When Things Go Too Well

Everything seems to be going very well right now. Naturally, I’m completely anxious! Humans are wired to be looking for the negative outcome so that we are prepared to react. I think this is especially true when you are tasked with responsibility for an organization. We all want to do well and succeed, so when things are going well, we are just waiting for the next issue to pop up. So how do you not crumble from anxiety or create issues to address? Here are some of my thoughts.

Just Breath

First, just take a breath. Don’t think about what might happen or what’s next. Take a few minutes to live in the moment. Enjoy your successes. Practice gratefulness for your team and the great work you have been given to do. For me, it’s a good time to walk around my retirement community and thank the staff for their efforts each day. I try to walk through each department and talk to staff by name. If you don’t know someone, introduce yourself and talk about why your organization is meaningful to them. Engaging positively with your team is always time well spent, so use your time well.

Check the Pulse

Second, check in with your team. While you may feel the bliss of a strategic plan falling right into place, your team may be like ducks - calm on top of the water but paddling like crazy underneath. All that great strategic work must be accomplished by someone, so if you have had your moment to breathe, be sure you are asking how you can support your team. In my organization, we have several exciting things happening. As we look to the next project, a check-in with my team reminded me that we are in the peak of budget preparation, and we are working toward a significant bond financing for the next phase of an expansion project. I was able to show my support for them by offloading a couple of items that need to be accomplished soon. It also shows you care about your team and their wellbeing.

Look Out the Window

Third, get an outside perspective. If you have a trusted advisor, a board of directors, or just some friends outside your organization, check in to see their perspective on how things are going. This summer, things were going so well that I got worried when I wasn’t hearing from my board. We typically give them the summer off, but I started telling myself it was bad that I wasn’t hearing from anyone. To put my mind at ease, I created a short survey to ask them several questions about how they felt about being on our board of directors, whether they thought we were doing the right things, and whether they felt they had enough communication from me. Turns out, everyone was happy! Their comments were helpful for me to think through ways to improve their experience as board members so they feel they are governing well.

Take a Test

When everything is working well, then you might use the time to test a few stretch or innovative ideas for your organization. What are some initiatives you have been considering? What initiatives might help you weather a downturn if you were able to incorporate them into your operations? What are some trends in your industry or opportunities available to you? Many people thrive when presented with a new challenge and the challenge can help you get some creative ideas from your team. Crushing it in operations means you may have cushion to test these ideas to see what fits to take your organization to the next level.

Take a Break

Finally, take a break. Sometimes, you can get in the way. Don’t forget that it’s okay to take some time away from work. You have invested in a stellar team, and they will continue to do excellent work even if you take a day. As I write this, I plan to take a quiet Friday coming up to spend time with my college-aged daughter. That, too, is time very well spent!

Executives are so often looking for the next project, solving the next problem, or hiring the next great team member. Don’t forget that the goal is to have a smooth and efficient operation. When you get there, take time to enjoy it and get creative about what’s next!