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The Skinny

Declined meeting.

Posted on Saturday, December 4

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Weekly Skinny

Let’s start off on the right foot

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." –Alphonse Karr


 

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The skinny

Recent data shows that 70% of all digital transformation efforts fail—because they’re done purely for the sake of going digital without full consideration of the bigger picture.

So, what’s the big picture?

Step back and consider. There’s a difference between taking your offices online and creating a truly healthy digital workplace culture. Many organizations went online and took the bad habits that permeated their workplaces online, too.

Bad habits hitched a ride?

Exactly. Over scheduling meetings (think Zoom fatigue), constant online interruptions via messaging platforms, people working more, not less because of the “always on” pressure remote work can sometimes bring. 🥵

Seems like a culture problem.

Truly. But it’s a cultural problem that runs deeper than you think. A better way to work is desperately needed, so much so that even some governments and business leaders worldwide are calling for a “right to disconnect.” 

I’d vote for that.

Hear! Hear! But, like I said, it’s a culture problem that runs deep. Just like apple pie, the daily grind is engrained in our culture.  

But we all need to work, right?

Sure. But it’s the way we work that’s the problem. Most organizations are structured to sabotage deep-focus work. It’s the obsession with hyper-responsiveness that creates more work and less time to focus on quality.  

So, how do we shift?

Embrace some new technology! Task boards and project management tools are a great way to have transparency into projects and workloads while also cutting down on emails and chat messages.

What else?

We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again. Block out time on your calendar for deep-focus work and stick to it.  

But I’m so busy with meetings.

No, no. We’re addicted to the idea that meetings/constant busyness is a somehow a “good thing.” The next time you look at your schedule, take a hard look at what meetings you are attending and ask, “Will this meeting be helpful to me? Will I add value? Will this meeting take a project to the next level? Will this meeting help my work progress?” 

Yeah, but, I’m a leader.

Even more important to lead by example. Decline meetings, update your chat status to “do not disturb,” don’t answer an untimely email right away.

 But…

And before you say it, no, not all emails are timely. Getting out of engrained behavior and addiction to busyness is going to take time and practice. Real talk: charting a new, healthier relationship with our inboxes is going to be hard for sure.  

Decline.

Good start. Now, here’s your challenge. Block one hour on your calendar next week for deep work. Baby steps need to be taken to address chronic workplace stress and burnout, and this is your first baby step. Congrats! 

Date with data: The average person sends and receives about 121 business emails a day and spends 23% of their time on unnecessary emails.  

Totes quotes: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”–James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Further reading: The remote work revolution hasn’t happened yet.  

Watch: Why encouraging a psychologically safe workplace is important for DEI efforts.


 

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The skinny

Doing nothing can vastly improve mental health, halt burnout, and improve creativity and innovative thinking.

Like, being lazy?

In a way. Thought experiment: When was the last time you stared out the window and let your mind wander? When was the last time you sat in silence without your phone?

Can’t really say.

It’s been a while, right? Keeping ourselves busy all the time (cough cough, see a theme?) is actually rewiring our brains to be unable to sit still. A literal addiction to busyness. Therefore, creative thinking, innovation, and deep work might be suffering.

That’s not good.

Not at all. A few things you can do to help. One, pay attention. During your day, when do you feel the most creative and productive? When does your brain start to shut off?  

Brain shut-off time: 2pm for me.

Good. That’s the time you should dedicate to doing nothing with a purpose. Aka, daydreaming, staring out the window, or taking a walk (without your phone).  

The guilt is real.

Sure. Like I said, it’s going to take practice to do nothing. But being unapologetic about taking a break, taking a holiday, or blocking off time on your schedule to “think” is an important life skill. Just like exercise, it’s going to take practice to just sit still.  

Honestly, I need to be productive tho.

Ok, ok. Try tricking yourself into thinking that this is productive; scheduling this time in your calendar can help. And using toys to help take away some initial anxiety can also help.

Further reading: Overworked and overwhelmed. Welcome to HR today.

For you: Work less, you’ll get so much more done.

Here’s something to…


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