Now, let’s get down to the task at hand.
Now that you’ve calmed down and have a clear mind, it’s time to get on with the project. There are all kinds of techniques you can use, but I’ll go through one that I use a lot: the traffic light system.
The traffic light system
First, figure out what you know and what you don’t know using the traffic light system.
Write down all the things you think you should do. it could be as simple as:
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Create a plan
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Add the timeline
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Make a team
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Talk to someone
And you’ll find as you think and write, more ideas will come to you. Keep building on this list, be creative, think of similar problems you’ve faced, and as you do, write them all down.
After you’ve run out of ideas, read the list and code it like this:
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Learn how to do it – GREEN
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Have an idea how to do it – AMBER
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No idea – RED
This process will take you from “I don’t know how” to “I have some idea how”. It will give you a visual representation of the task, with steps, and you might be surprised how much green is on the list. You probably know more than you think you do. We often do, but fear and panic can get in the way of clear thinking.
Who do you need to talk to?
Now you have a better idea of what needs to be done, talk to the people who will help you build on it. It can be part of your team, affiliated teams, a supplier or maybe even a customer.
This is often easier said than done as insecurity can come into play. One of my clients once said, “But how can I ask for help? It’s my job and I’m supposed to know how to do everything.”
Together, we challenged this view of thinking by going through the ABCDE model that neuroscientist Giulia Panozzo talked about on my podcast.
ABCDE stands for:
Action
Faith
Consistency
Disruptive (other conviction)
I activate
Learn more by listening to the podcast episode:
Using Neuroplasticity for Personal Growth with Giulia Panozzo — The SEO Mindset Podcast
In my client’s case, it went something like this —
Action — He didn’t want to ask for help.
Belief — She believed her job was to do it all and know it all, or she wasn’t doing her job well.
Consequence — He was stuck on the project
Disrupter — Her manager was someone who was there to support her. Someone he could learn from and this project was an opportunity to grow.
Energized — With this new belief, he could feel energized and move forward.
By talking with others and leveraging their knowledge and expertise, continue to create a plan and/or solution for the task that will help you move forward.
What do you need to learn?
This step is about figuring out what you need to know. This can be a course, a book, learning from someone in your organization, and so on. And remember, you don’t have to learn everything, just the part that gets you ahead.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t learn more, read more, or do the whole course, but as someone with these tendencies, I know it can delay real progress in taking action.
Take action
So, remember that traffic light exercise? And the next steps to learn more? Don’t expect to have an entire green board or “know it all” before you start. It won’t happen, and in fact it doesn’t have to. As you start going, you will learn more and the project will open up.
Often, while searching for a perfect solution, it can feel easier and safer to get lost in the details and planning, or to engage in other tasks. These actions could be rooted in fear of failure, reluctance to step out of one’s comfort zone, or lack of confidence.
However, confidence will come from taking action, so just start!
