In this article, Barbara A. Kay explains some rules that will help managers stay safe during the wild roller coaster recession the US economy is entering. In order to maximize and further their management careers, managers must (1) be organized and goal-driven, (2) prioritize important habits and projects while ''stowing away'' those which do not contribute to a successful management career, and (3) focus energy and time to maximize results and longevity.

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	Barbara A. Kay, MA, LPC, RCC, and her colleagues at Advantage Coaching & Training work with individuals, teams, and corporations to promote achievement, leadership, and fulfillment.

The news has been filled with scary predictions lately. Every day we hear more about how we are rolling into a deep recession…or maybe not! The constant stream of economic indicators is a dizzying roller coaster. Some days we are sent deep down at a breakneck speed. The next day the course jerks in a sharp turn and then a bit of a rise into a corkscrew. We are all feeling dizzy, and no wonder!

What to do?! How can we remain clearheaded and productive? Keeping stable in a roller coaster economy is similar to keeping steady on a real roller coaster. The goal is to enjoy the ride without becoming seriously nauseous or utterly terrified. Follow the following roller coaster rules and you will arrive at the end of the ride in good shape!

Roller Coaster Rule #1 -- Buckle your seat belt!

You cannot survive the first turn on a coaster if your seat belt is not buckled. The seat belt is a critical safety device. You need to be securely fastened for the turns ahead! In a roller coaster economy, put on your safety devices. Use the tools that keep you on the track. These tools are disciplines that keep you safely within bounds when external forces are pushing and pulling. Practical things like keeping a regular schedule, staying organized, keeping your task list under control, and sticking with proven measures that bring results are all safety measures you can take.

Roller Coaster Rule #2 -- Stow any extra items!

On a roller coaster, you must stow your sunglasses, hat, camera, water bottle, etc., or they will go flying! Those extras are a danger to you and to others around you. In a roller coaster economy, there is a critical balance between maintaining productive habits (safety devices) and suspending unnecessary practices or projects (stowing extras). Too much ''stuff'' is dangerous in a roller coaster economy. It will end up as shrapnel hitting you and anyone around you. If you lead a team, it is vital that you protect your team as well as yourself from your shrapnel. Be intentional about removing unnecessary tasks or projects from your agenda and from your team’s responsibilities.

Roller Coaster Rule #3 -- Keep your head and eyes locked forward!

Roller coaster rides are dizzying! It is very hard to maintain a sense of balance during the ride. The Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney World goes from zero to 60 mph in three seconds as it makes a sharp turn while lights are flashing and rock music is blaring. I know! My boys had our family riding that thing three times in a row before 9:00 a.m. on our last Disney trip. The only way to maintain equilibrium was to lock your head and eyes in the straight-forward position. In a roller coaster economy, you absolutely cannot attend to every bit of stimuli that comes your way. That would make you dizzy! Keep disciplined about what you attend to. Do not allow every distraction to break your focus. Decide what markers are important for forward progress. Keep your attention forward, attending only to the important trail markers. That may mean resisting the temptation to constantly watch the stock ticker, CNN, sales reports, or daily projections. Be intentional about keeping unnecessary stimuli from distracting your focus going forward.

About the Author

Barbara A. Kay, MA, LPC, RCC, and her colleagues at Advantage Coaching & Training work with individuals, teams, and corporations to promote achievement, leadership, and fulfillment. Barbara and the ACT team provide individual coaching, team facilitation, public classes, products, and assessments. You may contact Barbara at barb@advantagecoaching.com. To learn more, visit www.advantagecoaching.com or call 630-293-0210.

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