The Happy Burro

The most important commodity we each possess is time.  Too much of it and we grow complacent, bored, soft.  Not enough and we get frazzled, burned out, weak.  So how do we go about investing wisely with our time?  The answer to this question begins to frame how we see work/life balance.  More on this at my FastCompany.com blog, The Beam.

Our friends at dictionary.com define “intentionally” and “habitually” as follows:

in·ten·tion·al·ly, adverb

in·ten·tion·al /?n?t?n??nl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-ten-shuh-nl] Pronunciation Key - adjective

1.	done with intention or on purpose; intended: an intentional insult.

2.	of or pertaining to intention or purpose.

ha·bit·u·al /h??b?t?u?l/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[huh-bich-oo-uhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	of the nature of a habit; fixed by or resulting from habit: habitual courtesy.

2.	being such by habit: a habitual gossip.

3.	commonly used, followed, observed, etc., as by a particular person; customary: She took her habitual place at the table.

My question for you:

Do you invest your time intentionally, or habitually?

Joe Raasch :: Aug.15.2008 :: Innovation, Life, Uncategorized :: Add a Comment Here

I was recently given the opportunity to write a weekly blog for FastCompany about one of my passions: Work/Life balance.  My take is a little different in that Work/Life Balance does not necessarily mean “50-50″.

The blog is titled, “The Beam” (as in balance beam…get it?) You will find the inaugural post here.  I’ll be posting each Friday.

I look forward to our conversations!

Cheers,

Joe

Joe Raasch :: Aug.08.2008 :: Leadership, Life, Personal :: Add a Comment Here

We have a spirited, joyful, 80lb yellow Labrador Retriever.  She is a great companion and provides hours of fun.  To channel her best energy, we read Cesar Milan’s book, “Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems.”

What does this have to do with motivating and managing a team?  Turns out we’re not as different from dogs as we like to think…

Cesar focuses on three key areas to help your dog be the best dog he/she can be: Exercise, Discipline and Affection.  How would this work with your team of humans?

Exercise

Does your team routinely practice their trade together?  Or do they focus 100% of their time accomplishing the tasks at hand?  Do you keep them cooped up in endless meetings with no agendas, or out adding value to the organization?

Your team should end their day with a strong sense of accomplishment and a ‘job well done’ feeling.  Mentally or physically tired from not just doing things right, but also doing the right thing.

Discipline

Do you have defined processes on your team?  Monthly metrics that demonstrate relevant progress towards goals?  Project reports that allow for early intervention to mitigate risks?

Following a set standard and letting your team know what is expected of them at all times allows them to focus on their work and not extraneous goals.

Affection

Do you praise in public and reprimand in private?  Do you celebrate after the successful completion of a project or race on to the next job?

Some people need to be center-stage and receive big marble trophies.  Most people just want their leader to acknowledge when they’ve done a good job.  Keep a stack of ‘thank you’ notes and use them judiciously to thank the people that give the best efforts in moving the mission of the organization forward.

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Next up:  a series on work/life balance.  (hint: it may not be a ‘50/50′ deal…)

Joe Raasch :: Aug.05.2008 :: Employee Engagement, Leadership :: Add a Comment Here