by Angela Ware
Like many professionals in this age of cost efficiency and fiscal management, I have the privilege of working from home. This is more often than not a perfect arrangement for me. However, there are times when my attempts at maintaining work-life balance are met with a rub.
Case in point: I recently had guests staying at my home during the week. As a good host, I got up every morning and prepared breakfast for everyone. Then at 8:00 am I would go into my office and begin my work day, stop around 10am to visit with my guests for a few minutes, and head back to work. I would disengage, for lunch with my guests and take an afternoon guest break.
After a couple of days, I noticed that my guests were showing less and less appreciation for my attempts at “balance”. Therefore, I was compelled to ask the question, “What seems to be the problem?”
Their answer, “You don’t seem to want us around.” Wow! I didn’t see that coming…
Like many of us I had developed an effective plan and routine for my day. But I failed to communicate my plan to those who were in the wake of my decision, leading to a misunderstanding and potentially damaging a relationship.
If you have ever had your intentions and someone’s perception of your actions (personal or professional) fall out of alignment, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
So what lesson did I learn (if not relearn) from this experience?
It is not the development of a plan, but the effective communication of a plan that will determine its ultimate success. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
Showing posts with label disengage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disengage. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Disengage So You Don’t Flail
by Kristi Willis
I am a swimmer. We discovered this when I took lessons at the age of 6 and the coach told my parents to immediately get me on a swim team. After months of practice, I was ready for my first swim meet.
I got on the blocks for my first race and got into starting position. I dove in the water and started swimming as fast as I could. Unfortunately, I was moving my arms at light speed, but I wasn’t using good stroke technique so I wasn’t moving forward at all. My arms were flying, I was splashing water everywhere - I was flailing. After about 10 meters of that, I realized I wasn’t making any progress, took a deep breath and slowed down a bit. Suddenly, I was flying through the water and I recovered enough to place 3rd.
This story came to mind recently because since the first of the year, I have felt like I was flailing at work. My schedule has been non-stop busy and I’ve felt like I’ve been going 0 to 90 and not making much progress.
Recently, I was in the office and my day was back-to-back meetings. When I got home that night, I was absolutely exhausted. As I reflected on the day, I realized that I had never taken a break. I had even eaten lunch at my desk and answered e-mails while I woofed down my sandwich. No wonder I was exhausted; I never took time to disengage.
One of the key concepts we teach in Getting the EDGE is the power of taking strategic disengagements, an idea developed by Jim Loehr in his book The Power of Full Engagement. Even when we are busy, if we will take 5-15 minute breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours, we will be more productive overall throughout the day. It gives our bodies and brains a chance to reboot so we can give 100% throughout the day, even in the afternoon.
Think about it. In all sporting events, athletes take breaks. In tennis there are breaks between sets. In basketball and football they have half time. If athletes need rest for a 2-4 hour game, then professionals definitely need times to catch our breath during our 8 to 9 to 10 hour days.
I know what you are thinking – “I don’t have time for a break.” What if taking a 5 minute disengagement means that your 3 pm meeting will yield an answer instead of just another round about discussion on the same topic? Do you have time for a break now?
I have now reworked my schedule to make sure that I am not in back-to-back meetings for more than 2 hours at a time and that I have time to disengage throughout the day. I have noticed an enormous difference. When I return from my disengagements, my head is clear, I have more energy and I’m able to really contribute to each of my commitments.
When I start to feel like I’m flailing, I immediately disengage. Nothing like a walk around the building to keep me from splashing water on the whole team.
I am a swimmer. We discovered this when I took lessons at the age of 6 and the coach told my parents to immediately get me on a swim team. After months of practice, I was ready for my first swim meet.
I got on the blocks for my first race and got into starting position. I dove in the water and started swimming as fast as I could. Unfortunately, I was moving my arms at light speed, but I wasn’t using good stroke technique so I wasn’t moving forward at all. My arms were flying, I was splashing water everywhere - I was flailing. After about 10 meters of that, I realized I wasn’t making any progress, took a deep breath and slowed down a bit. Suddenly, I was flying through the water and I recovered enough to place 3rd.
This story came to mind recently because since the first of the year, I have felt like I was flailing at work. My schedule has been non-stop busy and I’ve felt like I’ve been going 0 to 90 and not making much progress.
Recently, I was in the office and my day was back-to-back meetings. When I got home that night, I was absolutely exhausted. As I reflected on the day, I realized that I had never taken a break. I had even eaten lunch at my desk and answered e-mails while I woofed down my sandwich. No wonder I was exhausted; I never took time to disengage.
One of the key concepts we teach in Getting the EDGE is the power of taking strategic disengagements, an idea developed by Jim Loehr in his book The Power of Full Engagement. Even when we are busy, if we will take 5-15 minute breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours, we will be more productive overall throughout the day. It gives our bodies and brains a chance to reboot so we can give 100% throughout the day, even in the afternoon.
Think about it. In all sporting events, athletes take breaks. In tennis there are breaks between sets. In basketball and football they have half time. If athletes need rest for a 2-4 hour game, then professionals definitely need times to catch our breath during our 8 to 9 to 10 hour days.
I know what you are thinking – “I don’t have time for a break.” What if taking a 5 minute disengagement means that your 3 pm meeting will yield an answer instead of just another round about discussion on the same topic? Do you have time for a break now?
I have now reworked my schedule to make sure that I am not in back-to-back meetings for more than 2 hours at a time and that I have time to disengage throughout the day. I have noticed an enormous difference. When I return from my disengagements, my head is clear, I have more energy and I’m able to really contribute to each of my commitments.
When I start to feel like I’m flailing, I immediately disengage. Nothing like a walk around the building to keep me from splashing water on the whole team.
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