Coasting Versus Leaning In
Have you coasted with work?
I know I have. And so many of my clients have too.
Whether you're recently back from maternity leave, battling a season of kid illnesses, or have a partner who's traveling or working their own crazy hours, it can make total sense to just do the bare minimum.
To not go after challenging projects or the next promotion. To not put yourself 'out there' because it's just easier to fly under the radar.
So I fully support coasting.
It's the epitome of working smarter not harder and when your plate is already full, it can be life and career-saving.
But sometimes, it can become a habit that holds you back from something you want.
Here's what I mean.
Let's take the example of my client who's been back at work from her second maternity leave for about 7 months.
She's back into the swing of things at work and in a good rhythm at home with her two kids. And that's largely because she's been coasting.
But in the last couple of months, she's been feeling really run-down by the bare minimum - emails, meetings, presentations, office politics.
What felt really supportive and easy when she first came back to work, now felt irritating and annoying.
But whenever she thought about taking on a bigger project or putting herself out there in front of leadership, she shut it down.
"It feels like too much," she would say.
"I'm having trouble keeping up with the bare minimum. How could I take on more?!"
She was scared. She was afraid that coming out of "coast mode" would be more work. That it would take more of her energy and attention. And that she'd have nothing left for everything else.
She thought the opposite of coasting would tip the scales that she was so precariously balancing.
And maybe it would.
But maybe... the opposite of coasting isn't doing more.
What if you could "lean in" strategically and actually create more energy, not create more work?
What if working on something that's the opposite of coasting is actually what you need to make the mundane minimum easier?
Is that even possible, you might be thinking?
Yes, it was true for my client. Here's what it looked like:
You start by thinking about your role and the value you bring to it.
What are you uniquely positioned to bring to your work, your team, or your business?
What are the results that would have the biggest impact?
And then how do things like emails, meetings, and throw-away tasks support that? The answer is they probably don't.
So you slowly test boundaries.
What can you stop doing in order to do more of what brings value and creates results?
You find small, easy ways to slowly ease out of coast mode.
And you evaluate as you go.
Is it too much, like you thought it would be?
Is it uncomfortable? Are you ok with that?
How do you want to proceed?
You can always go back to coasting. You know how to do it and do it well. There's no shame there.
But if your interest is piqued. If your energy is excited. If you're not as overwhelmed as you thought, maybe you continue.
Continue slowly, at the pace that feels right to you, so you can come out of coasting creating value and results that are sustainable.
And in the process, blow your own mind (and everyone else's).
There's no right or wrong when it comes to coasting.
You can do it or not. Love it or hate it. Have it be temporary or permanent.
You get to choose.
It's about what you want. Just make sure you're where you WANT to be and not just there because you're telling yourself the alternative is too hard or too much work.
Maybe it doesn't have to be that way.
Where are you right now? I'd love to know if you're in a season of coasting or leaning in.
If you're feeling unfulfilled with your work or struggling to make an impact while juggling kids, house, and everything else, my 1:1 coaching will help you get unstuck. I want working moms to know that you can create an amazing, kick-ass career and it doesn't have to cost you your sanity or your sleep. I have an opening for 1:1 coaching. Schedule a Clarity Call to learn more!