Holding steady when the juggle is real

Hello Reader

I can hardly believe it - today my son finishes his first half term at school...already!

(I've not got my head around the fact he's started, let alone we are at the first 'checkpoint'!)

So this also means, it’s my first time doing the half term juggle as a parent.  And it's made me think how much disruption these weeks bring. Work deadlines don’t pause. Family needs don’t disappear. And colleagues are away, which means extra covering for those still in the office.

And in moments like this, I notice how differently we all respond.

- Some of us turn inward, feeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin.

- Others turn outward, frustration bubbling when colleagues aren’t pulling their weight.
- And a few manage to hold steady - calm, compassionate, still able to get the best from themselves and others.

The truth is, I’ve slipped into all of these at different points in my career. Especially during my years in law when I sprinted without pause - everything felt urgent, heavy, and patience was the first thing to go.

These behaviours aren’t random. They’re patterns. And in my work with leaders, I use a model called the OK Corral to help us understand and reflect on them.

- If the model is already familiar to you, perhaps this week is a chance to notice: where are you spending most of your time?  Is it I+U+? Really? ;-)  Ask yourself "what do I need right now?"

- If this is your first introduction, here’s the reflection: what helps you stay grounded when disruption hits, so you can get the best from yourself and your people?

With warmth,

Vikki x

P.S. This is exactly what I help individuals explore when they work with me - how to notice when they’re tipping off balance, and how to reset before it affects performance and culture. If you’d like to explore this for your or your people, let’s chat.

Think this would be helpful to someone else - forward it on!