DAY 71 - BE SMART ABOUT IT
I hope you’re following along as we countdown the final 100 days of 2022 - you can join us anytime. Learn more about the program HERE.
While “work smarter, not harder” is an overused cliché, the meaning is still very relevant. Early in my career, I subscribed to the thinking that if I was the boss, I had to be the one to turn the lights on in the morning and turn them off at night. I wanted my team to see that I was right there with them, putting in the long hours. The problem was, I didn’t do myself or them any favors. While I didn’t ever tell anyone they had to put in the same hours, it was perceived because of my behavior. I could see the impact it was starting to have on my team because they were trying to keep up. And that was wrong. I came to understand that like everyone else, I too needed to find balance, so we all stayed physically and mentally healthy. I also needed to set a much better example.
After pulling everyone together and admitting my mistake, we started on a quest to find the balance we needed. I owned my blunder in this. I reinforced that caring for themselves and each other, even calling out a colleague when they see the signs of fatigue setting in, was of the utmost importance. While we had a great deal of work to do, there are ways to go about it. I didn’t want any of them waking up one morning so tired they just couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want that for myself. We even started a mantra “there’s no prize for the person who collapses first!”
If you’re in a position that requires a significant amount of time and energy, more than the norm, remember to do what’s necessary to take care of yourself. Be smart about the hours you clock. If it’s more than you can handle, you must have the conversation with your boss. Hopefully, they will recognize the toll it’s taking and do something about it. If not, then you might have to consider making a change.
Grab your notebook!
