This month, I went to the Northern Territory. 
My incredible friends at AHRI invited me right after keynoting at their national conference, which was beyond flattering, and boy did we have a blast as a result
– a totally custom keynote just for them, massive value-add debates
in the room, and a swag of great ideas from the experts in the room (not just the one on the stage).
Outside the conference centre was an adventure too – we had an ant infestation, got too personal too frequently with 5 metre crocodiles, and realised that everything in the Territory is much bigger than I’m used to:
- Road trains (my biggest was towing x4 units – impressive)
- Road kill (1 horse, 2 cows, 3 water buffalos)
- The sky (you can see all of it from out there)
- Crocodiles (everywhere there is water)
- Green ants (everywhere in my car)
- The temperature (33 degrees and people are putting jumpers on)
- The speed limit (130kph feels very naughty for a Victorian)
So what?
Well, the temperature is hotting up at work right now: economy is uncertain, cost containment is rife, Trump doesn’t want to meet Albo, and AI is coming for all our jobs. In the wild, scarcity breeds competition – and in the corporate jungle the same rules often apply. When we feel threatened, especially by an existential item like job security, we can become defensive or aggressive, and often both at the same time. We bare our teeth, we sharpen our claws, we move quickly to seize scarce opportunities – like a payrise, a promotion, or a chance for development or recognition. And that pattern of behaviour is turning an inhospitable landscape into a downright dangerous one.
What can we do about it?
Start with you – recognise it for what it is. Each of us are feeling a little more insecure, stressed and defensive than usual. So predict that you will react with emotion, rather than respond with clarity. So take a moment to be conscious of that tension; you might not think it’s there but if you read the news then I can assure you that it is.
- If you’re totally stressing out – apply Covey’s sphere of control. For 48hrs stop doomscrolling, stop thinking about Ukraine/Russia, Palestine/Israel, Pakistan/India and India/China conflicts (odds are that your concern will not change any of them in the next 48hrs). Pull back your focus to where you have more control – your wellbeing, your home, your day to day work. Break down tasks, negotiate expectations, make a list or a plan – tactics to make everything feel more manageable. Then you can get on with it. Achieving small things will build your resilience for bigger things.
- If you’re not totally stressing out, but this is still resonating with you – then apply similar tactics to make sure the overwhelm doesn’t creep up on you when you’re not watching (like a saltwater croc would). Make yourself pause long enough to respond thoughtfully, rather than react intuitively (by which I mean, emotionally). Tell those around you that’s what you’re doing – they may choose to join you, even if they don’t they will get the message that it’s not just affecting you, it’s affecting them too. Collective consciousness will mean that particular crocodile remains in plain sight for the good of your community.
And yes – in case you’re wondering, we did make the boys watch Crocodile Dundee – after all, we got a clear sign…..(zoom in)
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Rebecca is Australia’s pre-eminent advocate for B-suite leadership – the expert in developing hi-impact B-Suite leadership at both a team and individual level.
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- Individual and group coaching
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You can reach her on [email protected]
