Published on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008
We often say, ‘I love a challenge!’ But what happens when one is staring us in the face. Do we turn tail and run or do we gamely rise to the demands?
Most people prefer the monotony of the tried and tested, and are paralysed at the very thought of facing an adversity. They shy away from any disruption and are content with the predictability of normal routines. Even the ‘threat’ of chall enges casts long shadows and overwhelms them completely.
What they fail to realise is that if they only do what they have always done, there will be nothing to show for it. Expecting things to remain the same forever without any obstacle is more ridiculous than asking for the moon!
Difficulties always have and always will keep popping up in various forms, from tough assignments to heavy workloads, from changes in job description to new workplace structures or even from a demanding management style to testing colleagues.
Most people prefer the monotony of the tried and tested, and are paralysed at the very thought of facing an adversity. They shy away from any disruption and are content with the predictability of normal routines. Even the ‘threat’ of chall enges casts long shadows and overwhelms them completely.
What they fail to realise is that if they only do what they have always done, there will be nothing to show for it. Expecting things to remain the same forever without any obstacle is more ridiculous than asking for the moon!
Difficulties always have and always will keep popping up in various forms, from tough assignments to heavy workloads, from changes in job description to new workplace structures or even from a demanding management style to testing colleagues.
Challenge is the best teacher
A challenge is a breath of fresh air from the rut of the expected. It is an enabling opportunity to blossom and prove your mettle. Stretching yourself with optimism and enthusiasm alone will transform the adversities into superlative opportunities.
When a challenge is knocking on your door, opening yourself to the rich experience will help you to develop new skills and capabilities. Stepping up to the prime learning opportunity also renders the ultimate competitive advantage and enables you to stand out from the crowd. As business analyst, Rick Sparks exhorts, “Challenge energises us psychologically and physically and motivates us to learn new skills and master our jobs. Thus, challenge is an important ingredient for healthy and productive work.”
Then again, although on-the-job challenges can be difficult, effectively managing them increases job satisfaction and morale. The sense of accomplishment itself is unparalleled; forget the tremendous scope to cultivate a rising career graph with steady rise in performance. To quote American trainer Brian Tracy, “Only by contending with challenges that seem to be beyond your strength to handle at the moment you can grow more surely toward the stars!”
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you let yourself be beleaguered by challenges or view them as stepping stones to success. After all, success does often present itself as an alluring challenge!
A challenge is a breath of fresh air from the rut of the expected. It is an enabling opportunity to blossom and prove your mettle. Stretching yourself with optimism and enthusiasm alone will transform the adversities into superlative opportunities.
When a challenge is knocking on your door, opening yourself to the rich experience will help you to develop new skills and capabilities. Stepping up to the prime learning opportunity also renders the ultimate competitive advantage and enables you to stand out from the crowd. As business analyst, Rick Sparks exhorts, “Challenge energises us psychologically and physically and motivates us to learn new skills and master our jobs. Thus, challenge is an important ingredient for healthy and productive work.”
Then again, although on-the-job challenges can be difficult, effectively managing them increases job satisfaction and morale. The sense of accomplishment itself is unparalleled; forget the tremendous scope to cultivate a rising career graph with steady rise in performance. To quote American trainer Brian Tracy, “Only by contending with challenges that seem to be beyond your strength to handle at the moment you can grow more surely toward the stars!”
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you let yourself be beleaguered by challenges or view them as stepping stones to success. After all, success does often present itself as an alluring challenge!
Get your act together
In these times of burgeoning change when our path is chequered with constant challenges, is it not better to build our capacity to face them head on? Here’s how to press the advantage:
Groundwork - Facing challenges is no cakewalk. Prepare for the adversity by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses. Equip yourself with courage, resilience and commitment to withstand the pressures without breaking down. Test yourself constantly to determine whether you can remain undeterred in the face of rigorous demands. Also, remember that slowly working through the challenges will build on your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses, thus helping you become a stronger and more confident employee.
Steady as a rock - Exercise caution and keep your sense of balance when you are under pressure. Look for ways to turn the challenges into enabling opportunities instead of being bogged down by the stress.
As Thomas Edison famously said, “Opportunities are missed by most because its dressed in overalls and looks like work!”
Trial by fire – Successfully managing challenges calls for swift and decisive action. You have to figure out strategic, innovative and viable solutions despite the limiting factors. Brainstorm possibilities, set achievable goals and put in loads of effort to fulfil your commitments. Strive to generate efficient outcomes without resorting to substandard work. Also, build a strong support system by engaging colleagues, supervisors and the boss himself, and do not be afraid to seek assistance.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew – Do not let a challenging opportunity pass you by, but also be realistic with your expectations. Going overboard and over-committing yourself beyond the realm of possibility will turn the adversity into a crisis situation.
Face up to failure – Do not be fazed by defeat; it is a reminder that you have to work harder to feel the exhilaration of victory. Rise from the ashes and go on to conquer the next challenge.
The big picture – Slowly try to learn how to anticipate potential adversities in your job and prepare for them. Analyse the changes to gauge possible challenges and tackle them accordingly.
In essence, we have to continuously deal with challenges that lie ahead. There will be many more further ahead and how we handle them will reflect our career outcome. To quote a popular citation, ‘There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet!’
In these times of burgeoning change when our path is chequered with constant challenges, is it not better to build our capacity to face them head on? Here’s how to press the advantage:
Groundwork - Facing challenges is no cakewalk. Prepare for the adversity by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses. Equip yourself with courage, resilience and commitment to withstand the pressures without breaking down. Test yourself constantly to determine whether you can remain undeterred in the face of rigorous demands. Also, remember that slowly working through the challenges will build on your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses, thus helping you become a stronger and more confident employee.
Steady as a rock - Exercise caution and keep your sense of balance when you are under pressure. Look for ways to turn the challenges into enabling opportunities instead of being bogged down by the stress.
As Thomas Edison famously said, “Opportunities are missed by most because its dressed in overalls and looks like work!”
Trial by fire – Successfully managing challenges calls for swift and decisive action. You have to figure out strategic, innovative and viable solutions despite the limiting factors. Brainstorm possibilities, set achievable goals and put in loads of effort to fulfil your commitments. Strive to generate efficient outcomes without resorting to substandard work. Also, build a strong support system by engaging colleagues, supervisors and the boss himself, and do not be afraid to seek assistance.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew – Do not let a challenging opportunity pass you by, but also be realistic with your expectations. Going overboard and over-committing yourself beyond the realm of possibility will turn the adversity into a crisis situation.
Face up to failure – Do not be fazed by defeat; it is a reminder that you have to work harder to feel the exhilaration of victory. Rise from the ashes and go on to conquer the next challenge.
The big picture – Slowly try to learn how to anticipate potential adversities in your job and prepare for them. Analyse the changes to gauge possible challenges and tackle them accordingly.
In essence, we have to continuously deal with challenges that lie ahead. There will be many more further ahead and how we handle them will reflect our career outcome. To quote a popular citation, ‘There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet!’
PAYAL CHANANIA
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