Manage Your Time and Your Energy

We have all read about enough about time management.  From the Mayo Clinic to how Web Workers deal with time, everyone's got a tip or two for those who are stressed out.  You've heard them before but it's always good to be reminded of the basics:

All well and good but Tony Schwartz of The Energy Project encourages us to leave much of this in our system.  The key is to counterbalance it with an equally strong dose of energy management.  From his Harvard Business Review article Six Ways to Supercharge Your Productivity, he makes his case for energy management:
Schedule your bedtime, and start winding down at least 45 minutes earlier. Ninety-eight percent of all human beings need at least 7-8 hours a night to feel fully rested. Only a fraction of us get that much regularly, in part because we buy into the myth that sacrificing an hour or two of sleep a night give us an hour more of productivity. In reality, even small amounts of sleep deprivation take a dramatic toll on our cognitive capacity, our ability to think creatively, our emotional resilience, the quality of our work, and even the speed at which we do it.

A powerful balance of time and energy management creates a dynamic system that is ready for anything.  Interruptions- no problem.  Work fatigue- bring it.  Attacking competitors- hi there.  With both time and energy management in place, we can better serve God and those entrusted to our care.

Question: what are you doing to manage energy on a daily basis?

*photo by expressmonorail


Inside the U.S. Bishops Labor Day Statement: Hope Amidst Hard Times

Raise your hand if you know someone who is out of work.

It seems like this year is hitting my hard as I have several friends and family members who are still looking for work.  Each is dedicated, bright and hard working.  They have simply found themselves in the middle of a wicked economic downturn.

As Christians, it's hard to know just how we ought to respond to either those who are unemployed or the way in which the government is trying to steady the ship.  The US Bishops may be of help in this situation.

Each year the US Bishops issue a statement on Labor Day weekend.  Their goal is simple: apply Catholic principles to the challenges of the day.  This year's statement, "A New Social Contract for Today's New Things" was issued by Bishop Murphy of Rockville Centre as he is the chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

I'd like to break down the document in a format that is simple and hopefully, easy to apply to whatever situation you may find yourself in this Labor Day weekend.

Introduction

  • "This year has been difficult for many workers."

  • The Bishops explain that, at the current rate of small US economic growth, it would take nearly seven years to reclaim the jobs that were present prior to the economic collapse.

  • The need has never been greater for a new 'social contract', linking workers with new opportunities for productivity.


Catholic Social Teaching

  • Here the Bishops discuss the Church's tradition of teaching on matters of work.

  • Citing the 1891 breakthrough Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII, the Bishops speak of how Leo responded to the pressing needs of workers in his time.  Today's Pope through his bishops is trying to do the same.

  • Central to the Church's response to unemployment and exploitation today is the centrality of the worker.  The worker has dignity, plain and simple.


Work, Workers and the Economy

  • "Work is good for every person."

  • "Work is that aspect of life that allows us to care for ourselves and those we love and to contribute to the wider society."

  • In the political context, the Bishops explain that, for an unemployed person, work is THE most important issue.  Not health care.  Not even social issues.  It's work that puts food on the table.  Just ask someone who is out of work.


Conclusion

  • "We find ourselves at a crucial moment in economic life.  Workers need to have a real voice and effective protections in economic life."

  • Finally, the Bishops remind all readers that work allows people to be co-creators with God.  When we are without work, we don't share as fully in God's power to work within us and thus within society.


It's my hope that we'll each thank God for whatever employment we have.  Even if your job isn't perfect (whose is?), be grateful and find a way to make it better.  For those who are still looking for work, pray for them and put your creative powers to work on their behalf.  Is there someone in your network that could help them?

To read the complete text, click here.

*Photo by Robert Couse-Baker

Spiritual Effects of Unemployment

I ran into a friend of mine at church recently.  Still out of work, he smiled and tried to be positive about his prospects as another week went by without work.  I could see him clinging to a possible interview in the near horizon.

I wish this were the first such conversation with a friend who is unemployed but it wasn't.  These days, it feels like every week holds another conversation with someone I care about who is still out of work.

The good news in all of this is that a serious revealing of God's will is right around the corner.  No joke- there is nothing like unemployment to increase your dependence on God's will.  You would never choose it but it can be of some value.

The AP reported this past week that over 70K jobs were gained last month.  For those who are outside of that number, it's meaningless.

Unemployment can have some spiritual consequences as well.  From the emotional drag of being "without work" to the mental focus it takes to keep on looking, joblessness is by all standards a real test of one's faith.

A few things are helpful in this period of transition:

  • Focus on God's will.  This is a time of faith.  Become more prayerful than ever before and seek His will on a daily basis.  For God to allow this, there has to be a lesson in it.

  • Stay physically active.  Work expert Dan Miller encourages folks to keep fit, especially during unemployment.  It will allow you to stay mentally alert and will provide a sense of accomplishment.

  • Set a timeline for when you must return to work.  Unemployment should not (and cannot) last forever.  Nail down your finances in order to know when you absolutely must return to work.  Even if you have to pump gas, some income is better than no income.


In all of this, the words of John Paul II in 1981 ring true:

"Work is a good thing for man - a good thing for his humanity - because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes 'more a human being'." (Laboren Exercens)

*Photo by erix

Focus and Detachment: Getting the Right Things Done

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." -- Jim Elliot

You are plugged in.  Your cell phone is with you nearly all of the time.

You are media savvy.  You have access to music, video and the Web nearly all of the time.

You are productive.  You capture ideas when they arise and put them in placeholders.

You are relational.  Your family and friends matter to you.

Put all of these together and you have an opportunity to do great things.  Or, an opportunity to be distracted.  I don't mean distracted for 5 minutes when you should be working on a project.  I mean the kind of distraction that creeps into a life and leads it off course.

I was walking in my neighborhood last night with my kids.  As a productive guy, I had my cell phone in my pocket as a capture tool.  Inspiration can strike at any time.  We were enjoying the muggy New Jersey night air and a moment flashed in front of my eyes- I had a choice.

I could be the dad whose kid is riding in the neighborhood, having fun while he was chatting on his cell phone and missing the action.  Or, I could be the dad who practices what the ancients call "detachment" and focus instead on my kids.

Thankfully, in that given moment, I chose the latter.  I wish I could say I make that choice all of the time but I don't.  A work in progress.  At these times, we need the spiritual principle of detachment more than ever.

What is detachment? A good article can be found here.

As Marcellino D'Ambrosio puts it, "Detachment does not mean that you shouldn’t enjoy your secular pursuits and approach them with energy and enthusiasm.  It just means that your daily activity must be placed on the altar, offered up to God as a living sacrifice."

In other words, put first things first.  God, family, work, friendship, worship, generosity, and compassion.  Your list is probably similar.

It's not always about getting more things done.  It's about the right kinds of things.
*photo by nathaninsandiego

How to Disagree Productively

Most people like to get along.  As a result, confrontation is something that most of us avoid like the plague.  I know that up until a few years ago, I would prefer telling someone indirectly something negative rather than face to face.  Sort of like taking the easy way out.

That was then.  This is now.

Like most leaders, I don't have the luxury of agreeing with people all of the time.  As they say, sometimes you have to speak the truth, even if it hurts.  The key is to do it with love.  This is not only for high-level leaders but for all people who care.  We all have moments when we really have a duty to disagree.  A mom disagrees with her son who has just been disrespectful.  A boss disagrees with the employee who has acted unethically.  It's really about principles and leadership.

As Stephen Covey says,

"Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall."

In other words, leaders have to discern the proper direction of the organization and call it out when the ship is heading in the wrong direction.  This often happens through very small conversations and precise decisions.

The Trick: Conversational Bumpers

I've learned a trick to help this process.  If you are hesitant to disagree with someone or are afraid that you'll start a full-blown argument, consider this approach.  Rather than say, "I totally agree with you," why not say the following:

"Bob, I've got to push back on you a bit on this.  Here's my perspective..."


The use of the short phrase before actually disagreeing with the other person is what is called a conversational bumper.  Other bumpers include:




  • I'm not sure, in my experience the opposite has been true.

  • Maybe in some cases, but I've found that...

  • You and I may have to agree to disagree on this point...


In each case, the listener hears that you're on their side but in this particular case, you have a different point of view.  The next time you are in a position to disagree with someone, in love, try one of these bumpers and I think you'll find that your leadership expands all the more.

*photo by vanity press

The Power of a Good Apology

2010 has been like an episode of Men Behaving Badly.  Famous men doing terrible things.  Each time, we wait for an apology and then wage our bets to see if words can make up for bad behavior.


  • Now ousted-CEO Tony Hayward of BP had this to say before Congress in June, referring to the explosion and subsequent sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig, "They never should have happened -- and I am deeply sorry that they did...My sadness has   only grown as the disaster continues."



  • We could too-easily reference Tiger Woods' famous apology to his wife and family for a pattern of infidelity.  The press conference included friends and family at his side but not his wife or children.


In each case, lives have been ruined and moments of self-centered behavior have led to untold pain.  We feel like rubber-neckers who are driving by accidents on the freeway.  I've even found myself asking, "Don't they realize the pain they're causing?"  Apparently not.

Here are some observations about the power of a good apology:

  1. To apologize is to be human. No one is above or exempt from saying they're sorry.  I recently neglected an important anniversary in the lives of two people I love very much.  No excuses could be made and a deep and enduring apology ensued.  I felt awful.

  2. To go beyond it, own it. This involves deep introspection and you have to reach a point where you look in the mirror and admit that at least part of the problem is, well, you.  Own it and move on.  Accept full responsibility- it's the only way.

  3. Follow up with concrete actions. A personal note, flowers, gifts, and more are all good starts but it will take much more to amend a wrong committed against someone else.  This could take weeks or even years.


Through all of this, the wise perspective of Stephen Covey still holds true,

"Remember the emotional bank account—similar to a bank account, you can make deposits or withdrawals from each of your family relationships. Make a conscious effort to make meaningful deposits in your relationships. When you make a withdrawal, apologize and correct the mistake."

As you go through your week, starting each day with some devotional time, focus on being fully present where you are.  This is truly "practicing the presence of God" and will ultimately lead to a more fulfilling and honest life.

*Photo by Dave Keeshan