How to Maintain a Constructive Mindset During Chaos

Early in my career, I faced a moment many of us dread: A sudden, unexpected company reorganization. It seemed like overnight ➟ my role ➟ my team ➟ my daily tasks were all up in the air. I remember the anxiety. The flurry of rumors. The uncertainty. They clouded my thoughts about the future. But it was in this chaos that I found clarity. I realized that change, though daunting, also brings opportunities for growth. I wrote an article on this for Harvard Business Review. Here are 5 actions you can take when your professional life is unpredictable: 1. Embrace the Uncertainty Use periods of change as a catalyst for introspection. Reflect on what truly matters to you and your future. 2. Define Your Identity Think about who you need to be... Not just what you need to do. 3. Focus on the Process Establish and commit to positive career behaviors. It gives you a sense of control and leads to results. Examples: • Contribute in each team meeting • Expand your network every week  • Offer a strategic idea to leadership monthly • Take on a stretch opportunity once a quarter • Thank a coworker for something helpful every day 4. Cultivate Learning Agility Be ready to adapt. Stay curious. Embrace new ideas. This mindset isn't just to survive; it helps you thrive. 5. Ask for and Act on Feedback Regularly seek feedback. Take time to reflect on it. It's crucial to know where you're growing. And where you need to improve. Change can be scary. But it's also a chance to reset. To pivot. You may discover new paths you hadn't noticed before. Remember... It's not the strongest or most intelligent who survive. It's those who can best manage change. Lean into the uncertainty. Use it as a stepping stone. Build a career that's not just successful, but also aligned with who you truly are. Find this valuable? Repost ♻️ to share with others.  Thank you! P.S. What keeps you going when things get uncertain?

If you want your people to stay calm under pressure, you have to show them how. We talk a lot about resilience...but when the heat’s on, most leaders are just using their game face to mask the internal turmoil. They look composed, but their team can feel the tension. Because no matter how much you try to control it, pressure leaks. True leadership resilience - the kind that earns trust and keeps people steady - comes from Grace Under Pressure. It’s not about pretending you’re fine. It’s about being fine. Deep down. When it counts most. So how do you get there? Here are two things that helped me become truly unflappable: 🔹 Hack 1: Bring perspective forward In the moment, every obstacle feels like a disaster. But ask yourself: “Will this matter in a week?” 9/10, the answer is no. And when you pull that longer-range perspective into the present, the panic subsides almost immediately. 🔹 Hack 2: Loosen your grip on job security The size of your fear response is linked to the threat it poses to your security: “What if this costs me my job?” But when you stop clinging to the role, you unlock clarity. Your scarcity mentality is subdued, leaving you free to be more creative and decisive. I trained myself to believe that if I ever lost my job, it would only be so that I was freed up to pursue the next - much better - opportunity. That mindset gave me calm, courage, and freedom. And paradoxically, it made me the kind of leader no one wanted to lose. So if you want to lead your team through chaos? ✔️ Learn to stay calm - on the inside ✔️ Get your fear in check ✔️ Lose the scarcity mindset ✔️ Use perspective to stop you from overreacting Grace Under Pressure doesn’t come naturally, it’s built over time. And the sooner you start training for it, the stronger your leadership becomes. Because when your team is staring down the fire, they don’t need you to give it any more oxygen...they need your composure to extinguish it.

Maintaining a neutral mindset in the face of adversity resonated with many of you last week.  In addition to the robust discussion here, I received a number of direct messages about how to reduce the theory into a practice.  So, here are some practical steps to activate and maintain a neutral mindset when your instincts and environment are telling you otherwise: First, avoid labels.  Acknowledge the situation for what it is, without labeling it as good or bad. At the dawning of the .com era, I landed my dream job at Netscape, only to be dismissed 4 months later in a company-wide reduction in force.  My manager supported my transition and opened up his network to me, but there simply wasn’t a market for a newly-minted lawyer in tech, so I hustled to create one. I eventually convinced Yahoo! to take a chance on me, where I not only thrived professionally (thanks Jon, sam, Greg and countless others), but I also met my wife of 21 years.  What seems like a bad outcome in the moment can reveal itself as a great outcome in hindsight, so avoid labels and focus on the controllables. Second, reframe the situation.  Reframing creates an opportunity to learn and grow, by asking yourself “why did this happen for me?” instead of “to me.”  When my Sequoia-backed startup fell victim to the 2008 downturn (Google “R.I.P. Good Times” for context), my wife and I had just welcomed our second child into the world, and we were in the process of refinancing our home.  As an unemployed homeowner during a mortgage crisis, I resisted every urge to play the victim and instead reframed the situation.  That enabled me to clarify my values and priorities for my next work environment, with a singular focus on brilliant yet humble people, which led me to Vikas and Reza.  Google acquired our startup 18 months later.    Third, cut yourself some slack.  Show yourself the same compassion and understanding as you would a colleague in the same situation.  Early in my career, the perfectionist in me flagged every potential misstep or perceived deficiency in my performance.  I focused on what I did wrong, whereas with others I would focus on what they did right (and I had not yet learned to avoid labels like right or wrong).  At Google I embraced the concept of the blameless post mortem - a judgment-free accounting of how a launch went and how to improve future launches.  Personal post mortems are a great way to hold yourself accountable, because they focus on what to do differently in the future, rather than dwelling on the past. Embracing a neutral mindset isn't about suppressing our emotions.  It's about cultivating a balanced perspective, which allows us to navigate adversity with clarity and purpose.  Instead of reacting carelessly, we respond thoughtfully. What tactics have you used to maintain a neutral mindset in the face of adversity?  What impact did it have on your choices and outcomes? #mindsetmatters #careerdevelopment

We've all been there - those challenging moments that make us question our goals, our dreams, and our ability to succeed. 🤔 But it's precisely during these tough times that our true strength and determination are put to the test. I want to share some insights on how I've managed to push through difficulties and achieve success. 1️⃣ Embrace the Growth Mindset: Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, I choose to see them as opportunities to learn and grow. Adopting a growth mindset has allowed me to see challenges as steppingstones toward improvement, ultimately leading me closer to my goals. 2️⃣ Break It Down: When facing a colossal task, it's easy to get overwhelmed. I combat this by breaking the challenge into smaller, manageable steps. This approach makes it easier to track progress and celebrate victories along the way. 3️⃣ Seek Support: No one can do it all alone, and I've learned the importance of seeking support during difficult times. Whether it's a mentor, a friend, or a professional network, having a support system can provide valuable advice, encouragement, and motivation. 4️⃣ Stay Flexible, Not Fixed: While having a clear vision is essential, it's equally vital to remain flexible in our approach. Life is unpredictable, and being open to adjusting our strategies can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. 5️⃣ Maintain a Positive Mindset: Positivity is a powerful force. During tough times, I try to focus on gratitude and the progress I've made so far. Shifting my mindset from dwelling on the negatives to appreciating the positives gives me the resilience to keep going. 6️⃣ Celebrate Small Wins: It's crucial to acknowledge and celebrate every achievement, no matter how small. These mini-celebrations act as fuel, propelling me forward and boosting my confidence. 7️⃣ Learn from Setbacks: Setbacks are inevitable, but they don't define us. Instead of dwelling on them, I take a step back, analyze what went wrong, and identify the valuable lessons they offer. This enables me to come back even stronger. 8️⃣ Remember Your "Why": Our underlying motivation can serve as a powerful anchor during challenging times. Revisiting our purpose and the reasons why we started this journey reignites our passion and reinforces our commitment to succeed. Remember, success is not a linear path. It's about embracing the ups and downs, persevering through challenges, and staying true to our aspirations. Let's continue supporting each other on this incredible journey of growth and achievement! 👉Which of these 8 resonates with you? ➡️How do you push through during difficult times to achieve success? #SuccessMindset #Perseverance #bestadvice #whatinspiresme #GrowthAndLearning #Challenges #Motivation #bestsweekever

If you stop through the storms, you will stop through every thing in life. What meaningful turtle step can you take in this moment, that will boost your confidence during uncertain times? In times of uncertainty, we can find it very challenging to maintain our poise and confidence. It can be a challenge to assure ourselves, that "we got this". However, I have learned that by taking turtle steps that are meaningful, I can build self-assurance and reframe my thoughts when I stand in a storm, and facing uncertainty. It's the weekend, and #linkedinfam #LinkedInwomen I want to share six actionable steps you can take today to boost confidence during uncertainty: 1) Set achievable goals: Start with the small bites. Break the overwhelming large goals down into small ones. Focus on the things you know you can achieve and gradually increase them. The bite sizes are what I call Turtle Steps 🐢. 2) Give yourself compassion: This one can be the hardest to do. As women, we tend to fear judgment. But what if you treat yourself with kindness? When facing setbacks, uncertainty and challenges be kind to yourself. Acknowledge how far you've come and the efforts and progress you've made. Self-compassion builds resilience. 3) Leap forward and out of the comfort zone: We can't grow in stagnancy. Challenge yourself to do one small thing, one day at a time. Do one small thing that scares you. The one thing that makes you cry out loud "I am scared, but I am still going to do it". It helps you build on new skills and live through the experiences. 4) Personal growth: This is the path to self-discovery. Focusing on your personal development will help you acquire new skills and learn new things about yourself. Be willing to expand your knowledge by taking on a continuous learning journey. 5) Adapt the Positive Talkaton: You are not crazy when you talk to yourself in a positive way. So practice awareness and monitor your inner dialogue. Challenge yourself to reframe your negative thoughts into positive ones. 6) Seek support where experience is lived: Surround yourself with those who can understand you, and teach you. Be open to welcome feedbacks that are constructive that can help you grow. Seek a community of like-minded where support can bolster your confidence. I guarantee this, when you incorporate these turtle steps into your daily routines, you won't fear uncertainty nor expect validation from others. You will gradually cultivate confidence. Live through the experiences amidst uncertain times. Embrace the process of transformation. I am Nadeje Montes, M.S.Ed Your Executive Coach and Confidence Strategist. #womensday #womensempowerment #confidencecoach

Sometimes it feels like its all going to hell in a handbag. If you want me to tell you everything is peachy and great, then find someone else to lie to you.  That simply is not me nor how I think we make progress. So, where is this coming from? I read.  A lot.  Yesterday my wife asked if "Do you ever read anything NOT depressing?" I asked why she asked that.  She noted that nearly every new topic that I have to discuss is depressing.  Environment.  Economy.  Fires.  Floods.  Extinction.  The list goes on. She isn't wrong.  Whats interesting is I consider myself to be an optimist.  A realist as well but an optimist none-the-less. So why is she correct that I what I typically read about and discuss is negative?  But the reason I talk about these particular topics both in my personal life and publicly is because I believe everything is 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.  Similar to turning your business around, the only way I know and insist with my clients to figure things out is to talk about the hard, challenging and uncomfortable things upfront, often and openly.  So how do you do that without getting depressed?  Without talking about "negative" aspects all the time: 1.  𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 - If you believe you can or can't, you're right (Henry Ford).  If you don't think you can solve the problems that face your business, you're probably right.  You have to believe you can turn it around.  And if YOU can't then look for others who can.  Join groups.  Talk to experts.  Hire.  Do something.  You have to believe that if it's humanly possible, that you can do it.  "If it is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.” (#Marcus Aurelius) 2. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 - If people are not doing their job, have that conversation.  If someone has been underperforming for months, talk PIP's or help them find a new job.  Pick up the phone and talk to customers about why churned.  EAT THE FROG.  Do the things you don't want to do to help save your business.   3. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 - Specifically get out and walk.  Trust me.  You will figure more things out on a walk outside vs looking at your computer screen hoping the answer will come to you. 4. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - Don't just talk about doing something, do it.  Hypothesize.  Test.  Fail.  Analyze the failure and then do it again.  And again.  And again until you figure it out. Everything is figureoutable.  There is not a single founder or CEO that I speak with who got things right on the first try.  They all went through the valley of death.  You can too. Figure it out!!  If you can't seek some help from experts but don't do nothing.  #figureoutable #startups #growthmindset #persistence  

There's no perfect science to landing a new job. You can do everything right, but too many factors creep in. The only constant that will set you apart from the applicants? Your mindset. It is an area a lot of us don't think about. Resume, LinkedIn profile, Applications, Networking/Referrals - but where during the #jobsearch process were you thinking about *how to stay resilient?* Staying resilient during uncertain times is not only key, it is going to be what gives you the extra fuel to make it over the finish line - even if you don't know WHERE the finish line is! ⚡ Job searching, or even *job stability*, right now is so unknown. We are operating in a place of unpredictability. So here are 5️⃣ ways you can build a mindset of resilience during this time of uncertainty: 1. Focus on what you can control VS. what you cannot control. There are so many decisions made in your career that are not because of you* (Budgets, Internal politics, other candidates, org structure, etc). Be aware of what you can control and focus on those changes. All the rest, is out of your hands. 2. Remain Curious. Every detour in our career right now is an opportunity to learn. What other information can you gather to help you gain more perspective? What have you learned and what can you adjust for the future? 3. Know your strengths...and watch out for your blind spots. There is a fine line between what we're good at and what we WANT to be good at. It takes a lot of awareness and some self assessment (Try the Clifton Strengths Assessment) to understand your lanes. But knowing where your key strength lies is absolutely your superpower in helping you forge ahead. And you need to be clearly aware of blind spots, because they are there. You just can't get lost in giving your weaknesses ALL your energy! 4. Focus on Impact - during a long job search or uncertainty of a job, My advices is to shift away form title and focus on the impact of the role. It is amazing how many people miss out on an opportunity because they are overly focused on the title. YOU are the one to make an impact, not a position. 5. Keep Moving through the mud. Did you know a lotus flower thrives in blooming through mud without stains? 🌸 Yep. And so can you. There's a point where you might give up looking, or might think I will never succeed, but I promise if you keep going, there is going to be a point when you rise. Thats my weeks insights! Happy Friday!

“What do you mean she cannot fly out today “? I asked the kind person behind the counter at the Delta terminal. 😳 “Due to severe weather, we are not letting unaccompanied minors fly out until Saturday.” He explains. 😱 After spending a lovely week together, my niece was ready to go home so she was very upset. 😢 I gave her the space she needed to process her emotions and mine too. As much as I wanted her to stay, I understood that she was ready to continue with life. We each had our moment and moved forward. ⏩ It took us a while but we shifted as the day progressed and CHOSE to make the best of our day. I was proud of her for tapping into her growth mindset and called the friend that makes her laugh the most. 😁 Ever noticed how some people seem to thrive no matter what life throws their way? They’re not superhumans; they’ve just tapped into the power of mindset. 🌟 Here’s the catch: mindset isn’t reserved for the elite. It’s available to us all. And it’s more than just “thinking positive.” It’s about perspective, resilience, and embracing growth. 🌱 Try this: 🔸 Facing a setback? A growth mindset says, “What can I learn from this?” instead of “I’m not good enough.” 🔸 An unexpected challenge arises? With the right mindset, it’s an opportunity to flex and grow, not a reason to retreat. 🔸 Someone offers feedback? Embrace it as a chance to evolve, not as criticism. Here’s your challenge: Starting today, actively notice your thoughts. When faced with a hurdle, pause and reframe. Ask yourself, “How can I use this moment to grow?🪴 Adjusting our mindset lens, even just a smidge, transforms our daily experiences in ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. 🚀 Let’s commit to living bigger, bolder, and brighter - one mindset shift at a time. 💪🏼 Any examples of how your mindset helped you overcome adversity in the sea of curveballs? Do tell 👇🏼 #leadership #diversity #growthmindset 🌍 📸 Nik : a picture of a growing potted plant .