The 2010 Winter Olympics have begun and Clara Hughes was Canada’s flag-bearer in Vancouver. Clara is a remarkable. She is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both Winter and Summer Olympics. She’s also an advocate for the environment, a humanitarian activist and motivational speaker. Clara exudes the Olympic spirit, and is an inspiration for all of us to be the best we can be.
Like our athletes, we can experience highs and lows at work; times where we feel on top of the world and times were we feel overwhelmed. When we are confronted by a difficult colleague, it can be hard to keep an Olympic attitude, one that exudes confidence and optimism. Like the inspiration we draw from people like Clara, we too can be inspiring at work. How can we maintain our Olympic spirit?
Tune into your body and mind – Athletes know the importance of being in tune with themselves, both mentally and physically. We can be in tune with ourselves at work, mentally and physically. Are you tired? Worried? Energized? Bored? Do a mental check-in before you go to work or pause to reflect on a particular situation at work.
Stay focused and persevere– Keep your eye on your end goal. It may be a promotion you want, or closing a deal with a new client. Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve – write it down, or communicate it with someone else. Not everything goes according to plan and outcomes can shift along the way. Persevere through periods of change or challenge.
Stay present – Watching athletes is inspiring. They are fully present in what they are doing. We too can practice being fully present at work and in our lives. As we watch our Olympians, let’s remind ourselves to stay in the situation and moment we are in, letting go of the past and future.
Enjoy the Olympics!
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I think the greatest lesson I have learned from athletes is the value of the intensity of the moment. For example, I have trained with some elite athletes, and in 20 minutes, they get more out of their body than everyone else does in an hour. It's not just that they are doing hard work. It is that they are doing focused work. The intensity of the moment is so fierce for athletes.
ReplyDeleteI often think that if I bring even a fraction of that intensity to my work, I could "shake up the world!" as Muhammad Ali used to proclaim.
Well said, I am going to try it for week...bringing intensity to my work. Thank you!
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