If any part of your role at work requires you to be a trusted advisor, then developing business acumen has probably never been as crucial as it is now.

In the communications profession, for instance, the foundational and more tactical aspects of the professional communicator’s role, such as copywriting and proofreading, are increasingly being outsourced ­– or even replaced with apps (see Hemingway, Grammarly etc).

Psychologists say a certain amount of stress is necessary, and even good for you.

Trouble is, so many take that concept to a whole new level – adding more and more stress to their lives until they reach the edge and, in some cases, fall right over it.

Interesting what our minds do once we slow down and take time out to reflect. I often hear stories about the life-changing decisions people make whilst on holiday – how they finally made the call to resign from an unsatisfying job, start the business they’ve always wanted, or sell the house and travel overseas.

It’s perfectly normal for people to feel outside their comfort zone when appointed to a more senior position – but it’s how they handle that discomfort that matters.

I’ve seen managers promoted to senior leadership roles who – feeling that they are under the spotlight – become so concerned not to make a mistake or be seen as not up to the job, that they fall into the trap of micro-managing everyone below them.

If you have read at least three of my blogs (because it takes that number to see a pattern…) you may have noticed that I finished each one with an opportunity statement.

Why? Because making a habit of spotting opportunities works. It has worked for me in business, and I’ve seen it work well for clients.

Just as common sense isn’t common, the blindingly obvious isn’t always obvious.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when trying to effect change is they assume others know what they know, and see what they see.