267. The Secret To Stability At Work

Ever since that whole pandemic phase we went through, there’s been a lot more talk about life balance and stability.

That makes sense.

I mean, if you peruse the history of previous pandemics, you’ll see they’re always followed by a renaissance in economic, cultural and personal balance and stability.

Here’s the problem…

Most people don’t understand the multiple ways that balance and stability impact their lives.

It starts with a test.

The Stability Life Test

Try this test.
Right now. Try it now.

Stand up.

Now lift one foot about 12” above the ground and balance on your other foot. After 30 seconds, close your eyes and stay balanced for at least 15 seconds.

That’s the test.

Regardless of your health profile, despite diabetes, high BMI or other similar ailments, your longevity in life is related to your ability to stand on one leg with your eyes closed.

It’s true.

If you are in your early fifties and can’t balance on one foot with your eyes closed for just 10 seconds, you are at least two times more likely to die by the time you’re 65.

If you made it less than 2 seconds, you are 3 to 4x more likely to die by 65.

My point is that stability plays a vital role in your life, whether you are aware of it or not.

The Meaning of Stability

If you actually did the test, you probably experienced a hyperawareness of your foot’s relationship with the floor, once you closed your eyes.

Maybe you teetered left and had to correct, then teetered right and had to correct again and…

Well, you went back and forth until you found equilibrium.

That’s stability.

People mistakenly believe stability is about an unchanging environment. They’re wrong.

An unchanging environment is stagnation.

There is a big difference between stability and stagnation.

Stability is good and healthy and extends your life.
Stagnation is bad.
It kills you and it kills businesses.

People who lay on the couch all day eating ‘Nilla Wafers while watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island are stagnant.

They don’t have stability, among the other things they may be lacking.

Stability and Change

Stability requires movement and change. That’s the whole point of stability.

Stability is the ability to return to a sense of equilibrium despite the change that is happening around you.

Great warriors have stability. It’s what made Muhammad Ali so graceful.

The best leaders show stability in times of crisis. Just watch any Winston Churchill documentary to get a MasterClass on that.

The human body – your body – is constantly working to maintain stability. When you’re sick, the body acts to bring you back to health. When you get cut, the body heals. When you stand on one foot, the body automatically adjusts to try to keep you in balance.

Stability is everything.

Stability In Life

Your success in life is centered around your own stability, and the ability to create that feeling in others.

Humans innately crave stability.

If life were a game of freeze tag, stability is the safe zone.

Despite the chaos going on around you – the running and screaming and laughing – you can always run over and put your hand on the jungle gym to have stability. It is your proverbial return to a sense of equilibrium.

The chaos is fun. We learn from the moments of mania. That’s the point. But it requires the calmness of stability to remain in balance.

That was a pretty crappy analogy but I hope you understand what I meant.

Stability At Work

Just like humans crave stability in life, people want stability at work.

That doesn’t mean work is supposed to be free from challenge. To the contrary, a stable work environment is one that has consistency, reliability and predictability, despite the challenges.

In my executive coaching practice, I tend to work with a lot of leaders who don’t fully understand the balance that is required to maintain stability.

More importantly, they don’t always understand its critical importance.

There are a variety of different ways leaders can and should impart a sense of stability at work. Here are 5 examples off the top of my head,

1. Accountability – Holding people accountable doesn’t mean scolding them. It means giving guidelines on what should happen and when. Guidelines create a sense of stability.
2. Standing Up For Your Team – People feel stability when they know somebody else is standing up for them.
3. Transparency – Consistent communication is critical. If you don’t tell people what’s happening and why, they will create their own stories of instability.
4. Listening – Ask, listen and consider other people’s opinions. It gives a sense of purpose and belonging, both of which are at the core of stability
5. Consistent Policies – Stability comes from knowing there is a net to catch you if you fall. This includes health benefits, maternity/paternity leave, remote work, grief therapy and all the other things that help people get back to equilibrium when life gets chaotic.

Keeping Stability At Work Top Of Mind

Let’s face it, neither you nor I pay regular attention to how we balance on one foot. Unless, of course, you do yoga. Which I don’t. But I should. Though that’s probably an entirely different kettle of bells that we can save for later.

My point being, we take our stability for granted. In doing so, we take our longevity for granted. We walk down the stairs and don’t think of all the things that go into making it a mindless activity.

It’s always the little things that matter. Especially when it comes to stability.

Everybody wants stability at work. We all want to have a predictable, secure and consistent environment. Without it, there is no trust or confidence.

So maybe it’s time to stand up, lift one leg, close your eyes and think of how you can improve stability in life.