Be The Duck

That really bad picture; yeah, I drew that!  I put it on my office whiteboard so everyone who walks in sees it.

Have you heard the old saying; “Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like hell underneath.”?  Well, that’s the way things have been going lately at work.  I have a huge list of things to do and everyday it gets longer.  My mind is going a million miles an hour in a dozen different directions.  I need to switch gears between the back-to-back meetings quickly.  Someone, somewhere, is looking for me while I’m looking for someone else.

But given all that happens below the surface, on top I work hard to remain calm and in control.  Why?

Because showing how busy and tense I am does not project well on those I’m also trying to keep calm and in control.

Have you ever seen a manager, leader, project manager, or anyone else who leads a team running around all tense?  Then do you notice how tense their team gets?  Before you know it, everyone is on edge and seems to be moving to get something done, but maybe not knowing what or why.  Chaos can quickly ensue because of the tension.

When things get crazy, Be the Duck!  I know it’s not easy and let’s be honest, we all have our moments where stress gets the best of us.  But for the benefit of those around you, find ways to remain calm on the surface, even if you’re going like hell underneath.