Gone Fishing: Time For a Common Sense Change?

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What It’s About: It’s 2022, and although some institutions seem to be regressive and want to spin us socially backwards, organizations should be better than that. As an example, the EXHAUSTION word and mental health challenge is, by some accounts, hitting crisis status in many work cultures. It’s tough enough to find great people. Having them burn out and get sick is irresponsible.

The meme below is more sad than funny. Why? Because we know there is a solid ribbon of truth to it. Why in North America have we embraced this idea of not switching off to rest and replenish our energy? I bet every reader knows examples where people think it’s heroic not to really take a break.

So What?: Advanced leaders are not parental. Instead, they lead by example and care about their teammates. That includes showing them how to replenish and be healthy. Taking a holiday and always checking in is not accountable. Unless there is an emergency, it’s actually self-focused and stupid. Like if there’s an oxygen emergency on a flight, you need to put the overhead mask on first. Additionally, if you don’t have people able to cover and take over for you, you’re doing everyone, including the overall organization, a disservice. Even worse, you're modeling poor leadership. Essentially you’re taking a megaphone and yelling: If you want to be a success like me, act like me.

Now What?: Everyone replenishes in different ways at different times. There is no magic to exactly how much, when, for whom. However, there is work out there that confirms one can't stay in the performance zone 100 percent of the time. More modern approaches also consider time or zones for learning, aspiration and comfort/rest. So if you are self-aware enough to know you need a break, really take it! If not, you just sub-optimize yourself AND others. Perhaps if we need to socially regress, let’s resurrect that old “GONE FISHING” sign and mean it.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: With summer on the horizon, I do hope to see an uptick in the amount of people taking some vacation time. It’s weird, with things like exhaustion and mental health, we sure talk a lot about it, however hardly any of us are true experts on the matter. Luckily, we all can listen to ourselves and what we need, personally. Ideally, we can all devote some time to go fishing for those answers.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Gone Fishing: Time For a Common Sense Change?

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