Ever felt like the world is happening to you instead of the other way around?
Flat tire. Contractor ghosted you. Kid gets sick on the most important day or your career. You spill coffee right down the front of you.
It’s easy to get caught up in that mindset, especially at work or in our personal lives (life is messy—the kind of messy where you spill a whole bag of flour on the floor, and your broom suddenly goes missing). But here’s the thing—I believe we have a unique opportunity, almost every day, to choose how we react, to make a difference, to create results, and to shape our surroundings.
That’s why my life and work tagline is, "You happen to the world, not the other way around."
There’s power in being able to pinpoint and pivot energy and emotion.
Coming from someone who is used to having small and large natural disasters (queue the large house fire and flooded Airbnb), I know what it’s like to have to reset and rebuild. The same holds true for work.
As leaders, it’s not just about thinking this way ourselves (because you never know when you will be short staffed, be in the throes of a re-org, or have to deal with budget cuts), but also about inviting our teams to embrace the same mindset. If a metric isn’t where it should be, I always ask: What do we want this to look like? How do we make it happen? This isn’t just about getting answers; it’s about getting buy-in, ideas, and collaboration. Because let’s be honest—the leader may help call the plays, but it’s the team that drives the ball down the field.
But what happens when we let things happen to us at work instead of formulating a plan to achieve a new result? The negative impacts can ripple through the entire organization. When we’re passive to the negative circumstances that exist, organizational metrics can slip, team dynamics can become toxic, and recruitment and retention efforts suffer. A team that feels like they’re just along for the ride is less likely to be engaged, innovative, or committed to the long-term vision (we all know those people on our teams). And let’s face it—once that complacency sets in, it’s tough to turn the ship around.
If you’re facing challenges with your team or organization—whether it’s budget cuts, regulation changes, or uncertainty in your industry—maybe you inherited a group that doesn’t mesh well with you, or maybe you’re feeling like all hope is lost, try flipping the script.
Instead of letting your team happen to you, ask yourself, how can you happen to them? And more importantly, how can you invite them into this mindset? Listen more, gather input, and watch as they start contributing in new and unique ways.
There’s a wealth of ideas and perspectives waiting to be tapped into from the people around you. You happen to the world, not the other way around.
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