Written by: Annette Densham, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
When Gail Eaton-Briggs was 22 and about to give birth to her first child, her husband suffered a life-altering cerebral hemorrhage. Overnight, Gail became a mum, carer and breadwinner who had to learn to juggle more balls than she could handle.
The old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” certainly applies to Gail. Not only did she raise two beautiful children in the toughest of circumstances, but she also built a thriving coaching business whereby she empowers other women and small business owners to grow and thrive.
The Conscious Grit Model she developed has helped countless women take control of their lives and achieve what they never thought possible. Gail shares her top five tips for building your conscious grit to succeed in business and life.
1. Understand how your brain is hardwired
Gail points to Andrew O’Keeffe’s enlightening book, Hardwired Humans. “Did you know we put emotion before reasoning?” she says. “We screen how something or someone makes us feel, and then we screen for logic. That’s because the amygdala first receives messages, which is the emotional processing part of the brain, before the neocortex receives the signals for rational processing.
“In the workplace, it’s common for even the most sensible people to have trouble receiving constructive feedback well. Because of the primacy of emotions, people hear the bad news first and loudest.”
Knowing this, Gail recommends keeping the following in mind in your interactions with others:
Emotions will be triggered – yours and others. Be prepared.
People tend to go to emotion first, rather than hearing practicalities or logic.
The first seven words you use for difficult conversations will set the impression you want to make.
It’s smart to be upfront if there’s any loss involved.
It’s helpful to do any tricky communication face to face.
You have the right to act on whatever is the right decision for you. Don’t be put off course by trying to please others.
You need to communicate with those who need to know. Don’t leave people out.
Some individuals have more influence and status. Pay attention to them.
2. Stay curious
Children are naturally curious, but this inclination tends to get stifled and dissipate as we get older. Gail believes that asking questions and being curious as an adult is crucial for understanding the world around us, finding solutions, and contributing to problem-solving and innovation. In particular, being curious at work helps you get noticed positively and reinforces your value.
“Compare these hypothetical scenarios,” says Gail. “Miss Not-Curious goes to her boss and says, ‘We have run out of PPE and the supplier won’t have any more for six weeks.’ Miss Curious goes to her boss and says, ‘We have run out of PPE and the supplier won’t have any more for six weeks. I’ve found some PPE at our other sites to get us through the next two weeks, as well as another supplier who will be a bit more expensive, but can supply us so everyone will be safe.’
“Miss Curious found a solution and showed that she’s an innovative problem solver. I’d be motivated to keep her on my team!”
3. Be adaptable with conscious grit
Adaptability is the ability to adjust direction, course, strategy, and the way you do things depending on what’s happening around you. It helps you find solutions to challenges. Like curiosity, adaptability isn’t something you’re necessarily born with, but you can learn it.
“Try this exercise to develop your adaptability,” advises Gail. “Think of different hypothetical scenarios and come up with possible solutions. Don’t be afraid to make these ‘what if’ questions fairly wild, because you’re trying to get your brain thinking about how to solve these crises. What if all my revenue from my business suddenly stopped? What if I couldn’t buy basic food items for a whole month? What other scenarios can you think of that test your thinking? What solutions can you come up with?”
4. Address your limiting beliefs
Limiting beliefs are false beliefs that hold us back. They form in childhood due to family relationships, interactions, modelling and parenting styles. They often surface in adulthood and can present in many ways, including shame, guilt, lack of self-compassion and self-doubt. We need to overcome them to thrive – and we can.
Gail says you might need to dig deep to find the motivation to deal with your limiting beliefs. It might be painful, and you might need some external support. “I’ve found guided visualisation and meditation to be beneficial,” she says. “I love Jack Canfield and Carrie Green, but you need to feel comfortable with the narrator’s voice. Search for ‘guided visualisations’ online until you find one you connect with.
5. Build new neural pathways
As an i4 Neuroleader Practitioner, Gail helps people rewire their brains by creating new neural pathways. She identifies personalised strategies that shift the way the brain operates, leading to increased performance, agility, collaboration and innovation.
“The strategies are generally simple and easy to implement once you’ve identified those that appeal to you,” she explains. “For example, you could exercise often, keep a journal to self-reflect or develop an artistic interest. You as an individual will see a positive difference, and your business and clients will benefit as well.”
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Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.
