While there will always be challenges at work, does frustration make you lose focus? This happens when a problem overwhelms you, changes your mood, and produces poor decisions.
I’m reminded of story from an Executive Assistant. She told me her boss, who while successful, would often let little problems frustrate him to unexpected levels.
“Once he called me and said we needed to buy a new TV for his office because the remote control no longer worked,” she said. “It turned out the TV was fine and the remote just needed some new batteries.”
“So did you change the batteries?” I asked.
“No, he insisted on a new TV, even though the old one was less than a year old,” she said. “Any problem that involved some frustration always produced a massive reaction.”
In this case, the CEO solved a two dollar problem by spending hundreds on a new TV. While he has every right to make his these decisions, they may not serve him well in the long run. And how much time and energy did he waste on a relatively small problem?
With that in mind, here are some tips designed to make sure when you experience frustration, you don’t lose focus.
Wait Before Reacting
Whether it’s hormones or habits, it can be easy to make an immediate judgement about a frustrating situation. I’ve found it be very useful to take a break, do something else, and then return to the challenge. Time can give you perspective.
While I’ve spoken out against ignoring problems, taking some time to consider your options before making a decision can prevent mistakes. Don’t let emotion drive you to a costly outcome.
This skill does take some practice as today’s world seems to demand instant reaction. But careful deliberation will serve you well.
Don’t Lose Focus with Clear Requests
Sometimes the source of frustration isn’t a piece of technology but a person. Someone isn’t doing something the way you want and it’s causing you problems.
It’s possible you may play a role in this scenario because while you say that you want something done a certain way, you don’t say why you want it done that way.
This gap gives people room to make assumptions or believe they’re serving your needs by making changes to your process.
Make sure your requests include that reason why. It should result in higher compliance and provide backup should you need to hold someone accountable.
Get a Buffer
Sometimes you will encounter a problem that you should not handle. It’s either outside of your expertise or doesn’t fit your demeanor.
In these cases, have someone who can serve as a buffer between you and the challenge. That person is in charge of fixing the problem or giving you options.
For instance, I’m not the best at database management. I understand the principles but can quickly become bored or confused. Rather than get frustrated by a temperamental database project, I reach out to an expert and get help.
By acknowledging my limitations, I avoid a lot of frustration and don’t lose focus.
Your time is a valuable resource. Preserve it for the things you do best.
