect of others and be clear about what you DO know. Your clarity will help you lead in powerful ways during this transition.
HOPE and inspiration
Can you hold on to the idea that something good can come out of this? We could all use a little hope and inspiration at the moment. It’s easy to get pulled down into despair, but the world needs us to find ways to inspire ourselves and others. This doesn’t discount the suffering going on. Many years of consulting at a county hospital with physicians, nurses and all of the staff have taught me that even in the darkest of moments we can each bring some light (I spoke about this in a recent panel discussion… 55.57 if you don’t have time to watch the entire discussion). It might be a kind word. It might be helping someone focus on what they are grateful for. It might be sharing bad news with compassion and clear language. It might be simply sitting with someone as they process devastating news. I’m not talking about a Pollyanna view that “everything is great” or anything like that. I am talking about recognizing that even in this challenging time, there is love, there is joy and there are opportunities to embody this and bring some inspiration to those around you. If you are a leader of a team or even a parent, this will be an incredible opportunity for you to show up for others. When you provide hope and inspiration, you help those around you feel less anxious.
We may not be able to solve all the problems that get thrown at us, but we can focus on where we CAN make a difference and we encourage you to do the same. Take a breath, go inward and see if you can find your grace under pressure with COMPASSION, CALM, CLARITY, HOPE.
**This article is dedicated to my colleagues at Ventura County Medical Center who, after spending thousands of hours alongside them in one life-threatening or life-altering situation after another, I can say without a doubt exhibit incredible grace under pressure.