It never gets easier
Proactively build your capacity for hardship
Here’s what I mean by that. If we’re waiting to expand our leadership until we reach a point where we feel confident and in control all the time, then we’re going to be waiting a very long time. The world is never going to stop throwing things at you. Whether it’s a difficult colleague, or you need to lay someone off, or an initiative you’ve been working on is tanking – I can assure you, these things will not take a hike once you get a promotion. They may even start coming at you with greater frequency.
What you can control is how you handle these things. And you can do this both proactively and reactively. In the moment, when a stressor comes right for your face, you might reactively practice breathing techniques to calm you down. You might go for a walk or take some other form of a time out. Proactively, you might have a yoga practice or be a knitter or walk your dog – anything that builds your capacity to self-regulate can help you in moments where these tough situations come to visit.
Are you ready to be promoted? Take this free quiz and find out. You could be closer than you think (or not).