Dancing to the music

Just as you get into a rhythm, the song changes.
For the last few years, I’ve been the queen of change, preaching about rolling with the punches and modeling comfort with ambiguity. The only thing constant is change, and all that jazz.

But now, I’m being challenged to walk the walk. Just as a I got into a new rhythm with my consulting work, I brought on three new people to work along side me. And now everything is different all over again.

Stop and hear the beat.
So this is a reminder to myself and anyone else who needs to hear it that it’s OK to stop and just listen. Listen to what your team needs from you. Listen to what your customers are telling you. Listen for the new tempo. Reflect on how the wind is changing, and then jump back into action with a renewed sense of direction.

Get out on the dance floor.
One of my new teammates (Sean) introduced me to a great analogy about change. Sometimes you’re on the dance floor, and some times you’re on the balcony. You need both perspectives to make thoughtful change. (Link to the article below.) So now that you’ve stepped back, you’re ready to step forward and shake your moneymaker.

Here’s what that’s looked like for me this week:

1. Prioritizing team systems training and client onboarding rather than my own deliverables.

2. Letting go of my company comms and letting someone else update my website. (Thanks Kali!)

3. Evolving my business model to include more team-based work, since there seems to be a lot of demand for niche skillsets.

4. Taking a day off when a migraine hit to let my mind rest and recharge.

5. Hitting the ground running today on new client proposals, recruiting and those pesky deliverables.

Below are three articles related to this theme, including how to really actively listen and how to avoid becoming a bottleneck when your role expands. Always good reminders.