In yoga today we did a pose known as The Dancer.  Our instructor, Joy, told us the pose is typically depicted as the dancer standing balanced on a small object while surrounded by a ring of fire.  The fire represents chaos and the small object is the ego.

I think this is a key question for many of us today.  How do we stay balanced in the midst of chaos?  What helps us stay balanced?  Is it having a purpose?  Is it staying centered and rooted? Is it continually learning and growing?

Lori Zahn, founder of Perceptive Leaders, recently wrote a post about using these chaotic and uncertain times as an opportunity for learning. I liked it so much, I asked Lori’s permission to repost the whole article and she graciously agreed.  Thanks Lori and happy reading everyone.

MOVING FORWARD: From Resilience to Realistic Optimism
by Lori Zahn

Wait and see. Is this what you’re thinking as the economy sputters around you; your staff and budgets remain constrained; your workload remains high; and you wait for the next shoe to drop? As you wait and see what happens, do you sense that the rules of the game have changed… economic recovery and growth may not be right around the corner … your opportunities at work may be more limited …your employer’s expectations may have changed?  And maybe you feel you have less control over your future now.

In my work in leadership development, I see many career professionals struggle with the “wait and see” dilemma. People feel deeply unsettled by the prolonged economic uncertainty. There’s a “hunkering down” and a frozen state that persists. They’re exhausted from the ongoing demands of their work. And they are cautious about making changes. At the same time, I see among many people a growing boredom at work, a sense that time is passing them by, and a pent-up desire for change.  Therein is the dilemma.

Rather than hitting the pause button or hunkering down while you see how the future shakes out, you can instead take the opportunity to lay the groundwork for your future, even in these uncertain times.  The current economic climate may be with us for a while.  And the changes that have ensued have surely changed the shape of the work world as we know it.  There is no going back to what was.  There is, however, an opportunity to move forward into what can be.

The opportunity and learning here is this: Now is a good time to expand your thinking, do your homework, and maybe grow new roots. Look around and reassess where you are in light of your current situation. Search out opportunities in your work to contribute in different ways, to bring your strengths to the table, and to learn new skills. Redefine your role in ways that add value. Network with people you can share strategies with for navigating the new business climate. And get insight from your colleagues on how to enrich and expand. These are all strategies to make the most of where you are and help you move forward.

This is a time to build on the personal resilience forged over the past two years and to develop a new optimism. I think of it as a “realistic optimism”— one that is informed by what has changed in the new reality; and at the same time, is grounded in a positive outlook about your future.  A future created by the outcomes achieved by the actions you take today.  Consider these questions as you move forward:

How might my mindset, my way of looking at the current situation, be limiting me?

• What opportunities have been created by recent events at work that might allow me to add more value by redefining my role, use more of my strengths, take on something new, or learn new skills?
• What insights might my colleagues have about different ways of looking at my work today, and what I can do now to enrich, expand?
• What opportunities have been created by recent events in the world that might allow me to learn or explore something new?

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Lori Zahn founded Perceptive Leaders, a leadership development consulting company, in 2005 with a vision of helping individuals grow in personal leadership and as organizational leaders contributing optimally in their organizations.  To connect with Lori, please visit  www.perceptiveleaders.com.