Submitted by:
CPS HR Consulting, COE Training Vendor - Authored by Terri Bianco
Every organization occupies itself within three general areas: Tasks, Processes, and Attitude.
TASKS: Services or outcomes provided.
PROCESSES: How they are provided.
ATTITUDE: The way we feel about them.
Like a three-legged stool, these functions must stay in balance for the organization to operate successfully. A "leg" too long or too short causes the stool to tip over. If people are constantly overwhelmed with tasks with no end in sight, the task function is overloaded.
Back-to-back meetings and required forms or reports create process gridlock. That leg is compromised and completion of tasks suffer. An overload of work or sluggish processing of data then depletes attitude and morale. Moreover, disengaged employees can create toxic work environments on their own, causing the stool to tumble.
Those with the mindset of a leader in whatever capacity and regardless of title tend to monitor these functions from afar. They see what needs shoring up, what might be eliminated. They can look at the big picture and realize the staff is spending way too much time in meetings; or accounting is too overloaded to take on another project; or they see an increase in complaints from employees.
But how can anyone review these things from afar if they are involved with these three functions themselves? It's difficult if not impossible to do. We're all too busy. Isolated at our workstations, we dig into tasks, go through processes, and only occasionally check on our work environment or how we feel.
What's required is a stepping back, a recess from the activities, shutting down the noise, distancing. It takes some quiet time, some reflection, and some strategic thinking. We do our best thinking when we are free of distractions - on a run, listening to music, tending a garden.
Here are some tips to get you to that relaxed and separate place so you can reflect, think, and create strategies to balance that three-legged stool.
Breathing
Our ability to calm ourselves comes with a body function we usually ignore. In fact, we forget our breath is there until it isn't. Take a deep breath into the belly, hold it, and slowly exhale. A couple of those, and you are relaxed. To energize, inhale four short breaths through the nose and exhale in a short burst out the mouth, preferably while walking.
Look up
Straighten that hunched over neck and look up. Look at the ceiling. Look at the mountains. Look at the sky. Take every opportunity to do that and breathe in. It lifts you out of the fray and your neck will thank you, too.
De-Cell-Erate
Power off the cell phone. Lock it in a desk drawer or glovebox. If the thought of that derails you, notice that. Then try at least to turn off push notifications; to eat a meal without checking a screen; to leave it out of your bedroom. It's not as smart as you think.
Get into Nature
Get up and go for a walk in Nature. Like breathing, Nature is ever-present for us, yet often ignored. Say hello to Nature with appreciation and awe.
Read a Book
Yep, you heard right. Hard copy black- and-white print on paper. Find a quiet, comfortable spot, open the book (or newspaper) and drop into the story or article. 15 minutes later when you resurface, your brain will have had a power wash. [Note: there was a time when employees took 15-minute smoke breaks. Reading is much healthier!)
Change Perspective
Look at your work environment as a play. Rather than being an actor in this play, pretend like you are in the audience, witnessing what's going on. Perspective is powerful. Try it.
|