(This is in response to the excellent Wall Street Journal The Pain of the Never-Ending Work Check-In by Rachel Feintzig. It was a featured post for that article at LinkedIN too!)
I mean where do I even start with this … an apt subtitle for this would be how to do everything the way we’ve always done it and be surprised that it doesn’t work.
With yet another wave resurging globally (and vaccinated people exhibiting less severe symptoms and vastly reduced need for hospitalizations), for society to function, businesses need to function, for business to function, they have to learn new modes of behaviors and interactions. At least until we get to a point where energy is widely available & free and matter converters are ubiquitous (Star Trek reference), these are the facts we are presented with.
The video’s we’ve posted and will continue to post over on 1Focus address exactly this, so let’s do a top 3 do’s & don’t’s really quick.
DON’T keep transacting business the way you always have.
DO expect, accept & embrace the need to change, and make adjustments, so you’re transacting business in an intentional, impactful way.
DON’T let business happen to you – that’s so incredibly risky & dangerous – especially since these factor are all known knowns.
DO come together – stop, drop and roll, create a plan, stick to it, tweak it as you go (I’m looking at you perpetual meetings).
For Leaders:
DON’T constantly inspect your people, if you’re micromanaging and people care is in the rear view, you’re not doing 50% of your job! Ok, the hell with it – here’s a shocker – 80% of your job as a leaders is seeing to the well-being of your people, removing impediments and collaborating on progress. It is NOT to monitor or micromanage them!
DO provide and project that sense of calm and, you know, authentically caring about your people. People can tell.
For Contributors:
As with real life, you have to set limits, we ALL have to set limits. Here’s a shocker – after just ONE 50 hour week your efficiency is reduced, after TWO you’re burning out and you’ll have to work ever more to get the same results.
MORE importantly, you’re not the best you for yourself, your family, your friends, or your job at that point – and the viscous cycle will start.
Look, this is why we talk quite a bit in our books about coming together. We’re not pushing some kumbaya new-again hippie fad. The only way any of this succeeds, the only way we break old toxic patterns and create new healthy ones is by coming together and making a change together.
And we’re sitting here on a MOUNTAIN of experience. This is what we do. It’s the HARDEST part of what we do – not the tech, not the process, but gradually, incrementally, consistently bending work spaces, leaders, individuals and cultures into a better place. More happiness & resiliency leads to more productivity & retention & less crisis.
It’s your choice. You can do what you’ve always done, or you can decide to take this opportunity to make a lasting, permanent change that’s healthier for everyone, now, and in the future.
Designate Your Workspace – TODAY!
