Adversity is inevitable, it makes us uncomfortable and it cannot be easily overcome or ignored by those going through it. In any setting, overcoming adversity leads to achievement. This achievement will only be reached if those chasing it are willing to take action. Oftentimes the road to achievement can be intimidating and tap into the instinct we have which is to let things take their course.
A good example is in those times when we are overwhelmed, we don’t exactly see a way through and perhaps want to just take a break. The issue here is that this will never solve the issues we face and will only prolong the time taken to get it done. Instead, we must be eager to take action and face the things we dread. Now, this is much easier said than done as this is fighting against the instinct we have to let things play out.
Accomplishing often means there’s a trade-off, and that involves going through or doing something difficult. This difficulty is what’s intimidating, we are not programmed to naturally seek out difficult tasks. Instead, we have to build this instinct so that when faced with pressure it is the habit we go to. This is why we need to be aggressive in our problem-solving and opportunity seeking.
In a business environment, deals aren’t going to make themselves, protocols aren’t going to explain themselves, and employees aren’t going to train themselves. Now, it is important to realize that “being aggressive” does not mean letting emotions get involved. It is not an excuse for leaders to abuse power or be hard on team members. It is simply taking action when action is necessary and not sitting back when faced with pressure.
Let’s look at ways to do that:
Don’t Feel Sorry For Yourself
When things happen to you unexpectedly, be prepared to pivot and turn a negative situation into an opportunity for growth. To do this, you’ll always want to ensure you make connections with people in every area you’re going after. Let’s say you lose business with a major client, the first instinct you’ll have is doubt, followed by further negativity. Yet this is not going to solve the issue and is only taking up time.
Instead, say “okay, this happened but I didn’t come this far to come this far” then define your goal and go after it. If you know people in the industry, it could lead to an open door for new business.
Leave Emotion Out
Aggression in executing a task simply means you refuse to be complacent, you look for your next steps and get to work. It’s important to think logically about how you handle yourself in these situations. If your first reaction is to get angry and blame people for what went wrong, then you’re doing nothing but digging your hole deeper.
Whereas if you take the time to tend to the needs of those around you (co-workers, team members, clientele) and find a way out, the situation can begin to work in your favor. This will take practice as it is completely natural to react to the feelings stirred up by the situation. However, once you can stabilize your emotions and think critically, you will be able to solve the issue.
Find The Neutral Zone
Some situations may not require you to make moves urgently, for example, if the response will bring further negativity then it is best not to respond and back off. In other cases, being too adamant about just getting the job done could lead to neglecting the basics. Essentially, you want to always be moving and working towards something, but the little things cannot be left out.
This goes back to emotional intelligence, don’t be so fixated on the outcome that you are just flying through the process. Spend your time wisely, observe and adapt to the things going on to get the most out of your situation.
Conclusion
Running a business is not a linear chart of progress, it takes risks but it also takes well-researched decisions. 90% of startups fail within their first 5 years often because they try to move too quickly too fast. Looking to achieve and just trying to achieve are two different things, and one of them is more dangerous than the other.
You want to search for opportunities, adapt to situations, always try to find a way out of a rut. Yet while you’re doing this, be someone who you would want to help yourself in these situations. Think about the ideal figure and implement the traits you establish.
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