She’s too smart, she makes you feel stupid.

He’s too quiet; you don’t know what he’s thinking.

She won’t shut up; she won’t let you think.

He thinks so much; he doesn’t care.

She cares so much she doesn’t think.

It’s just never good enough, is it?

You’re either too much of this or too little of that and you want to just be left alone to do your job.

I hear you.

I really do hear you. I get calls every day from people who are over the top with the stress they’re feeling at work, at home, or from the news. And they want a break.

So let’s give them one. Give yourselves a break. For one day, let it go. Let go of the finger pointing, head shaking, eye rolling, that only makes it harder on everyone to be creative, productive, and successful. For one day, stop competing against each other and start collaborating with each other.

Instead of finding fault, find something to value. How hard is it, for just one day?

I don’t trust her.

He doesn’t trust me.

We don’t trust them

They don’t trust us.

Give it up. For just one day. Trust somebody. Trust that for this one day no one is trying to do you in, stab you in the back, steal your ideas, or make your life miserable.

For this one day, be okay with yourself and the people you work with. Be okay with your boss and the company that still writes the checks.

Model behavior that builds up and doesn’t tear down.

Talk about what people need to hear before you talk about what you want to say.

Get tough on problems and go easy on people.

Be strong without having to make others weak.

Be right without acting self righteous.

If you made the wrong call, own it, fix it, learn from it, and say so.

Separate the wrong call from being wrong; and the right call and being right.

Separate who you are from what you do.

Let the baggage go. For just one day.

If you’re the boss, get out of your office, find your employees, talk to them, let them talk to you, and listen to what they say. They want you to know how stressed they are, so let them. They want you to say where “next” and “there” is, so tell them. It’s your job to set the tone and the direction. If you don’t have answers to the questions they ask, say so, and answer the questions they haven’t asked but need to know. The want to have the picture and they want a part to play in the solution. Give it to them.

Wherever you work, show up, stand up and step up. Prioritize objectives, focus on what you can control, and take action. Ask questions, find answers, and there aren’t any available, take the lead, put together a plan, and work that plan, because when it comes down to it, you’re the one accountable for your future.

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Yes! You may use this article by Executive and Career Coach, Joyce Richman, in your blog, article in your blog, newsletter or website as long as you include the following bio box:

Joyce Richman (www.joycerichman.com) has been specializing in executive and career coaching since she started her own practice in 1982. She works in a variety of environments including: higher education, manufacturing, sales, marketing, media, technology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, banking and finance, service, IT, and non-profit sectors. A member of the adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership, Joyce is certified to administer a number of feedback and psychological instruments. Joyce is a weekly guest on WFMY-TV and the career columnist for The Greensboro News & Record. She is the author of Roads, Routes and Ruts: A Guidebook to Career Success and co-author of Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job. A popular speaker, Richman conducts seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Her coaching profile can be found at TheCoachingAssociation.com.