Your Magic Wand at Work

If you had a magic wand, what would you do to make your challenges at work go poof!?

I recently asked members of my Community that question, and was surprised to see that their answers fell into three distinct categories: the personal, the powerful, and the possible.

The Personal

For many, the challenges they'd eliminate with their magic wands hit close to home:

• "I'd have my health; getting sick is not an option for me."

• "I would make it easier to have both a family and a career."

• "I'd create a close friend with the same schedule and interests as me who would always be able to do something fun. . ."

These responses were great reminders that health, family, and friends are the cornerstones of our success at work. But in our crazy and attention-requiring worklives, they often get short shrift.

The Powerful

Some folks grabbed the magic wand and did some serious waving, conjuring up powerful ideas like:

• "The elastic day, so when the client says 'I want it by the close of today,' there's enough time to do it."

• "My boss would keep a true tally of accomplishments for my peers and I. Each day, a large brick would drop on his head to remind him to recognize those who deliver exceptional results. . ."

• "Transporter technology a la Star Trek – I spend five hours a day in the car. . . "

These creative solutions may be a ways off, but what's right around the corner is . . .

The Possible

Other interesting answers fit into what I call "The Possible," since magic wand or no magic wand, what these answers seek might be available right now.

One theme was connection to others. In my work as a coach and speaker, I'm witnessing the need for connection more than ever before.

In the survey, one person hungered for connection and used the wand to create "regular forums for colleagues to collaborate face-to-face." Hoping for a magic wand is great, but what's stopping us from doing this now? We can't wait for our bosses or organizations to make things happen – we need to generate the experiences we want for ourselves.

Next time, try asking, "Would you be open to making one of our phone meetings an in-person meeting instead? It would be really valuable for me to connect with you in person." While some of our colleagues are scattered across the globe, I hear people every day saying they missed talking to people across the hall. If you'd like to connect more, choose to be there in person more often. It makes a difference.

If you truly can't be face-to-face with your colleagues, then how about a Skype video call? Video calling has hit the big time – broadcast networks are using it for interviews, and it's no longer just for babies and grandmothers.

Another theme in the survey answers was confidence, a topic increasingly in demand in my coaching and speaking.

• My confidence factor has been shot down – I'd get it back.

• I'd be asked to contribute to more high profile matters.

• I would speak out more.

• Goodbye, anxiety!

Here's a secret about confidence: you get to choose it. No one can give it to you. You get to choose to listen to the voice that says you have ideas to contribute, that knows you can help on the high profile matters – or you can choose to hear the voice that says "I'm not smart enough . . I'll screw up . . . it doesn't matter. . ."

If you're longing for confidence, it all matters. Creating confidence is one of the best investments you'll ever make in yourself. Try just choosing to feel more confident, even just for a day. Think you can't do it? Of course you can. After all, you're the one with the magic wand.