Bring your Best Solo Performance Everyday: Gravity

I did not love the movie Gravity.  It was too slow and too unadventurous to keep my attention. But, I did learn many tips for dealing with stressful situations at work as I watched Sandra Bullock’s solo performance.

 

Yes, the operative word is solo.  Teams and teamwork are invaluable at work.  At my company, we succeed when we function as a team. But, the truth is, no matter how many people are on our team or how many teams we are part of, we are individuals. Our individual solo performances rolls up to the team success.

Working on a team is a rewarding experience.  Your teammates can support, encourage and share the task burdens with you.  There are some who abuse the team and contribute as little as possible knowing the other team members will cover them.  However, in any work environment, the team will only disguise an individual’s poor performance for so long.   Some individuals are never satisfied with the contributions of their teammates and believe that they can do it better with autonomy.  Both of these practices will, at one time or another, bring focus to you… the individual… the solo performance. 

Isaac Newton defined gravity as a force. So, buckle up space travelers. Here are a few lessons learned from a movie that reminds us that we are all individuals and there will be a time when we will be challenged alone. You are a powerful force.   

Be resourceful and face your challenges. Triumph over adversity despite overwhelming odds. We all must navigate the universe of our jobs our own way… our own journey.  Even with the comfort of our teams -- the journey exists within every individual. Have you noticed that the more adversity an individual must overcome, the more powerful their core sense of self confidence is? When you are struggling at work and need advice or direction, find the person who faces challenges…not the one who has everything easily handed to them.

 

Find your comfort anchor. Change can be extremely uncomfortable. Learning how to live with being uncomfortable can be an important predictor of success. Use your past experience as a springboard, but not a dead end. Use your past experience, but be open to change.  I sometimes hear people in business say “we won’t live in the past”.  Oh… I agree – don’t live in it… but never forget it. The past is your learning experience. Without it, our anchor is weak.  When challenged, it is essential that you utilize the lessons learned from past initiative and even former positions.  But also, be flexible when it’s necessary. Rely on your past experience, but don’t let it hold you back.

Trust your talent. You were hired to do this job. Your boss and your company trust you to do the job. So trust yourself. Do you ever notice that when you stop fighting so hard all the things you've been pushing so hard for finally fall into your lap?  This is one of those old wives tales, one of the rules of the universe, but it's true. That’s gravity. Know when to let go and what you are reaching for may fall from the sky like Newton’s apple.

 

Never give up: There is always another plan or another idea that you can try. If you think you’re out of options, think harder.

 

Houston, I have a problem –but I will figure it out.

It’s Dog-Eat-Dog Out There – Be Hungry

I loved the books and, so far, both movies in the Hunger Games Trilogy. 

 

The story is called The Hunger Games because everyone in the “district” is starving. They ask for more food in exchange for entering their name in for the reaping. The more requests, the more times your name is in the hopper to go to the arena and fight to the death.

 

The story involves a uniquely interesting plot and a heroine that knows herself and plays her game the best she can. She counts on the skills she knows best to forward her success, but she learns new skills on the way. She is stern, realistic, focused and hungry for success.

 

Yes, I like to think of the title – Hunger Games – as a portrayal of the heroine’s hunger for life and for what is right.  She teaches us that to achieve our goals, we must stay hungry. Let courage of conviction and a strong sense of self, feed your mind and focus your path.

Get a mentor

While you are in the middle of fighting for survival (okay…maybe a little dramatic), your mentor can see the global situation from an outside perspective. Your mentor can guide you by seeing the situation from a different view.  Don’t try to go it alone. As a busy professional, you may be too close to particular issues to always see what needs to be done to ensure long-term success. Getting an outside, and honest perspective, about your position from a sincere mentor—someone who’s been in the business for a while—is extremely beneficial. Mentors can help focus your strengths, recall past mistakes that they made so you won’t and provide lessons learned from past experiences.

Know your purpose

You may get tired of hearing your senior leaders talking about mission and visions. But, without a distinct purpose you will lose your way.   To ultimately succeed, you must stay hungry – motivated.  And, leaders -- you must motivate your team, even when the arena is very challenging.  Without a common purpose and relevant goals, chances are you will become discouraged before you reach the light at the end of the dome.

Ask yourself, “Why do I want to succeed? Why did I take this position? Do I matter in the overall purpose of my organization? Do I contribute to my full potential? Am I important to my team?  Do I make a difference?” The answers to these questions are going to take you the distance when the going gets tough.

Know your strengths.

The heroine or the Hunger Games knows her strengths. She is a gifted hunter – an archer like no other. In your role, play to your talents and interests. What particular talent do you have that puts you ahead of the competition in experience and know-how? Unleash your talent and you will survive.

Play your game

You have to play your own game, take risks, try something new and work hard.  If you follow the safe, worn path that everyone else has traveled down, there’s little hope that your performance will stand out from the crowd. If there’s something unique about yourself, don’t tie it down—unleash it. Take a stand, and above all else -- don’t settle for mediocrity.

Finally, to survive and thrive in your role, just like the teenager, fictional heroine in the Hunger Games does, try these simple strategies:

• work hard
• work smart
• do not give up
• follow your heart even when the going gets tough