I've been dealing with numerous clients and associates who are really struggling with significant economic headwinds, including those who have been made redundant. So, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts, in the hope that it may literally give hope to some who are struggling with hopelessness (and hopefully you can sense the heart in these posts because they certainly haven't come from AEI (Artificial Emotional Intelligence)).

In fact, I am booked next month to deliver a talk to graduate staff in the finance industry on the subject of having Courageous Conversations with business owners regarding insolvency, and for all of these graduate employees, it's their first ‘working’ experience of a recession.

The first strategy is a simple work/life practice that so many people don't engage in a personal sense. When times are tough, challenging, or even hopeless, it is hugely prudent to set, and work towards, clear goals- not only of what you want to achieve, but who you want to be during this season.

And as much as I tend to recommend that people focus on positive goals, if you are conscious during this season that depression is a risk, then identify that in one of your goals and clearly plan how to mitigate for it (or other challenging mental health conditions such as extreme anxiety).

Here are some useful goal setting principles worthy of note:

1.Write your goals down (just the process of having to write them down pushes into being forward-focused)

2.Revisit your goals daily, either by reading or listening to them. With my leadership coaching clients, I recommend that they dictate their goals onto their phone and listen to them during their commute each and every morning to fuse those goals into their DNA

3.Share those goals with someone else. Firstly, for accountability, because you're much more likely to achieve a goal that you’ve shared with someone else, and secondly for support, because if you are struggling, particularly with maintaining hope in this season, then sharing your goals with someone else (and your challenges) will also help to keep you buoyant.

As I post this series of 12 different ways to cope with, manage, and overcome challenges, this goal setting principle is a foundational building block for the other concepts.

When our kids were young, we use to go on “Coin Toss Drives”- heads we turn left, tails we turn right, as a random, fun family outing (though not so much fun when 3-4 ‘heads’ are tossed…)

I never use the ‘coin toss methodology when I get into my vehicle- every time I jump in my SUV, I know where I’m going (exactly, thanks to Google).

If you’re facing economic (and resultant mental) challenges, then trying to overcome them without clear goals is like jumping on a train with no idea where it’s going and having a vague desire for it to get you somewhere pleasant or prudent.

In order to succeed, you’ve got to have clear goals, both in good times, but especially in times of challenge.