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I pay my respects and acknowledge all Traditional Custodians of Country and on whose land I live and work. I recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

Hi reader

there's a lot of talking going on right now over in Glasgow and around our world, but seemingly not a lot of listening. It's infuriating and it has me doubling down on my determination to be a better listener. I'm curious too if you've worked on your listening skills after the last useletter's challenge? It's hard right? Keep going it takes practice (& I need a lot of it). You got this.

Admittedly it's hard to focus when there's so much going on in this crazy world. With failures of leadership at a national and global level and conversely remarkable examples of leadership at a local level, I was tempted to write about leadership. Instead I'll just reflect that leadership is a choice, and leave you with a challenge. When things are seemingly going to s#!t how might you pick yourself to lead positive change in your little bit of the world?

My thoughts today turned to when a project is going to s#!t...

You're sick to the pit of your stomach as unavoidable and/or unforeseeable obstacles blow up. When that happens... you need to run to the bang. With the best course of action, leaning into the discomfort of doing the work. You might not want to hear it, but it's in the discomfort where we'll learn the most ...

I got you

Michael

running towards the bang

When every fibre of you body is telling you to run away, often the most helpful and constructive thing you can do is to run towards the bang.

We've all been in the situation when there's a scary phone call, a hard decision, or an uncomfortable commitment to be made. Every fibre of our body is telling us to run away. We might not move at first. We might be immobilised in desperate hope for a way out or a magic fix for the problem to avoid the discomfort altogether. Keeping in mind that it's often not as bad in reality as it is in your imagination.

It's often the only way to move a project forward and an opportunity to learn and grow. To stand out by doing the work that others might not be willing to do. Leaning in to the discomfort and doing the hard part first. After the hard part, everything else feels easier.

This discomfort is a hard wired survival instinct and hard to overcome. It's a vulnerable feeling, of not wanting to make mistakes, or seeking approval and wanting to be liked. It's human. We can also reframe this feeling. Framing it, as noted above, as a space in which we might find learning, growth and connection. Building the courage to go further, a space in which we're stretching ourselves. Consider welcoming the discomfort, instead of fearing it. It's all a part of developing a growth mindset.

The good news is that we've probably also all experienced how leaning into discomfort can get easier with practice and we can build confidence. Telling clients, for example, they have nowhere near enough in their budget for what they want. Hard the first time, but gets easier with practice. Also recognising the value of doing so sooner rather than later. Sometimes the only option we have is to run towards the bang, but know when you do, everyone will benefit, especially you.

I encourage you to lean into discomfort, and not only that, but seek it out in order to make more space to learn. Run towards the bang.

You got this.