Control the Controllables

Control the Controllables

Mandy Hickson

25 years: Ex-RAF pilot & leadership expert

In this video, Mandy advises on how to cope with work stress during a pandemic. She identifies how to manage, multitask and stay in control. In the video she gives key pointers on how to maintain high performance under pressure.

In this video, Mandy advises on how to cope with work stress during a pandemic. She identifies how to manage, multitask and stay in control. In the video she gives key pointers on how to maintain high performance under pressure.

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Control the Controllables

8 mins 35 secs

Overview

We are fast becoming a nation of highly stressed, anxious and overwhelmed individuals. Even before the pandemic, professionals in the UK were grappling with stress and burnout, focusing too much on issues not under our own control. It is therefore of huge importance to “control the controllables”.

Key learning objectives:

  • Describe the modern workload

  • Understand the ‘control the controllables’

  • Outline what we can do with the concept of controlling the controllables

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Summary

What is the modern workload?

  1. We strive to do more in less time
  2. Tame our overflowing inboxes
  3. Attend to personal and professional responsibilities.

What does ‘control the controllables’ mean?

Today’s business environment is notoriously complex and fast changing. There’s a lot of distracting noise and leaders need to be skilled at simplifying their priorities and sharpening their focus. Ask yourself: “what can’t you afford to drop the ball on?”

In the military you are taught to ‘control the controllables’, we might not understand the bigger picture but you manage what is within your power to do so.

Control the controllables. The Key is to identify what you can and should control at any given time. It’s as simple, yet powerful, as that. Repeating “Control the controllables” reminds us what to focus on during high-stress moments. and if you can’t, then let it go.

When faced with stress, fear and feeling overwhelmed, what does the concept of controlling the controllables allow us to do?

  • Effectively prioritise to combat task overload
  • Reclaim our focus and effectiveness
  • Overcome our fear response
  • Maintain high performance under pressure, and
  • Stay connected to our passions, goals and joy

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Mandy Hickson

Mandy Hickson

Mandy Hickson was one of the first female fighter pilots in the Royal Air Force having joined in 1994. Mandy has over 25 years experience within aviation, operating in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone, flying over 50 combat missions over Iraq. Drawing on her experience of calculated risk-taking, leadership, decision-making under pressure and the critical role of the human in the system, Mandy now transfers these lessons from the cockpit to many other management and leadership contexts.

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