Starting a New Job Dont Take Those Old Bad Habits With You

Starting a New Job Dont Take Those Old Bad Habits With You Whether you are boldly seeking your next career challenge, or desperately trying to escape the job youre in, one thing is true you will take all of yourold, bad habits with you unless you get down to the root causes and make intentional choices to let them go. One of the most common constellations of bad habits occurs when we get too busy for our own good and the combination ofshrinking resources and increasing responsibilities pushes us to the brink. When thathappens, we inadvertently slip into self-defeating habits that drain our already precious time, energy, resources, and focus even more.The herausforderung with this pattern over time is that, when demands outpace capacity, you end up negotiating with yourself about which fire of the day you will put out while the others are painfully neglected. I call this set of imperfect choices th e managers dilemma, because it is truly a no-win situation without an obvious solution.If you manage people, priorities, and projects, then the chances are good that you have encountered the dilemma at some point you may even be struggling with its consequences right now.Whether you want a clean slate in your next job, or you just need to turn over a new leaf in your current role, you cant let the dilemma bog you down.Are You in the Midst of the Managers Dilemma?To know whether or notyou are stuck in the dilemmas grip, listen to the way you talk about your own work. The emergence of paradoxical statements like the following is the first sign that the managers dilemma is settling into your atmosphereI cant afford to relax because things are too busy right now.Im drained, but I have to set an example of perseverance for the team.With so many deadlines and demands, some priorities will have to be sacrificed.Its too crazy now Ill focus better once things settle down.From the outside loo king in, you can see how backward statements like unterstellung actually are. If a friend said something like this to you, it would be easy to point out the flaw in their logic and show them how the undoubtedly counterproductive behaviors stemming from these attitudes will leave them more deeply entrenched in their dilemma. However, when it comes to our own situations, were too close to and too tangled up in them to maintain this level of objectivity.When we are stuck in our own dilemmas, we somehow start believing that this is how work has to be. Over time, the cumulative effect of this way of thinking and working leaves us feeling like there is truly no way out. What was easy is now difficult. What was enjoyable is now unsatisfying. What was just an inconvenient headache is now a crisis. What used to give us a sense of purpose now seems unimportant. This is the managers dilemma.How the Managers Dilemma Forces Us to Make Unfair TradeoffsWhen we are pinned down bythese beliefs, we s truggle to act in ways that align with our aspirations, values, and goals. We are pushed and pulled by the veryirreconcilable choices that are at the heart of what it means to work, manage, and lead well.Which goal rises above all your other priorities?Which fire of the day gets extinguished while others are selectively ignored simply because there are too few resources available to put them all out?Which project receives funding while other high-potential opportunities languish?Which team member gets your attention as other deserving candidates are inadvertently overlooked?These are just a few examples of the critical assessments, judgment calls, and decisions that frame the ultimate concern for managers. Within each of these difficult questions, you see the endless set of tradeoffs managers and influential contributors must make when stuck in the dilemma.Stuck in the Managers Dilemma? Learn How to Get OutThe good news is that the underlying factors that create and sustain the mana gers dilemma can be intelligently addressed in a way that actually boosts your capacity to lead effectively even through the chaos and strain of the busiest schedule. This means you do not have to take those old habits with you into your fresh start.The key is to notice the subtle attitudes and behaviors that ultimately lead to self-defeating routines that keep us spinning our wheels. To start overcoming your dilemma, you can take this complimentary assessment to see if the tell-tale signs are present in your working life.