Use it only in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous context.

If our context is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, we are in a fast-peaced business, and work is under pressure, it's important remember that it is an environment that could favor the emergence of anxiety, stress, exhaustion, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder or burnout syndrome. Thus, we can protect our fragility with firm and gently approaches. Then, take care of ourselves, our teams, our colleagues, friends and family.

Far from sharing a one-size-fits-all solution or the only way to do it, here are three personal approaches that helped me navigate tsunami waves and storms in the last decades.

A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skilled Sailor.

It is a powerful reminder that challenges and difficulties are not obstacles to be avoided, but opportunities for growth and learning. This quote reminds us that the path to success is not always easy or straightforward. It takes hard work, persistence, and a willingness to adapt and learn from mistakes.

As an agile coach, I see this quote as particularly relevant to the mindset and principles of agile methodology. Agile teams are encouraged to embrace change and uncertainty, and to view setbacks as opportunities for improvement and iteration.

By embracing the challenges and obstacles that come our way, we can become more skilled and resilient as individuals and as a team. So let's all remember that a smooth sea may be pleasant, but it is the rough waters that truly test our skills and help us grow.

Optimistic approach to obstacles is not the only path. There are things which we can change, and others which we can′t. If we can change them, we must encourage ourselves and be braves and do the job. If we can′t, we need serenity to accept this world as it is and not as we would have it. Keep an eye to distinguish one from the other. Sounds easy and simple, takes time to develop this skill and wisdom. Indeed, we shall not feel ashamed if we found ourselves unaccepting one thing that we can′t change. If we get that consciousness in the moment, it is a step forward in the way of taking better decisions.

I found this useful approach within Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer. Also found inspiration in the composition of Glen Ballard & Siedah Garrett, top billboard by Michael Jackson and beautiful covered by voice & bass duo of Angela Watson & Andres Rotmistrovsky

I'm starting with the man in the mirror.

I'm asking him to change his ways.

And no message could've been any clearer

If they wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

The calm after de storm: Parasympathetic mode repairs.

Our nervous system has a natural balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic. When we need to take action quickly, we get involved multitasking, face dissatisfied customers, mistakes or undesirable results, our nervous system works under sympathetic mode. Then, to get balance, we slow down, have deep and restful rest, slow deep breathing, and energy renewal to face again other challenges. And there is a cycle between activity and no-activity, like day and night, with a perfect time for each thing.

Sometimes the frustration and anger of a specific situation, or the excess of joy to start a new venture steals the calm, keep us in the impossibility to slow down and have a restful rest because we remain thoughtful, circling a matter, brainstorming, devising scenarios. Even if our mind continue working, our nervous system didn't enter into parasympathetic mode and couldn't provide the energy to the next day.

Instead of normalize this mess or consume stimulating substances with long term side effects, the most precious gift we can give to our physical and mental weel-being is sleeping well. It's in our hands to provide what we need to deep sleep. For some folks a power nap can help a lot, others prefer a quiet and dark place with 8 hours sleep time. If you are looking for deep sleep best practices, Rodrigo Restrepo's Sleep and Dream book has 19 practices -between meditations and exercises-.

"Sleep is a more than important matter. It is vital. The way we sleep and dream determines the way we live. And vice versa. Sleep is a fascinating process that soothes and repairs all functions of the body and brain." Rodrigo Restrepo

Even if our body is on workplace, if we have a home situation, our mind is working on the issue. The same occurs when body is in sleep mood, family time or vacation and the mind continue working on the work problem-solving activity. Sometimes we have body and mind in different places, and we are not able to be present and enjoy quality time, meaningful conversations, a beautiful place, comfort food done with love or a challenge situation.?

Indeed, complementary technologies that helped me to reduce stress and anxiety with notable Parasympathetic Nervous System balance are logotherapy, mindfulness, kundalini yoga, grounding and dip diving.?Let's go back to basics, if our body and mind are healthy we are available to labour, work, action and contemplative life.

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails: Adaptable and Self-organized teams.

Organizations need to be able to respond quickly and handle all the uncertainties. In volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous?markets, traditional management is often seen as too slow. Agile methodologies promote giving the teams the mandate and freedom to make their own decisions, to respond quickly to new context changes and technological opportunities. Instead, create clarity on the objectives or desired outcome and let team discover the best ways to achieve.

Furthermore, this approach embrace customer-focus or customer-centricity, to close gaps between the value proposition and customer needs, as well as the customer service, marketing campaigns and communications and customer preferences. Thus, if the customer change, the company will be aware of that and adapt to what is necessary to stand sustainable.

Towards creating the right context and environment for adaptable and self-managing teams the agile leadership is very meaningful. For more detail regarding the agile framework principles and implementation the Scrum Body of Knowledge (SBOK).

The inner path and technology are necessary and complementary to navigate individual and collective success and well-being.