Culturally, we tend to measure productivity in terms of tasks completed - and those tasks are usually not relational. First quarter budget completed - check. Two reviews written and administered. Check. Planning session for kick-off meeting. Check. Reviewed expenses. Check.
And if we check all of the boxes - it is meant to translate that we had a good, productive day at work. And that is true. To an extent. . .
And. . . to be successful leaders, we need to re-examine and be more inclusive in our definition of work completed. What if a really great day included having (2) one to one conversations with team members - to check in on how they are doing, if they have the resources they need, what their career aspirations might be? What if we were learning if they have any concerns about their job and what improvements could be made?
What if a really great day included listening to a trusted team member because they were stressed or had things going on in life? What if we had a stronger understanding that the time spent builds bonds and thereby creates greater work?
And a really great day should include time for the cultivation of relationships between team members and peers so that everyone can enjoy work and contribute more. We should practice working together to achieve greater things.
The temptation at the end of a long (but good) conversation is "well, now I've got to get back to work." Or, "Well, that was nice but I didn't get any work done." Truth is, the examples above are good work (if not great work) that produce positive ROIs in the short and long term.
A good day at work may well be spent in Excel sheets and projects. . .and a great day at work may be spent in building relationships that will yield results for years to come.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Friday, October 12, 2018
Getting the Hell Out of Dodge
Some of my most strategic business decisions have been made during short walks to Starbucks.
Getting away from work should not be about escape - it should be about re-creation. (If it is about escape - you may need to change jobs). Let's face it - after sitting in front of a terminal for 6 hours, or in a meeting for 3, or a combination of the above - we all need a change of scenery. For our sanity. For a different point of view. Just to shake things up a little.
Some of my most creative, professional ideas happen when I'm not at my desk.
Getting away from an office that may resemble Grand Central Station. . .or a keyboard and mouse that begin to feel like physical extensions of our arms. . .allows us a different perspective. All of a sudden we are no longer looking at a problem through the same Word document. . .or seeing a team member in the familiar stance of standing in our doorway with 37 pounds of reports. That change of perspective is good for us, and. . .
Some of the best work that is done by our team members may well happen when we are away from the office. . .
Shaking things up by not being in the office is not only good for us. . . but it is good for the rest of the team. Much as we may need a respite from them, they need a respite from us. . .even in the best of working conditions. When we step away from our desks, the rest of the team needs to step up. They are making decisions that are new territory for them. They are working with leaders that they may not get to routinely work with. Our absence gives the team new experience and a new perspective on the job that we do - and if done right, mutual respect should flourish.
Absolutely leaders should be present at work. . .leaders should also recognize the value of stepping away from work - if only for a few minutes. . . .or even a few weeks. It changes perspective and changes dynamics. It allows us all to do better work.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Getting away from work should not be about escape - it should be about re-creation. (If it is about escape - you may need to change jobs). Let's face it - after sitting in front of a terminal for 6 hours, or in a meeting for 3, or a combination of the above - we all need a change of scenery. For our sanity. For a different point of view. Just to shake things up a little.
Some of my most creative, professional ideas happen when I'm not at my desk.
Getting away from an office that may resemble Grand Central Station. . .or a keyboard and mouse that begin to feel like physical extensions of our arms. . .allows us a different perspective. All of a sudden we are no longer looking at a problem through the same Word document. . .or seeing a team member in the familiar stance of standing in our doorway with 37 pounds of reports. That change of perspective is good for us, and. . .
Some of the best work that is done by our team members may well happen when we are away from the office. . .
Shaking things up by not being in the office is not only good for us. . . but it is good for the rest of the team. Much as we may need a respite from them, they need a respite from us. . .even in the best of working conditions. When we step away from our desks, the rest of the team needs to step up. They are making decisions that are new territory for them. They are working with leaders that they may not get to routinely work with. Our absence gives the team new experience and a new perspective on the job that we do - and if done right, mutual respect should flourish.
Absolutely leaders should be present at work. . .leaders should also recognize the value of stepping away from work - if only for a few minutes. . . .or even a few weeks. It changes perspective and changes dynamics. It allows us all to do better work.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, October 5, 2018
The Battle
We draw the lines in the sand. We arm ourselves with tactics and facts (or, if unscrupulous, with innuendo and supposition). We prepare for the worst. And with that mindset we head into war.
Here's the thing, though. Not everything is a fight, not everything is a battle - yet often we live our lives that way. Much of current American culture does nothing to dissuade this - from Bravo to the White House - rationale and reasoning has gone with the wind to be replaced with the mindset that daily we need to vanquish foes to assure our place in society and maintain our egos.
What a waste.
Much of life can be, and should be, without conflict. To get what we need is not impossible - often it requires more work or a little bit of diplomacy or a dose of negotiations. And that's just the way life is.
But I have witnessed people approach life from the downside. They have convinced themselves that to get what they need they will have to battle for every little thing - and because that is their perception, it then becomes their reality.
Then they become exhausted and disillusioned. Then they are worn out.
So it's really how we approach life, isn't it?
Not everything is easy, not everything is hard. Sometimes the advantage swings our way, sometimes it doesn't. Yesterday we were lucky - today someone else is. That's the way it goes. One of the gifts we've been given inherently is to be able to navigate through life using our talents and creativity. To find our way to peace through this is truly a good thing.
The points are these: we don't have to accept everything that's thrown our way - but not everything is a battle. If we create battles daily - we won't have the energy left to fight for what really is worth fighting for.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Here's the thing, though. Not everything is a fight, not everything is a battle - yet often we live our lives that way. Much of current American culture does nothing to dissuade this - from Bravo to the White House - rationale and reasoning has gone with the wind to be replaced with the mindset that daily we need to vanquish foes to assure our place in society and maintain our egos.
What a waste.
Much of life can be, and should be, without conflict. To get what we need is not impossible - often it requires more work or a little bit of diplomacy or a dose of negotiations. And that's just the way life is.
But I have witnessed people approach life from the downside. They have convinced themselves that to get what they need they will have to battle for every little thing - and because that is their perception, it then becomes their reality.
Then they become exhausted and disillusioned. Then they are worn out.
So it's really how we approach life, isn't it?
Not everything is easy, not everything is hard. Sometimes the advantage swings our way, sometimes it doesn't. Yesterday we were lucky - today someone else is. That's the way it goes. One of the gifts we've been given inherently is to be able to navigate through life using our talents and creativity. To find our way to peace through this is truly a good thing.
The points are these: we don't have to accept everything that's thrown our way - but not everything is a battle. If we create battles daily - we won't have the energy left to fight for what really is worth fighting for.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
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