Navigating the Highs and Lows of Consulting

Aug 15, 2024

2 min read

Balance between order and chaos is a continuous journey that can help people navigate their lives more effectively.

As a consultant, many of us often find themselves riding an emotional rollercoaster with our engagements. The nature of the job—managing clients, deadlines, and deliverables—can lead to extreme highs and lows. But what if we could approach these situations with a more balanced perspective? Rather than categorising every situation as "good" or "bad," what if we simply let them be what they are and make the best of them?

The Trap of Assigning Values

In consulting, with the ups and downs of each engagement, it is easy to label situations as either successes or failures. A client praises your work? That is good! A project falls behind schedule? That is bad. But this black-and-white thinking can lead to unnecessary stress and burnout. By assigning values to every situation, we set ourselves up for emotional volatility, where every setback feels catastrophic and every win feels euphoric.

Life is movement. Movement is imbalance. Imbalance is chaos. Life is chaos.

Embracing the Moment

The secret to maintaining balance is to let each situation unfold without immediately judging it. As the quote goes, "A secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be, and then making the best of it." This mindset shift allows us to experience situations more fully and respond to them more effectively.

Practical Tips for Managing Everyday Ups and Downs

Mindfulness in Action: Practise being present in each moment, whether you are in a high-stakes meeting or tackling routine tasks. Acknowledge the situation without labelling it.
Reflect, Don’t React: Instead of jumping to conclusions about how good or bad a situation is, take a step back. Reflect on the facts and consider the broader context before reacting.
Detach from Outcomes: While it is natural to strive for success, attaching your emotional state to outcomes can be dangerous. Focus on the process and the effort you’re putting in, rather than the result.
Adopt a Growth Mindset: View challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as failures. This perspective helps you stay resilient in the face of difficulties.

In consulting, as in life, it is important to remember that not every situation needs to be categorised or judged. By embracing the present moment and letting situations be what they are instead of what we think they should be, we can navigate the highs and lows with greater ease and less emotional turbulence. This balanced approach not only enhances our professional effectiveness but also contributes to our overall well-being.