Gaining Control in Uncertain Times

Individuals and organizations most often come to Tandem for help in times of need – need that typically requires change. For instance: A company will often be looking for help through a major restructuring or strategy shift. A workgroup will be looking for assistance in collaborating and growing more effectively. An individual will be looking for help in making a career leap.

Having been at this for more than a decade, Tandem knows about change and serves as a trusted, reliable resource for countless individuals and organizations large and small.

It’s no surprise then that we’re here and ready to help our long-time clients through the Coronavirus / COVID-19 crisis. Also, unsurprisingly, we’re fielding a lot of questions from people and companies for whom the ensuing devastation seems insurmountable. Companies are looking for guidance on how to make employees feel safe and heard; individuals are looking for ways to feel less untethered.

Today, I want to share some ideas that I hope you find helpful.

First, now is the time to take care of yourself, your family/friends, and your community. 

What does that mean? Go easy on yourself. Do whatever you need to do to feel sane in an insane, unsure time. Take more time for quiet reflection, reach out to people more frequently, eat your favorite comfort foods. Whatever feels right for you. Similarly, support your loved ones in doing the same. In a time during which people are feeling inadequate and uncertain, encouraging this kind of self-care is essential. Finally, do what you can to keep your community intact. Support businesses in a way that feels right for you.

Beyond that, if you have anything left in your tank, I suggest you embark on making change in your life.

During times of uncertainty, locus of control is more important than ever. Locus of control is the extent to which people feel that they have control over the outcome of events in their lives (internal locus of control) vs. outside influences having control over the outcome (external locus of control).

Seeing just how much you can create change in your life – especially in times of extreme external turmoil – can be very empowering and a catalyst for a significant shift in your life’s trajectory. When the external world is experiencing dramatic change, it’s a fantastic time to use the forced external shifts to cement change in your own life. To gain an understanding that, while there’s a lot we can’t control, there’s a lot we can control. That sense of self efficacy can go a long way in easing the burden of trying times.

Here’s a framework you can use.

Life Wheel Exercise

1. On a sheet of paper, draw a circle divided into eight segments/slices. 

2. Label the eight segments with different aspects of your life (common entries include: Family, Friends, Career, Fitness, Nutrition, Personal Growth, Money, Spirituality, Significant Other, etc.).

3. On a scale of 1-10, rate how satisfied you are with each category in your Life Wheel. Note what pleases and displeases you. 

4. Starting with your lowest rated category, write down something you’ll do to create positive change. Spend the most time on those lower rated categories and move up to those that are rated highest.

5. Commit to implementing (get out the calendar!) each item.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to use your current circumstances to inform your thinking and to propel change. For example:

• Are you among the many people who have long wanted to eat better? Coronavirus / COVID-19 has most restaurants closed and many people working from home. Maybe your Nutrition Action is to master cooking a few healthy meals at home.

• People are often telling me they want to get in shape but have no time. Maybe your Fitness Action is to try out a few online classes. Les Mills and Beach Body are great places to jump in.

• Have you always wanted to be less isolated from your community? Maybe your Community Action is to commit to getting takeout from a new-to-you coffee shop / cafe / restaurant each week during this time when dining-in isn’t on the table.

• Maybe your Personal Growth entry is all about relaxing; doing nothing and allowing space for what’s next. Many people are also filling this entry with creative endeavors – painting, writing, building. A contingent advantage with this approach is that leaning into creativity often sparks growth in other areas of life.

• And if you want to move forward in the Career category, simply get in touch!

Now is the time for change! After you’ve ensured you, your friends/family, and your community are taken care of, embrace the larger change we’re experiencing to create positive change in your own life. 

Coronavirus / COVID-19 is a startling reminder that life is short, precious, and precarious. Let’s come through the other side with a deepened appreciation for that which we hold close and a refreshed zeal for life and all the possibilities that lie ahead for us. Don’t let fear tell you that you have no internal locus of control. Because you do, and you can deepen that internal locus of control in a way that – when you look back at this period of craziness – you’ll realize that your individual agency and power is substantial.

Stay healthy and feel free to reach out!