#54 How to Stay Focus and Productive During Tough Times

“Often, it is when things have reached their very worst, that the germ of an idea or an insight occurs. Now is the time to do something .” Francine Beleyi.” – Francine Beleyi

Welcome to the Episode 54 of MWML Podcast

I’ve switched the content of today’s episode in the wake of the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in with the coronavirus to talk about How we can Stay Focus and Productive During Tough Times.

I know this is not going to be easy either for you nor for me. But we’ve got some tools and techniques to help us deal with this situation better.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How to understand the internal process of change with the 5-stage of Dr Kubler Russ and how to apply these principles in your current situation
Some of the examples used during the economic recession of 2008
The 5-stages to stay productive and support during tough times and some ways to apply these steps

If you are ready to make the best possible of this situation and create your online presence and digital assets, get in touch at www.francinebeleyi.com/call

Listen to this episode to find hope and courage to keep motivated in this challenging time.

Lessons from the Economic Recession of 2008

Back in 2008, during the economic recession, I held a series of workshops to explain the ‘process of change’ to support people who have lost their jobs massively and were going through a tough time.

Humans have been evolving for millions on years through many changes: environmental, climatic, geological, financial crashes, epidemics, technological and we come through it with a new way of living.

This time will be no different.

But we need to adapt; this is what makes us different from other animals, and we can choose our response to the situation we find ourselves in rather than reacting blindly.

The adaptation here needs to involve consciousness, to take the time to reflect on what brought us here, the current situation, and what needs to change.

We need to evolve spiritually and consciously to survive this crisis and emerge stronger.

The survival of the fittest born from Charles Darwin theory of evolution was interpreted as the survival of the strongest, but in reality, fitness is about adaptability and response-ability

Understand the Internal Process of Change

In 1969 the ideas that human go through a psychological process during change became evident due to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

Her researches were done in extreme circumstances of terminally ill patients. It still has some relevance when people go through traumatic changes as we find ourselves in the middle of this pandemic of coronavirus. The same applies if we are made redundant, go through the breakdown of a relationship, or we lose a big client!

Kubler-Ross realised that patients (given certain conditions) would typically go through five stages as they came to term with their prognosis: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Denial: when faced with catastrophic news, it’s often difficult to accept that it’s really happening. We will tend to deny it (it hasn’t happened)
Anger: when we acknowledge the situation with overwhelming evidence of what is happening, we enter the second stage: anger. Why me? Surely the governments are to blame? Why didn’t they catch it in time?
Bargaining: After exhausting ourselves by attacking others or playing the blame game; we now try to take some control of the situation and our fate. We bargain with God, ask for an extension of time, promise to be good if only he accepts our prayers, trying desperately all means to remedy the situation. We go for panic shopping and all kind of erratic behaviour
Depression: when it becomes clear that no amount of bargaining is going to provide an escape from the situation, we resign. We enter a depression phase: mourning, grieving for the loss. We are ready to give in and reach the bottom (there is nothing I can do about it)
Acceptance: After a period at a low point, where we accept the reality of the situation and the inevitability of what’s happening, we are prepared to move on and do something about the situation.

Often it is when things have reached their very worst, that from somewhere, usually from within the very depths of the person, the germ of an idea or an insight occurs. Now is the time to do something

Solution-Oriented Phase

1.     Brainstorm possibilities
What can be done? With which resources? Look for possible solutions
2.     Partner with others
Pool resources, get help don’t stay alone. Be part of a supportive community
3.     Mobilise the resources
Get to work and have some objectives for the next 3-6 months
4.     Track & Measure
Keep track on what you do – have a system to measure your progress and get an accountability partner
5.     Sustain
Built-in your habits in a new routine so that when the normal time comes, your habits are so part of you and keep produce results.

Why Is It Important to Understand the Internal Process of Change?

Understanding the process of change will help you to know where people may be in the change curve to communicate better and support them.

If they are in the denial or bargaining stage, this is not the time to talk to them about the future (just be empathic and support them there)
If they are moving and are starting to be in the acceptance phase don’t tell them how well, you understand what they lost; focus instead on the future and what they could do

Change implies that you change your relationship with yourself and your relationship with others and your environment. A new environment will demand a new relationship.

Your behaviour impacts others and their behaviour impact you. So, in this delicate phase we all need to follow the direction and medical advice we receive: wash our hands, self-isolate when required, but still keep connected via technology phone/online and help each other. Avoid selfish behaviour of panic buying and remember that this too shall past. It seems like a bad dream now, but we will come through this stronger. Keep safe.

If you are ready to make the best possible of this situation and create your online presence and digital assets, get in touch at www.francinebeleyi.com/call

Action points

What is your key takeaway from this episode? What are you committed to do today to find more meaning in your work and live a more meaningful life? Share your thoughts below.

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