Meeting the Moment
As we near the end of the year, many of us are thinking of 2024. After the rush, it’s a natural moment to turn one’s focus forward. This might mean strategic planning, thinking about your team and their development, preparing for a new role to step into, or elevating the performance of your area.
In all of this future-casting, there is a thread —it’s about opportunities.
What does one need to do to create opportunity in 2024? What can one to do be prepared to see the openings that lie beneath the surface? And how can you and your team rise to meet those moments when opportunity does come knocking?
Often, we think there are so many pieces that need to come together. It can feel random, and out of our control. We have all heard those wonderful stories of serendipity, where the timing is perfect, and wonderful things happen. It’s the moment in the movie where you just miss your train, and there is your future partner, fumbling with an umbrella.
In the work world, this might look like having your seat changed by the airline but then having a great chat with the person seated next to you who connects you with an opportunity. Or having a seemingly random idea come from your team that anticipates an emerging need. Of course, serendipity is one thing, but it isn’t everything. You also have to be prepared for when that moment arrives.
I was speaking with a leadership coaching client recently and she knew an opportunity was emerging for her. It was an opportunity that, until just a little while ago, she’d thought was out of range. But over the past few years she kept on proving to herself she could climb steeper and steeper learning curves. Now, as the opportunity was revealing itself, she found herself facing the question: how can I be ready for this opportunity?
As we explored her situation further, we found it wasn’t just about getting the role. For her, what was most important was meeting the moment with everything she had. That meant stepping in strongly, solidly, and steadily so that she not only instilled confidence in those around her, but also instilled that confidence inside herself.
The question we began with was: How might she truly prepare herself for that moment?
Here’s a couple of thoughts on how to meet your moment that has a handy little acronym (MAPPS):
Mindset
Take some time to reflect on what you are thinking about in this moment and about how you see yourself in it. Notice the tone of your inner narrative – if it is not serving you in making progress towards your goals, seek to shift it.
Articulation
Do the work of getting really clear about what your aspiration looks like and why. Paint the picture of who you want to be in this next stage and why it matters to you. You might do this by writing your thoughts down or working with a coach.
Practice
Identify the pieces that you feel are the biggest stretches for you – and then reverse engineer opportunities to get some turns at the wheel. This might look like a conversation with your leader, seeking out opportunities that have similar elements, or stretching outside of your comfort zone.
Perspective
Think through the situation intentionally – put yourself in others' shoes so that you can understand what their perspective might be. This might look like taking a broad look at the situation, taking a witness view of yourself or creating a personal mantra to support this shift.
Self
Consider what you might put in place to support yourself to be at your best personally. This might look like going for a weekly bike ride with a friend, putting some family dinners in the calendar, or taking the time to meditate. Consider what grounds you – and make space for that.
“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.”