A couple of nights ago, I met up with a buddy for some beers and Thai food.

As it often does, conversation turned to our jobs and the world of work.

I can’t remember exactly how we got onto the topic, but at one point my buddy chipped in with this:

“If my boss gives me an urgent piece of work to do, I know they’ll be more comfortable if I act like I’m flustered. It’s like my stress re-assures them I’m taking the work seriously, even though I do a much better job when I’m not stressed.”

I knew what he meant.

Funnily enough, I was chatting to my own boss recently when she commented how level-headed I am, even when shit is hitting the proverbial fan.

I think she’s right.

This is a massive flip-reversal from v1 of my banking career where I spent most of my 13 years in the office flapping around like a headless chicken.

Sure, I might put on a serious face and look a bit stressed nowadays if I think it will help grease the wheels of whatever conversation I’m having.

But either way, I know deep down that the best way to do the best job is to stay calm and clear-headed.

Lucky for me, I’ve built up enough trust with my boss that she knows my lack of worry doesn’t mean I’m not taking my work seriously.

But as my buddy pointed out, this is the exception rather than the rule.

By that I mean:

There’s a belief which seems to have set up camp in corporate life which says stress equals commitment and being calm means being unproductive.

But actually, the opposite is true.

You can approach your work with a lightness, ease & flow and still knock it out the park.

In fact, I’d argue the calmer you are, the more you’ll get done.

Not just because being calm creates space for focus and action. 

Not just because stressing yourself out uses a huge amount of energy.

But also because a calm mind leads to the sorts of breakthroughs, creative ideas and out-of-the-box solutions which never come from an overcluttered mind.

Point being, if you think you have too much on your plate to be calm, I’d argue the opposite:

You have too much on your plate NOT to be calm.

A calm mind isn’t a weakness. It’s a huge advantage. Especially in corporate where 99% of the office gets swept up in the chaos and noise.

If you’re looking for an “edge” at work, this is it.

It also happens to be a much more pleasant way to live life.

If you’d like to let your calm do the heavy lifting:

https://waitinglist.followingfulfilment.com