| Are you always
busy? Run off your feet? Don’t know what’s coming next? Are you pestered
and pushed around? Does the boss interrupt you with new urgent jobs ? Is
your only productive time when there is no one at work but you? Have you
tried stress-relieving remedies? Is this starting to sound like an advert
for painkillers? On the other hand, does it sound like your normal working
day?
If it sounds familiar, you are not alone. At every
level, everyone gets it. So how do you cope? Exercise? Kick the dog? Shout
at the kids? Grumble? Get drunk? Alternatively, are you the sort who
remembers it all and will get even one day (good old retribution) and
meanwhile festers on it? (HEART ATTACK alert). All these responses and
lots more are reactive releases for your hormone build-up. This is fine,
if it works for you. If your reactive behaviour affects those that you
care about and love, and your tolerance level is so low snails can jump
it, you may want to consider a teeny weeny change. Sure signs that you
need to change are; your dog avoids you and your spouse says “Don’t go
near him/her children he/she has had a bad day at work and is in a bad
mood" more than twice a week.
OK, what can you do about it? How do you make an
effective lasting change, without resigning or murder? The change must
treat the cause and not the symptom. Well for a start, how about
understanding and thinking like your boss, even his boss, or go for it and
try to understand the bosses bosses boss. Find out what he/she is being
tested/pressured/measured (the TPM factor) on and prepare for the call.
Start acting. Stop reacting. Better still be there first and be proactive
give them what you think they want before they know they want it. That is
your YAHOO moment.
The hardest bit, like anything is making a start. Begin now by writing two
lists. One for you and one for your boss covering the TPM’s. Then
categorise and correlate each item as important or not important. You then
focus on your important and his important list. Why not share lists with
your boss? We could all do it! It’s not magic or high tech, its called
preparation. The difference is, this is proactive preparation. Not
reactive preparation. This is a beginning to put you in control of your
own actions and prove it.
Can you imagine getting to the point where your boss
says “Find it I want it NOW!” And you say, “here it is”. And he says “OK
fine I also want....” and before he finishes you say “here it is and
you’ll also need this, oh, and this too and your bosses boss might ask for
this, so I got it ready so that you can impress him”. Can you imagine that
spectacle?
Yes you can. OK lets do it. Once you’re over the first
effort investment, it’s all down to you.
Treat the cause not the symptom. You really deserve a YAHOO moment. People
who get to the top in life are YAHOO addicts. Your challenge is set. Take
it to survive and thrive.
PS: Talking of culture change, how about an acronym free
week? None written or spoken anywhere in your Company, could we do it? Do
you think so? Well lets’ do it sponsored for charity and raise some cash
as well. |
A guide for life; truisms that
matter on pictures that inspire.
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