Hot Topic Friday: Jan. 10

Happy Friday! Here are my Jan. 10 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.

What It’s About: As the first Hot Topic theme of the decade, I thought I’d write about what people said at the end of 2019 with somewhat startling consistency: People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. And frankly, I listened to this refrain from all ages, genders and occupations. Something is messed up. We are realistic enough to know that life is not all about sunshine and rainbows. However, it was not meant to be a zombie existence where we wearily plod one foot after another in exhaustion, looking for that addictive antidote of choice to numb the feeling. The two articles I source give us practical insights into small things we can do to help us change the “exhaustion narrative.” The suggestions are accessible to all of us regardless of place, time or budget. Please read them and filter through a couple of things that might work for you.

Why It’s Important: Thriving in this ever-tumultuous world requires conscious personal ENERGY management. Personal refueling has always been important. However, I genuinely believe our current environment calls upon us to microdose energy building therapy. Ironically our mobile phones show battery life status. So often I find myself alarmed that I’m in single digits, frantically looking to find a place to recharge my mobile device before it runs out. Yet, unless remarkably self-aware, we do not treat ourselves the same way. To the contrary we often relish the self-destructive martyrdom of proclaiming how tired, beat up and able we are to “suck it up.” I do believe in grit, strength, resilience and associated attributes. However, the fine line where we cross over into dysfunctional burnout is pretty darn close. I know, because I’ve stupidly been there more than once. Most of us could benefit from better and new energy, power creating strategies. We’re worth it and no one else is going to do this for us. It’s on us. Read the articles for helpful tactics.

One Millennial Response: Funny enough, I find myself feeling cringy for ever saying that I feel “exhausted.” It is designed to be a strong term. “Exhausted” is supposed to mean done. No more. In desperate need of rest. Can I really say I’m exhausted because I had to do my job, and then run errands on a Saturday after a busy week? Realistically, no. But why do I think that? It means I understand the stigma of admitting we’re tired better than how to properly recharge. So, it’s a process, but we should be able to muster up the energy to at least learn a thing or two from these useful articles to help fix our own battery levels.

Hot Topic 2: Just Take 3 Steps for a Strong Culture?

Source: CEOworld.biz.

What It’s About: Another article about things organizations can do to create strong cultures, in this case just three steps. They include:

“STEP ONE: NAME AND CLAIM THE CULTURE.

The first step in creating a strong company culture is clearly defining what the culture is. Thoughtful decisions must be made on every single detail of the policies and intangibles that combine together to create a ‘culture.’

STEP TWO: WALK IT LIKE YOU TALK IT.

The second step to creating a strong company culture is that after a decision has been made as to what the practices are that make the ‘culture,’ you must execute that vision and those policies consistently and openly.

STEP THREE: REMAIN OPEN TO CHANGE AS NEEDED.

It always benefits senior management to have their finger on the pulse of trending concerns and topics in the workplace.”

Why It’s Important: I am always happy when people write about the importance of applying intentionality towards building strong cultures. What bugs me is when it gets over simplified. Who can argue with the three steps noted above? And to be fair, I understand this is about writing an accessible article. However, there are no easy steps to creating a strong culture. It’s hard work, messy, requires solid thinking, applying contextual martial arts, and embracing exceptional focus and fortitude. It is NOT a project, NOT traditional change management, and never simple. If the CEO and top exec team delegates the work behind conscious culture strengthening, it will likely have a counterproductive outcome. If people advising culture building have never led a focused culture initiative, they are likely selling PowerPoint dazzle more than grizzled experience. There are steps, certainly more than three. They are never easy and rarely as conveniently vertical as climbing the stairs in our workplace.

One Millennial View: Three steps? More like 10. And of course, if it was so easy, it wouldn’t have to be constantly evolving, discussed, implemented and a never ending learning process. As you may have seen in the blogs, “it’s that easy, and that hard.”

My Weekly Wine Recommendation.

Perfect for the New Year! Rubis Pinot Noir from Tightrope Winery from our vineyard in Naramata, B.C.

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And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

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“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” - Matthew Walker.

Bye for now!

— Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast.

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Happy Friday! Here are my Jan. 10 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.

Hot Topic 2: Just Take 3 Steps for a Strong Culture?

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