Making a smooth transition between back-to-back meetings is never easy. Turning off one set of thoughts and emotions before launching into another discussion is nearly impossible. Leaders too often carry over their moods, feelings, and thinking from one meeting to the next. The ability to focus exclusively on the next meeting topic while still reeling from the last one makes leaders less effective than they should be.
"Transitions", and it's expanded cousin inside the AL Platform, has forced me to take stock in my life. I used to complain and whine about things at work more often. I'd justify my behavior by telling myself and others my complaints weren't about me, they were about getting things done at work. I was lying. Creating a separation between events allows me to focus on what I need to get out of the next meeting. Leaving what has already occurred in the past allows me to give my full attention on the present situation and significantly reduces the temptation to gossip (i.e., you won't believe who I just got off the phone with and what they said). Another benefit seems to be that my communication has improved. I'm using less words, stories, and analogies. In the past, I'd often be told to 'land the plane.' I haven't heard that one in a while. However, I recently received feedback that I 'oversell' a decision or idea. I think these two things are related so I've got that to work on next. Thanks for today's post.
I think creating the transition time allows me to think about what my agenda is going into my next interaction. Having a better idea about what I want to accomplish and how to go about it help me use less words. I'm more efficient. My strategy up to this point has been a 'force brute' approach, e.g., throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. In the past, people would tell me it is exhausting to work with me. Now they are telling me it is less exhausting. My goal is to get where it becomes a non-issue.
So important! The problem may be even worse with the rise of video meetings, which often pile up on calendar apps with little time for a break (although some apps do allow you to build in buffers). When I have back-to-back meetings, I sometimes forget what I said to whom. it's embarrassing!
It is not an issue I'm currently facing, but I do work in a demanding role where priorities can shift within seconds, sometimes life-threatening. While reading I was wondering how I can use this lesson to make my day flow better, and maybe even remember more of it. The constant flitting for 8 hours is draining and while it's not usually a physical job, mentally it's very taxing.
I can't sit there playing music (unfortunately), but maybe the transition could be writing down something connected, write something unconnected and then move to the next task that presents itself. It'll take some practice but I think could be useful.
"Transitions", and it's expanded cousin inside the AL Platform, has forced me to take stock in my life. I used to complain and whine about things at work more often. I'd justify my behavior by telling myself and others my complaints weren't about me, they were about getting things done at work. I was lying. Creating a separation between events allows me to focus on what I need to get out of the next meeting. Leaving what has already occurred in the past allows me to give my full attention on the present situation and significantly reduces the temptation to gossip (i.e., you won't believe who I just got off the phone with and what they said). Another benefit seems to be that my communication has improved. I'm using less words, stories, and analogies. In the past, I'd often be told to 'land the plane.' I haven't heard that one in a while. However, I recently received feedback that I 'oversell' a decision or idea. I think these two things are related so I've got that to work on next. Thanks for today's post.
Always great to read your examples, David.
Thank you.
Why do you think creating a separation naturally led you to using fewer words and stories?
Some might not make that connection.
I think creating the transition time allows me to think about what my agenda is going into my next interaction. Having a better idea about what I want to accomplish and how to go about it help me use less words. I'm more efficient. My strategy up to this point has been a 'force brute' approach, e.g., throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. In the past, people would tell me it is exhausting to work with me. Now they are telling me it is less exhausting. My goal is to get where it becomes a non-issue.
So important! The problem may be even worse with the rise of video meetings, which often pile up on calendar apps with little time for a break (although some apps do allow you to build in buffers). When I have back-to-back meetings, I sometimes forget what I said to whom. it's embarrassing!
It is not an issue I'm currently facing, but I do work in a demanding role where priorities can shift within seconds, sometimes life-threatening. While reading I was wondering how I can use this lesson to make my day flow better, and maybe even remember more of it. The constant flitting for 8 hours is draining and while it's not usually a physical job, mentally it's very taxing.
I can't sit there playing music (unfortunately), but maybe the transition could be writing down something connected, write something unconnected and then move to the next task that presents itself. It'll take some practice but I think could be useful.