“Should comments” may be as innocuous as a recommendation, shared as an opinion, or packed with obligation; they can leave us feeling criticized, defensive, diminished, powerless, frustrated, resentful. Should may also incite feelings of responsibility, commitment, performance, passion, responsibility, hope, optimism, and vision.

At its worst, should has the potential to enslave us. At its best, it is a word that may bring forth some of our most courageous moments.

I wrote this in 2016, before I was scheduled for surgery #4 on my ankle; a complete reconstruction of the joint. I believe it is relevant today as we face a new year, at a time when many of us have been suffering with great challenges.

All my life, even though I think I’ve been a pretty happy person, I’ve had an underlying focus on the things that I don’t have and the things that I can’t do….

Does this sound familiar?

We want to deliver exceptional results. Exceptional results are good, but over-functioning means that we do not trust others to do their part. Over-functioning inadvertently exacerbates anxiety for us and leads to a feeling of isolation and possible burnout. We may feel constantly overwhelmed and stressed from the weight we feel is on our shoulders.

Because we are all wired for connection, this armour gets in the way of the best kinds of team collaboration. Calm is a million miles away when we feel this kind of pressure.

Social media is full of memes of one-sided true quotes that create polarity. What is lost in the brevity of many memes, however, is that often there is more than one truth.

We tend to embrace an “either, or” way of thinking. I’ve come to realize that rarely is one situation all bad or all good.

September has a unique vibe. There are some powerful tensions to acknowledge.

What do we need in our leadership tool belts to navigate this September with the greatest opportunity for success?

How do we stay clear-minded so that we can stay effective?

Read further to engage with useful tools and questions that will help you navigate this September!

We collectively struggle when our sense of order feels, well, disorderly. Uncertainty can feel scary and can undermine our confidence, causing lack of action on our own behalf.

Many of us approach our internal conversation when there is disorder in our world with degree of distain or even loathing. I’d like to propose an alternative….