7 Ideas to Stay Centered & Lead in the New World

Like most of us, I have been trying hard to make sense of the context we are in today. There are lots of questions, and emotions, but no clear answers. The uncertainty is hard to describe and exhausting. A friend recently advised me not to be emotional, or to use the exact phrase – “Don’t let this affect you”. I didn't know what to say, how can we not let this affect us?

While in some cities, the curve appears to flatten or even dip, we still have a long road ahead as we rebuild. I remind myself that each day is still a blessing, and while there are many reasons to feel grim, there are stories around us of selflessness that bring us hope. From doctors and healthcare workers who are working tirelessly, to our colleagues and friends who are going beyond the call of duty. A colleague who has now recovered said something that has stayed with me – “This phase taught me a lot, but most importantly, debunked the myth that there exists a self-made person. I know now for sure that this second life was possible only because of the support I was lucky enough to get from my organization and the wonderful humans who rose to the challenge like no other.”

I realize none one of us need more advice on what to feel and what to do, but I want to share some ideas that are helping me stay centered and lead. In life, the advice we don’t want to hear is usually the advice we need. So, this is my humble attempt to make us all reflect, and find a way for all of us to move forward with hope and purpose.

1/ Don’t be a hero, give yourself grace – I have done the hero thing and it doesn’t work. Even if you think you have this under control, I promise you – you do not. I often find myself falling into one of two traps – ‘Super Hero’ trap, this is when I start believing I need to solve everything, or the ‘Victim’ trap when I ask myself 'Why me?'. Catch yourself in case you find yourself falling into these two traps, I tell you from experience neither is helpful. A colleague recently told me – “When you’re in a position of leadership, you might feel like you have to solve everything immediately and be all things to all people. Instead, have faith, rely on collective wisdom and be flexible in the face of ever shifting situations.”

2/ Be intentional, and value your time – Beyond the usual advice you will get on prioritization, I would urge you to value each moment with loved ones, colleagues and customers more than ever. At a personal level, I am attempting a shift from a life where I wanted to be 'on top of everything’, to one spent consciously choosing what to neglect, in favor of what matters most. Remember the ‘5 by 5’ rule – You shouldn't spend more than five minutes worrying about something that won't matter in five years. How many ‘5 by 5’s are you worrying about right now? Instead, make time and space to give undivided attention to relationships and things that matter most to you. There is more to life than increasing its speed.

3/ Be emotional – Now this is the opposite of the advice I got from my friend on not letting this affect me. We are all affected by this, and there is no point hiding, ignoring or fighting these emotions. It is only when we acknowledge our feelings, is when we can start working through them -‘That which is aware of sadness is not sad, that which is aware of fear is not fearful’. Talk to your family and loved ones, pay attention and listen to your colleagues. Those that don’t always ask for help maybe the ones that need it the most.

4/ Be comfortable with being uncomfortable – An uncertain future is here to stay. Much of our suffering arises from our attempts to control what we cannot. I find the phrase ‘we are living in uncertain times’ not particularly helpful, the future has always been uncertain, it’s just that we are now acutely aware of it. This does not mean not trying to make life better, for yourself or others. It means believing that no matter what the future holds, life is for you not against you. As leaders, we have to accept uncertainty as part of our daily life, not something to be feared but something we take responsibility for navigating through. In my moments of weakness, I find these lines from Marcus Aurelius comforting - “You can't lose either the past or the future, how could you lose what you don't have? So never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."

5/ No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted – A colleague recently said “We will never get back what we have lost, but we can push ourselves hard to save those who we have not yet lost; and we will keep fighting for that”. Our entire organization mobilized itself to help find hospital beds, oxygen, medicines for colleagues and families. The Amazon Covid Warriors did more than even what our families could do for us. In some ways we are all warriors, but sometimes we hold the bar too high on acts of kindness and generosity. Small gestures can go a long way, so please don’t hold back while sending a note to a colleague, friend, or even the delivery person at your door. This is the time to lean in, help and pay it forward. 

6/ Let your purpose guide you – Take a moment, pause, reflect, and ask yourself why am I doing this, what gives me energy, what is my purpose? At AWS, our India mission has never been more relevant - We empower Builders and Businesses to build a Better India. And we all deserve a better India. We have been humbled, but we should not let the loss and suffering be in vain. We have always been a country of contradictions, but we can no longer ignore the reality that everyone deserves the right to good health. We now have an opportunity to build a better India, and a future for all of us that is much brighter than today. Most structural shifts start with existential crisis, and I believe the time has come for an overhaul of our healthcare systems. We at AWS are committed to playing a pivotal role in building a better India. That is our purpose and what inspires us every single day.

7/ Remain hopeful and spread positivity - “I have lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened", my favorite lines from Mark Twain. We are constantly telling ourselves stories and usually suffer a lot more in our imagination than in our reality. In times like these, we need to come out of the rabbit hole of rumination and find hope both within us and around us. Create the space for you to really understand your own mind and your own convictions, because if you don’t know them, you will fall for too much of the fear. Look within, and call yourself out if you are catastrophizing. Instead, share stories of courage and hope, stories that bring a smile to you and your colleagues faces.

Sometimes we are faced with situations in life that require us to believe in light and hope, even though we may not see it right away. Let’s create that little window for hope together. Fear is contagious, but so is courage!