Hello Reader,

There are moments in our lives when everything feels uncertain. Everything that we thought we knew about ourselves, about the world and how it works, gets thrown out of the window and we are forced to confront a reality that feels unreal and overwhelming.

It could be a sudden career change, a major life event in your life or in the lives of your friends & family, a personal health scare - take your pick. Regardless of the trigger, unexpected and unwanted change happens to all of us. It's at times like these that we look around for familiar people & mentors, comfort seeking behaviors, time tested processes and frameworks - anything that will anchor us in the moment, and help us get back on track.

But what if the very anchor that is supposed to help us holds us back? Anchors can help us navigate change and support us in times of chaos, but they can also weigh us down if we are not clear about who or what those anchors are, what role do they play, and whether they are still relevant. So, do you know what anchors you?

We don't know what we don't know

Does this sound familiar?

• I know WHO I am, and who I've always been.
• I know WHY I do what I do. The clarity of my vision will keep me aligned with my values.
• I know WHAT to do. I have spent years honing my skills.
• I know HOW I feel and how to manage myself in a crisis. My emotions are my strength.

All these statements start with what we know - about ourselves, and our response - real or imagined - to a crisis. Except when WE DON'T KNOW. When we face a situation where we don't know what to do, or why to do it; we don't know how we feel or who we've become. When all the things, and people, and behaviors that anchored us in the past don't feel right. We feel adrift, not sure of the direction, uncertain of the outcomes. What then?

We would like to think that we will weather the storm; get back up no matter how many times we get knocked down, or some such practiced reaction. But the truth is that no one really knows, until they are faced with the situation. Sure we plan contingencies, and practice for emergencies, we build in redundancies and invest in insurance policies. That's the responsible thing to do. But could we accurately predict what our actual response would be to a real life crisis?

This is what I would like to leave you with this month. The time to plan is when you are not in the middle of a crisis. As you proactively plan for your future, strategize for success, and build a resilient org culture, think about the following questions:

• What are you holding onto because it once helped you?
• What would it feel like to loosen your grip, just a little?
• Which of your strongest qualities might be limiting you today?
• What beliefs are anchoring you today?
• Do they still reflect who you are becoming?

Anchors are important. They ground us. But they should never weigh us down. It's crucial to know the difference. Choose with awareness. And always leave room for change. Use these questions in addition to the monthly worksheet and reflect upon your anchors. Let us know how it went.

Until next month,

Anjani

Click below to download this month's coaching worksheet.

One last thought...

Did you catch all our posts on this topic? If not, here they are again:

​Who’s your anchor?
Who are you anchoring?​

​Not everything that holds you is helping you.​

​Anchors can steady you. But they can also script you.​

​Are you holding on to the anchors that got you here?​

​Culture as an anchor.​

​When your personal anchor shifts but the organization’s doesn’t​

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