Spring ahead, it's about time!

We are about to turn our clocks ahead (on Sunday, March 11th to be exact).

The optimist says, “Finally, longer stretches of sunlight!”

The pessimist says, “We lose an hour of time.”

Everything we do takes time. Yet do we really give ourselves the time to do what we need to do in a given day? Many of us have embraced the mechanics of Outlook calendars to plan our lives. The simplicity of planning our schedules and, oh, those pop-up reminders (!) appear to relieve us from the stress of the day. Yet, they really don’t. 

The myth of electronic calendar tools is that they create efficiency.  Yes, you are expertly planning, but you are not leaving time for the free flow of life – for interaction and collaboration with others. No time is factored in to debrief oneself after a meeting, solve a problem or, most importantly, create a solution.

For the last couple of decades, we have been told that the means of modernization and technology would give us more free time to stop and smell the roses, yet, as I talk to many of my colleagues, it seems that the future we live in now is racing by us at the speed of light – and we are all caught up in it. (Ever wonder why this is an exceptionally bad flu season? Human immunity is outpaced.)  

Electronic calendars control how and when we do things. They are not assisting us in our productivity.

Recently, I worked on a collaborative project with colleagues from different areas of a company. The project had several moving parts. While each of us went around the room sharing our updates and next steps forward for the implementation of the project, there appeared to be a gap of time for completion.  One of the team members asked me how long it would take to meet with the other members of the team who were responsible for implementing the project. I thought for a few moments about his question, and realized I could not answer it with a calculation of minutes or hours.  In today’s work environment, we have become so accustomed to electronic calendars, that we don’t factor in the time to work with others and have discussions.

Many people focus on the completion of their individual tasks, yet do not think to build in the time to interface and collaborate with others to complete a project. Because of this, we rush to meet a last minute deadline.  

Yes, scheduling tools can help you be more productive, but be sure to revisit your calendar often to:

1) Build in time for a break---to think on your own or, collaboratively, with others.

2) Try different planning tools to slow down the chaotic race for completion.

3) Build thoughtful meetings around agendas with a little wiggle room to complete goals.

When is it time to move on?

In this blog, I write a lot about the balance of career, family and community with mindfulness, fulfillment, slowing down and…turning it off. My hope is to provide some sound advice and encourage continued growth on a healthy and interesting path for all.

The toughest question when I consult is: How do I decide when it is time to move on to something new?

Sometimes that work-life balance may be achieved but perhaps the path is not as happy or as interesting as it once was.

Your answers to these questions are good indicators:

- Do I still enjoy my work?
- Do I still feel passionate about what I am doing?
- Is my work appreciated?
- Do I find that I am still able to add value to the company for whom I work?

- Does the leadership reflect the core values and the reason why I joined the company in the  first place?

- Am I staying fresh in my work and growing my skill set and talents?

- Is the work still inspiring or is it just way to “pay the bills”?  

- Do I continue to add value to the well being of the company?

- Does my mission still align with the mission of the company?

How were your answers? If they were mostly negative, then it might be time for some deeper reflection.

A couple of colleagues shared that headhunters had recently approached them. Often, this is a compliment to the person and their reputation in their market sector. I shared with them that they could see what they had to offer, as it is a great way to measure your current situation and compare it with other opportunities.

I believe that there are times when we should move on…and the reason is not always monetary. It is up to each and every one of us to believe in what we are called to do and to trust in the creation of our own destiny.

Creativity, Growth, Innovation

The Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Keep dreaming your way to creativity. Creativity spawns innovation and innovation leads to new growth opportunities.  

One of my greatest joys is teaching classes on growing critical thinking through creativity. During the course,  one session involves bringing a group of community leaders to a museum to be inspired by creativity. This one change of pace can impact the day-to-day, sharpen focus on the details and refresh one's outlook in unexpected and positive new ways. Seeing something new, doing something new motivates creativity.  

Unhook yourself and your employees from their routine every once in a while. Encourage them to do something different. The benefits will be felt in the workplace immediately. 

Do you still dream ideas?

  

How To Grow Your Paycheck

What keeps me in my job? Why am I doing what I do? Am I only working for a paycheck? When will I get a raise?

There is so much more to your career than growing your paycheck.

Being “appreciated” is not synonymous with being paid more.  

Satisfaction is internal.  Grow yourself so you are of greater value.

How do I know this? If the work you do defines who you are, then I say, "You are not a good leader."  You are not a good leader because you are not a whole person.

Every day you should be shaping your destiny by growing your skill set.  

Sure, there are “fun” workplaces. The aesthetics might make employees feel happy to be there -- but do these aesthetics provide an environment for employees to grow? No.

Working should be about much more than the size of your paycheck.

Maintaining yourself and taking ownership of YOU, makes you of greater value to an organization and…YOU are the greatest beneficiary because you are growing.

What are you doing to grow your whole person?  

Has the Meaning of Trust Lost its Value in Today's Society?

I received quite a few comments from readers on my last blog post. One reader asked the following questions:

Has trust lost its value in today’s society?

If trust is lost, can it be regained?

In the political arena, polls are often cited to reflect high percentage numbers when it comes to the “non-trusting” of politicians. The media is then quick to cite high poll numbers for the “like-ability” of a candidate. In other words, society seems to be saying, “I may not trust you, but I still think you are good person.” Yet, how can you trust a political candidate’s integrity if you can’t trust or value their decision-making?

Trust, Integrity and Truth are the foundation for a successful company culture.  Yet, this foundation can be broken down quickly by one person’s lack of honesty – or lack of trusted truth. There is a major negative human and economic impact for an individual, a company or organization when trust is lost. 

We see how lack of trust bleeds into various industry sectors. In the restaurant sector, for example, business at Chipotle continues to be seriously affected by the 2015 outbreak of foodborne illness, despite the establishment of strict food safety measures. In the car industry, Takata airbags is the focus of the largest auto recall in history. More than a dozen different automakers have been forced to recall cars with its products installed. 69 million Takata airbags have been recalled or will be recalled by 2019 in the United States alone.

The root cause of these “trust breakdowns” is very simple: a lack of truth; a lack of confidence to speak the truth—even when it may conflict with the direction of management. While many rely on the convenience of modern technology to detect possible failures in a system, these cases show the root cause is often human error. This is why it is so important for a business or organization to build their team on a trusted foundation with the same mission to challenge one another and create an environment that is comfortable for sharing diverse ideas while others willingly listen. 

Trust is not something a machine creates. Human integrity and ingenuity create a machine you can trust. Collaborating on new ideas and innovations fosters the future of a company or business.