Keeping Your Calm When Things Get Hectic

Hello, I'm Ken Lear.

Chaos and anxiety are, unfortunately, sometimes just the nature of business. For many people, the first reaction to something bad or stressful happening at work is to respond in an equally stressful way. But this sets a bad example for other employees—and probably unnecessarily increases their own stress levels as well. No matter how many bad thoughts may be swimming through your brain, when you’re the boss, it’s important to remain calm and not let the negativity show.

Staying calm sets a good example for those around you and will make things easier for everyone involved. Whether your boss criticized a report or a client asked for something that will require working well into the evening – stay calm so that you can carry on.

In the midst of chaos, here are a few steps for staying calm:

Take a Break

While it may seem like the last thing to do if you are in a hurry, sometimes taking 5 minutes to cool off and rest your brain is more beneficial than those 5 minutes of working would have been. Try stepping outside and walking around the block or grabbing a quick coffee – make sure to get a change of scenery and a little blood flowing to clear your mind.

For more information about Ken Lear, check out his profile on CrunchBase.

Present Bad News Calmly

If something horrible has happened at work that has to be communicated to other employees, speak calmly and deliberately. Running into someone’s office and blurting out the bad news will only cause more chaos. Take a few minutes to review what has happened and determine what needs to happen next. Your employees are more likely to sit down and think of rational steps toward a solution if information is presented in a deliberate way.

Think Out the Problem

If the problem can be fixed, sit down and calmly brainstorm ways to do so. Once this is done, create a to-do list prioritized by order of importance. If your boss has criticized you for something, think of ways to improve. If the issue is with a client, think of how you can approach the problem that will leave everyone satisfied.

Smile

While there may be something seriously bad going on, having a negative attitude won’t help—and could actually exacerbate the situation. The problem has to be dealt with either way, so isn’t it better to be in a good mood while doing so? Listen to a song that will pep you up or find some other quick way to brush off the frustration. The important thing is that you stay positive. An honest smile can go a long way toward putting others at ease.

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Regaining Focus After It's Been Lost

Flickr CC via Adam Foster

Hi! Ken Lear here.

Some days it’s easy to stay focused at work and get everything done – while other days every little noise or email can be distracting. On the days where you just can’t seem to focus, it’s important to acknowledge the situation and do something about it. It’s better to take a 5-minute break to regroup than to continue working with several other things running through your brain.

Here are 5 steps to help you regain focus at work:

Don’t Force It

When you start to lose focus, don’t force yourself to continue working unless there is a tight deadline. Take ten minutes to go for a walk, eat a snack in the break room, or go sit outside. If there really is no time to step away, take a short breather to read an article or scroll through Facebook, or even just stand up and stretch your legs. It doesn’t have to be a long break, but taking a second away from the computer or current task can work wonders.

For more information about Ken Lear, check out his personal website at http://ken-lear.com/.

Find Your Distraction

In order to stop being distracted, you need to figure out why you are distracted in the first place. Are you thirty, hungry, tired, cold? Is something at home on your mind all day? Once the distraction is nailed down, it will be easier to figure out how to get past it.

Make a List

What is the most important thing to do today? So many employees just go from task to task, which can end up being very distracting and inefficient. Make a list of all the tasks that need to get done in order of importance, and do it in that order – don’t switch between tasks. It’s easier to stay less distracted if there aren’t a million little projects on your mind all at once.

Get Rid of Clutter

Is your office dirty or your desk covered with papers? It's time to clean. A messy workplace is distracting and (sometimes) gross.

Decorate

If your workplace is generic and plain, then it might be time to decorate or rearrange. Hang up a picture of friends or family or move stuff around – a “new” place can make your desk a bit more exciting and inviting to work in.

Staying Focused at Work

Flickr CC via EricReplied

If everyone could without getting distracted, jobs would be much easier. It happens to everyone: right before you’re ready to work, a new email comes that needs to be dealt with swiftly. As people continue to find news ways to connect with each other, more distractions at work are created. There’s so many time wasting habits that we don’t even notice. Here are a few tips to stay focused while in the office:

Have a Routine

There’s nothing wrong with a little of the same thing every day. The routine that you put together will give some framing to how a typical workday goes. When the workday isn’t mapped out and planned, it can be difficult to stay on a schedule. Create a routine that allows you to be more efficient and keep your responsible for getting tasks done. Soon enough, the routine will be integrated to make focusing on work a piece of cake. 

Start Early

Everyone loves getting their sleep, but the benefits of coming to the office early greatly outweigh waking up later. When you can start the workday immediately, you get a jump-start on emails, reading news, and that morning cup of joe. The greatest benefit of starting early is the feeling that time is on your side. More than often do we find ourselves in crunch mode to get a report done or make a meeting. Start early to ensure that you have time to get everything done. If waking up is a problem, try and go to bed as early as you can. Being refreshed for the day is just as important.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

There’s a ton of different problems that we all go through everyday. Taking some time, even a few minutes, to relax or meditate on your life can do wonders. Shut things down for a few seconds and reach deep down to bring yourself peace. Relaxation techniques are the perfect remedy for too much stress. When you feel out of focus or not able to get the right amount of work done, relaxing for a short time can go a long way. 

Avoid Procrastination

Waiting for the last minute might have been able to be pulled off back when you were in school, but in the professional world it spells nothing but trouble. A great procrastinator relines too heavily excuses. Don’t allow these things to let you just slip by and barely accomplish things. Clearing out the idea of using excuses will only make you stronger.

Stay Away from the Internet

More business is done online than ever before, but that doesn’t meet you need to check your Twitter feed every 5 minutes. Do your best to stay away from any social media or reading any blog articles that aren’t specific to your current work. With all the possibilities and information the Internet offers, it’s easy to get distracted quickly. If you truly want to stay focused, stay off the Internet and only use it sparingly.

To learn more about Ken Lear, check out his page on CrunchBase.