When is Being Too Composed Counterproductive?

2 minute read

Putting Meditation to the Test

While this post is about “when is being too composed counterproductive?” I feel it’s important to give you a little backstory. Meditating continues to be a core practice for my well being and helps me stay calm and clear when the sh*t hits the fan (like during the past several months recovering from a serious surgery). Or, for almost all of us, during the entire last 12 months!

When I found out I had a “rather sizable mass” next to my brain and my neurologist “freaked out a little” when he saw the MRI (those are actual quotes), my practice in meditating and focusing my attention were instrumental in navigating all the scary steps before and after the surgery.

Heeding My Own Advice

Except now, four months into healing with another complication, my dear friend, Tina, lovingly smacked me with, “You are TOO CALM! It’s time to challenge your doctor and hold him accountable!”

While I’ve helped many leaders over the years recognize that they were too composed and they were working against themselves (in certain situations), it was time to take my own advice!

Being too calm and collected at work can:

send a mixed messages to your team members
unknowingly come across as if something isn’t important or urgent
unintentionally perpetuate a problem

Where might you be too composed for the situation?

Mindset

Creating Safety for Yourself

It’s common to hear someone say “I didn’t feel safe to say that”. Many people find themselves in spots where they want to say or do something, and they don’t feel like someone else has “made it safe” to do so. Instead of waiting for others to create safety, remember that you are the first person who can create safety for you.

Mindset

Taking Responsibility = Trouble (Part 4 of 4)

You can hear it all over the place…language that describes a manager’s responsibilities to develop their team members. While it’s as common as can be, it’s not true. It’s our final example in this series of where Taking Responsibility = Trouble for the manager. Watch this short video to learn more!

Mindset

Taking Responsibility = Trouble (Part 3 of 4)

It feels really good being the Go-To. I mean, I love feeling important. You know what I’m talking about. How many teammates know that you’re super responsible? You’re the Go-To for them because you’re a high-performer they know they can depend on. How exactly does that turn into trouble? Several ways actually…check it out in Part 3 of Taking Responsibility = Trouble!