This is my favourite, being in the right state of mind and maintaining it. It is the basic step for practically everything in your life, even more in the time of crisis. Whenever people ask me ‘how I manage to work on intense client challenges, produce unprecedented results, read extensively, learn djembe, explore different art forms, spend quality time with family and friends, communicate and build relationships and enjoy it all’, I respond, ‘I have a unique hack’ I have access to a number of useful states of mind and I use them on demand. You all have been infinitely gifted to deal with the challenging situations. Here, I am sharing few ways that are strengthening me, and I hope these will help you to unlock the resourceful mindset this lockdown and ahead…
1. Step out! And see (tweak) :
In medicine, there is a drug called ‘ketamine’. When doctors perform a surgery, they inject the person with this drug. Now, the person would float outside the body and see themselves in their head and not feel the pain of the surgery. To have this state, on demand, without a drug, is like a super power. Some people have it naturally and some need it to be installed. So, how about you step out and see your business, from the point of view of your customers, your team members, and any other stakeholder(s)? You will unlock secrets of what you need to do and strategise your forthcoming decisions.
2. Be selective:
Do you know every cell in our body has an outer membrane and one of its prime functions is to selectively allow only useful substances inside? What if we have such a filter mechanism in our minds that is selective about what it lets inside? Instead of drowning in the wave of paranoia and anxiety, how about we are grounded and selective about what we put our attention on. Like how Paharpur business centre is able to maintain the pure air quality, we can also put our attention a little more on the solutions. Let’s keep practicing that until it becomes a habit.
3. Communicate :
It is very important that you maintain social contact while being socially distant and a sense of community. Call your friends and clients more often than you have done earlier. Leverage your social platforms and let your customers and all stakeholders know about any changes in your policies or functions. People can empathize with a brand facing crisis as long as it is communicated properly. I’ve started taking feedback from my clients more than twice a week, improvising how I can help them deal with anxiety over a call and videos. This is helping me in diagnosing where they stand now and what they are going to need immediately after.
4. Step back & prepare (or Collaborate) :
Remember, we are in this together. All companies are looking for opportunities to make a differential impact, to stay relevant as per the changing demands. The companies that continue to sustain are the ones that are highly adaptive. Mahindra and Mahindra, which is originally an automobile company, is currently manufacturing ventilators. If need be, look for the brands and services in your niche that might be facing the similar challenges as yours. Try reaching out and collaborating with other businesses in your niche together deliver a solid impact in these testing times.
5. Awaken the artist within:
I can’t emphasise enough on the importance of this one. In between work, I play djembe for 15 minutes or practice watercolor painting that I have recently learned. You can utilize the current time as an opportunity to develop an art form, be it painting, dancing, poetry or learning an instrument. The geniuses around the world are excellent not only in their own craft but other art forms as well. And if you already are good at any of the art forms, immerse yourself to master it. Instead of comparing your art to someone else, mastery is uncovering a new personal milestone, when you are able to break your own limitation and take your art to a different level altogether. Immersing in art will be a resource to maintain a useful state of mind and it’s going to help you be more creative in your work and other areas. It would be great to know which tips you have already been doing and which ones you can start with incorporating now.
Stay home, Stay safe, Stay Driven.