In this episode, Cindy Esliger addresses what she calls ‘work albatrosses’, the hidden burdens that steal our time and focus and derail our long-term goals. It’s tempting to always say yes, but the more we do, the more we become an albatross. She explores how to identify the early warning signs and subtle red flags that show up before the burdens become our problems. She identifies what an energy vampire looks like and shines a light on how to avoid the work albatross, protect our energy, and realign our work with what actually fuels us.
We often take on these work albatrosses out of a sense of obligation, guilt, or fear. While they’re presented as a way to demonstrate our leadership, instead, they’re more like career quicksand. Cindy cautions us that in order to bring clarity to chaos, we need to get brutally honest about what’s actually on our plate and what shouldn’t be. What does an albatross feel like? That project that makes our anxiety surge and causes success to feel like punishment, all while siphoning off our best energy and attention.
Cindy identifies four common warning signs when it comes to identifying an albatross: 1. Lack of clear ownership, 2. Avoidant behavior from others, 3. We’re the only ones excited, or not, and 4. A vague sense of dread. In order to set a boundary and renegotiate our role in these situations, difficult conversations may be required. Cindy offers four tips for having a respectful conversation: 1. Get right to the point, 2. Clearly state the desired outcome, 3. Mind our tone, and 4. Keep it clear. We can control how much chaos we internalize and what burdens we shoulder. Cindy guides us through navigating overwhelm and protecting our energy at work.
Resources discussed in this episode:
—
Contact Cindy Esliger
Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
