I am frequently encountering a certain amount of frustration among leaders, but also among employees in companies. Among other things, this often results from the fact that as soon as one problem is solved, it seems like the next one is already arriving. People feel as if in a hamster wheel. They keep running and running and running but don't see that they are making any progress.

You simply never get a break
The last reorganization has just been completed, and another one is already pending. While the most recent changes have only just been successfully implemented, the next set of changes is following and everything – or a lot – gets disrupted all over again. You feel as if one wave after another is crashing against you and it is all you can do to keep your head above water.

The acronym "VUCA“ (which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) describes what many leaders, employees, and even companies are experiencing. Where things were previously black and white, where there was right and wrong, now there are often large areas of grey in which it is difficult to make firm plans.

Dealing with these circumstances and the constant changes pose a major challenge for many leaders and employees.

It can help to be aware of this and to realize how life in general, and in particular professional and business life, consists of one problem after another. Or in other words: one challenge after another. As soon as one has been overcome, the next one comes along. The only thing that is constant in effect is change.

Acceptance makes it easier
The first sentence in a great book from the late 1970s, The Road Less Traveled, states very simply: Life is difficult. The sooner you accept this fact, the less difficult it will feel. You will then be able to handle life in an easier and more carefree manner. Focus instead on the things that you actually are able to control and influence.

There will always be something that acts as a burden on us, that we simply cannot control or influence – which is just outside of the scope of our influence.

What can we influence?
At such times ask yourself what you can control and what you cannot. Then think to yourself, "How much time and energy do I want to invest in resisting and fighting against things that I am not able to influence or control? How quickly can I instead focus my attention and all of my energy on things and aspects that I am able to influence, change, and control?“

For example, are you able to control or change the weather if it is not what you hoped it would be? No. On the other hand, you can control what clothes you are wearing and what you want to do in this type of weather. While this seems like a small thing, even here there are people who hold onto anger and resistance against the "bad" weather and get hung up on it.

Awareness of what can be changed
Interestingly, this thought experiment also helps to make you more aware of how much you can actually influence. Your awareness of your own scope of influence increases as a result. The thing that is always going to be on the list of things within your own scope of influence is your own attitude. That is your perspective on how you look at the problem or challenge and the value that you place on it. This is where you have room for maneuver. Always. The things, events, and situations are not of importance in themselves. We give them the importance with our thoughts, by placing value on them. We say to ourselves: this is a catastrophe – or we can say, this is a big opportunity and will open up new options for me. These can often be two different ways of looking at the very same situation. I have performed outplacement consulting for a long time. This means that I have supported leaders in various stages of professional reorientation, after they were asked to leave a company. One of the main tasks here was enabling and promoting a change in perspective, away from looking backward with anger and disappointment towards looking forward to new opportunities.

My tip: sit down and evaluate the situation
The next time you find yourself in a situation where you are frustrated because it seems like one problem is coming straight after another, everything is fluid and never seems to settle down so that things can finally be implemented for good, consider these points of view.

When you notice how change is bothering you, then simply sit down with a piece of paper. Divide the paper in half with a vertical line. On the left side write down everything that you cannot change, control, or influence in the situation. Then, on the right side write down everything that you can change, control, or influence. Your own attitude to the situation should then be put at the top of this list. Then choose the aspects that you would like to focus on. All the best!