If You Give a Boss an Email
How many of you are familiar with the children's story "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" or perhaps you favor "If You Give a Moose a Muffin"? They are delightful stories about fulfilling a request for a friendly creature and with each request, there is another, creating a series of requests that constitutes the entire story.
Here is a real life example…
First thing this morning, I walked downstairs and looked out the window to see an empty bird feeder. The dog and I went outside to come to the birds rescue. On my way I noticed dog poop. Weaving around the yard with my plastic bag and shovel, I encountered a branch at eye level that I have been ducking under while lawn mowing all year. Humph, I said. After disposing of the bag and putting my shovel away, I made a victory lap wandering around the yard picking up the small twigs and branches that perpetually rain down, even on a sunny day. I finally made my way back inside the house and while washing my hands my husband said, "Oh, it's garbage day. I have a meeting can you help me out?" Out the door I went, encountering "the branch", again, as I wheeled the garbage to the curb. Back to the garage for the recycle, collapsing the mountain of assembled cardboard boxes. Gee, this garage is untidy I thought. So I straightened a few other items feeling satisfied. And then there they were - the loppers. It was a sign from above, the branch must go! And so the branch went. And it felt good, so another branch went. Then, in the distance, I spotted the bushes, the ones that block the sun preventing grass from taking hold in a dirt patch in our yard. I sprang into action…
Now sitting in front of my computer, lawn tidied, birds fed, still in my pajamas and happily looking out the window at the birds, I reflect on how this morning's escapade was not unlike a full day at work can unfold. Here it was, 9am and I'd done nothing that was on my agenda, the agenda that did not even yet exist for the day. How often does five o'clock roll around and you have not moved the needle on anything important on your agenda? (And if you work from home, maybe you ARE still in your pajamas!)
My story could have been named "If You Give a Girl Some Loppers". At work, could your story could be named "If You Give a Boss an Email"?
We have no problem keeping busy, there is always something to do whether at work or home. We justify this activity with thoughts such as "If I don't do it now, it will never get done", "It was easy to just do it", or "I felt inspired". We feel empowered and triumphant when we get things done, especially, if each day we feel never get anywhere and we're tired of dealing with the same stuff day in and day out. We jump at the opportunity to feel like we've done something, anything. Some of us may have built our careers on the foundation that you are the one to see that things need to be done and take action - "She/he is such a hard worker", "If you need something done, give it to [insert your name here]."
Are you getting the right things done?
Are you working on or creating projects that move the needle?
Let's look at each of those justification thoughts that can fuel these escapades...
"If I don't do it now, it will never get done."
I challenge you, if it would really never get done, does it need to be done at all? How important is it if it is on no one's radar or to do list? Those bushes, that grassless dirt, this has been ongoing for ten years.
"It was easy to just do it"
We tend to like making the easy decisions and stuff that we can do with our eyes closed a priority. We say things like "It will take longer to train someone else to do this." Ask yourself, "Is this appropriate for my skill set, could it be delegated?" How do you develop your staff to take on these decisions and tasks to make room for the things that are a better use of your skill set? My daughter, she's seven, she gets paid a quarter per pile while on poop patrol.
"I felt inspired."
Electricity flows through the path of least resistance. Water flows downhill. It is easy to pick the low hanging fruit and wait for the opportune time to take on the big, ugly, hairball tasks that look like a jungle which you stand in front of. It is much more rare to feel motivated to pick up your machete and start clearing a path. However, that is exactly how those other things become easier and accessible - delegable. I took the signal of the visual on my favorite yard trimming device to be a sign to take action. The proverbial "squirrel" or "shinny object" to distract me from what needed to be addressed today.
Getting stuff done feels good. We all crave that flow state feeling where nothing can stop you and the satisfaction of getting things done. However, operating every day where the next thing that pops up is treated as the most urgent or object of our attention, keeps us from tackling the "hard" stuff, the things we've been avoiding, projects without a plan, the tough conversation we need to have, the things that move the needle for our career, team, or business. The mindset that we are too busy perpetuates procrastination on the big tasks and the change we know is needed. At another level we are subject to inner dialogue that bring about self-doubt, self-criticism, avoidance, blame, anxiety, imposter syndrome, shame, perfection, etcetera and we go the easier route of what's right in front of us. The path of least resistance.
What are you avoiding, procrastinating, ignoring, or pretending not to know while you are "busy at work"?
What are you feeling, what story are you telling yourself, what is your inner voice saying that prevents you from doing what you know needs to be addressed?
