Kate Marshall

Columnist

Kate Marshall

Coach, Speaker, Author, Facilitator

Going For Gold

The Tokyo Olympics have just recently finished, and I have to say I was in awe of those brilliant young athletes who qualified to compete, as well as those who won medals and were on the podium.

It’s such a powerful moment, seeing medal winners stand in the limelight as they’re rewarded for years of sacrifice, commitment, discipline, and training. The emotional toll on many of the athletes was obvious and we applauded the courage of Simone Biles who withdrew from the vault and uneven bar apparatus finals as she wrestled with mental health issues. She went on to win medals, however her most powerful statement was the act of stepping back. She said, “I think it shows the power of the athlete in protecting my mental well-being”.

The controversial Piers Morgan had to backtrack when he commented on twitter that bronze medals were hardly worth celebrating when he later posted a message of congratulations to 13-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown who won bronze – and I should think so, too. I watched the talented skateboarder and couldn’t believe someone so young was performing at that level representing Team GB. But not everyone won a medal, and it could be argued, worked just as hard, with as much dedication for as many years.

It got me thinking about how we recognise effort and dedication and celebrate success. Often there are many unsung heroes in our businesses who don’t get the recognition they deserve and are perhaps struggling to keep energy and motivation high.

These hard working, dedicated, disciplined, methodical unsung heroes are often personally invested in what they do. They’re in it for the long haul, often sacrificing personal time and they are not motivated just by the prospect of their own success, but by that of others.

Recently for many leaders, keeping their business safe, operating and thriving has been a real challenge. It’s been a hard slog, taking immense amounts of time and money, and a toll on mental health. I read a recent article in the New York times by Adam Grant titled “There is a name for the blah you are feeling, and it’s called Languishing.” He explains, “languishing is not burn out or depression, just a sense of stagnation or emptiness. You don’t have symptoms of mental illness, but you are not the picture of mental health and have a sense that you are not functioning at full capacity.” Languishing is the neglected middle child of mental health, and it seems to be the common state as we head towards the end of 2021. I’ve seen it in the eyes and heard it in the tired voices of many leaders and friends in the past 20 months.

So how can we address this? I have some suggestions. In his article, Adam talks about getting into flow. Flow is a place where you are fully emersed on a project or task and lose sense of time and external pressure.

1. Work out what allows you to get into flow, that place where you can focus and lose yourself in the task or activity at hand. To get into flow we must be able to block out the noise and busyness of life. In flow, things seem easy and effortless.

2. For many years I’ve taught and encouraged leaders to create uninterrupted time. I call it “Red time”. A time when you are not available to others. A time for you to work on what’s important to you, both in business and personally. Stephen

Coveys calls it the priority management Quadrant 2 with the 80/20 principle applied. This is where 20% of your time gives you 80% of your results, thus creating a sense of completion and getting important things done. Looking after your mental, physical health and your personal relationships should always be a Q2 activity.

3. Make good choices over who you spend time with. We know we are greatly impacted by the quality/attitude of the people around us. Ensure you spend time with people who give you energy not drain you of energy. Prioritise time with them; these are often the people we care most about and who most care about us. With many of us recognising this Languishing state in ourselves and others around us, be careful not to fall into a pit of despair.

4. Finally, be an energy giver, look for, seek out and recognise the unsung heroes around you. Look around you, your bosses, your colleagues, the team members you delegate to. Include your family and friends. Who would you award a medal to in your life? Who doesn’t always get the recognition they deserve? How can you appreciate them more? These people are often the real heroes who quietly get on with things with determination and grit. They are not just going for gold, but they are worth their weight in gold.

“Languishing is the neglected middle child of mental health, and it seems to be the common state as we head towards the end of 2021. I’ve seen it in the eyes and heard it in the tired voices of many leaders and friends in the past 20 months.”