Recently, I’ve had several conversations with clients about how to increase their sales. No surprise – we are all working harder to find new clients and customers. In a couple of the conversations, the old adage of Finders Minders Grinders has come up. The theory is that we are divided into three types of workers – those who find the work, those who mind the work or relationships and those who grind out the work.

It seems that all of us fall into one of those categories and some of us fall into two, and very, very few of us fall into all three. In times of economic growth, we rely less on the finders, because work tends to find us – we typically rely more on the grinders. In times of economic slowdown, it’s the reverse – we need more finders.

Now here’s the challenge. Since we can’t change who we are, and we typically have more grinders and need more finders, what the heck do we do?

One thing to do is figure out who you have – we will often fill the roles needed, which may not play to our strengths. You may have some hidden finders and minders. Also, notice how you’re using your minder and finders’ time – are they out meeting and getting connected at every chance – or are they at the desk, doing administrative work? If so, free them up to get out there! And as always, if you need any help figuring this all out, give us a call!

1. Put things in context. When things start to get out of hand and your stress starts to head for the stratosphere, put the breaks on runaway stress by identifying what control you do have,and what is beyond your control. Then put your energy into taking action on those things thatyou can affect, and use coping measures to deal with those that are beyond your control.

2. Put in things in perspective. Remember four very important words when things start to seem overwhelming -' this too shall pass'. Some days I find it really helpful to remind myself that each day is only 24 hours long, and then it's over. Then I tell myself that I can handle the next twenty four hours. And I do.

3. Find the trigger. If you find people are starting to get 'under your skin' or your temper is rising, look for the unspoken belief or strongly held desire behind your reaction. Research by Dr. Steven Reiss identified16 basic desires that people hold to varying degrees, resulting in a unique "desire profile" for each person which motivates their actions and defines their personality. Strongly held desires can result in unspoken expectations which, when not met, result in stress and strife. Are you putting undo stress on yourself because people aren't meeting your expectations which they, and even you, may be unaware of? Examine your assumptions and beliefs about the 'way things are supposed to be', then re-evaluate the situation in light of these new perspectives.

4. Choose your battles wisely. Too often we get caught up in the details and treat everything as a 'do or die' situation, increasing our stress levels significantly. Step back and assess the significance of what's going on. At the end of the day, is it really all that important? Is there another way to handle the situation - do you need to handle it at all? Conserve your energy for what's really important, which also means that you have to be clear on what's really important - to you.

5. Create boundaries. Too often we add to our stress because we can't say no, then we feel resentful. Before saying yes to a new activity, tell people that you will check your schedule. Then take time to evaluate how much time you have for yourself versus how much you have allocated to doing things for others. If you find you're short-changing yourself, say "no, thank you, I'll have to pass on that for now." And remember, you don't need an excuse to say 'No'.

6. Eliminate energy drains. Identify activities or circumstances that drag you down or leave you feeling tired and depleted. Eliminate those that you can, and find ways to cope with those that you can't remove entirely, such as paying the bills!

7. Add 'joy breaks' to your day. Make a list of activities that you find fun and energizing. Try to identify activities that take varying amounts of time (e.g. 2-5 min., 5-30 min., 30 min - ½ day, ½ day or more). Some activities, like reading a good book, can fit under several time slots. Keep the list handy, so when you need a pick-me-up, you'll have a menu of ideas to choose from.

8. Take a 'mini-vacation'. Often when under stress it would do us a world of good to get away for a vacation, however we've conditioned ourselves to see vacations as extended periods away from work. Create your own 'mini-vacation' in your home or office by keeping pictures of a favourite spot, or dream vacation site, or mementoes of a favourite trip, then when you feel the need for a break, take these treasures out and picture yourself 'on-vacation'. Five minutes of relaxed mental vacation time can lift your spirits and reduce your stress level substantially.

9. Add humour to your day. Begin a humour file with funny cartoons, pictures and short stories. When you need a lift, pull out a good joke and have a laugh - it's good for you. For the more ambitious, start a collection of funny movies and/or audio clips. Then after a stress filled week at the office or home, take time to unwind and watch/listen to one of your favourites.

10. Connect with nature. Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in North America and research has shown that it relaxes people. There's something very elemental and soothing about working with plants and soil. Often people will find that getting back to nature will help them re-charge and feel more relaxed and grounded.

11. Get physical. Once again research has shown that exercise helps the body deal with stress. You don't need to join a gym either or take up an extreme sport. Go for a brisk walk in the park - it'll clear your head and help you work out your frustrations. It will also help you reconnect with nature.

12. Create a "Wow - I did that!" file. Make a list of your accomplishments, skills, awards, unique talents - all of them (yes, even that certificate from Grade Two for completing the fitness run!). Too often we dwell on what we did wrong, or our weaknesses, and completely over-look or negate our strengths and talents. Actively gather a record of all the great things you've done, then when you're feeling under the gun and stressed out, pull the file out to remind yourself of how accomplished you are, and look to see how you might use these strengths to help youcope with what ever is creating the stress in your life.

13. Finally - practice 'Extreme Self-Care'. Learn to relax and take time for yourself. Eat properly and drink adequate amounts of water daily. Be sure to get the amount of sleep that's right for you. And an occasional pampering would do you a world of good. Spend some time at a spa, go on a weekend retreat or have a massage. You deserve it!

©2005 Karen Switzer-Howse

by RC on October 14, 2008

Nobody likes to hear or deal with the kind of financial news and stock market woes (although Monday’s gains made people feel a little better, I’m sure) that are going on right now, but besides the presidential election, it is about all that is on the news and is the most popular topic of conversation these days. But ups and downs in the stock market, even wild swings similar to what we are seeing lately, do happen, and they often make us feel a little stressed out or uneasy about our financial future. Taking steps to identify and alleviate worries about our finances can go a long way to making this roller coaster ride a little more bearable.Click here to go the blog entry

The baby-boomers' kids are marching into the workplace, and look out: This crop of twentysomethings really is different. Fortune's Nadira Hira presents a field guide to Generation Y. More

From Our Summer Intern

As a rising sophomore at Emory University, I decided to follow the increasingly popular trend towards summer internships. A double major in political science and economics, I wanted to gain some real world experience that would benefit me when my tenure at Emory expires. In my searches, and with the help of my mother, I came across Management Solutions Group. This field may not directly overlap with economics or political science, but it has provided me with invaluable perspective and insight into business and management.

Throughout the summer, I have worked in and out of the office with both Liz and Rachel. In the office, I have performed a myriad of tasks not unexpected of an intern. I have researched newspaper articles for newsletters, I have helped to prepare for events and sessions, and I have assisted with whatever other projects arise. Out of the office, I have been allowed to sit in on a number of the sessions Liz has conducted. In one case, I was even allowed to single-handedly lead part of the session.

From this experience I have come to understand the difficulties facing business as they try to adapt to and plan for the future. Before I started my work at MSG, I had never found myself in a boardroom or planning session. I just assumed that people inherently knew the best plan of action for each scenario and could overcome those hurdles with little foresight or group work. This summer, I saw how wrong I was. I now understand the importance of a detailed strategic plan, devised by the group, to accomplish goals. The plans provide the integral transition step from theory to practice. More generally, this internship has shown me how to conduct myself in business settings. Introduced to many of Nashville’s most prominent leaders, I had to carry myself professionally. All in all, this has been a perfect summer and a terrific place to work.