Significance at Work
How significant are you at work?
In his monthly Fortune magazine column titled, While You Were Out, the ubiquitous Stanley Bing writes about his addiction to the digital world while on a vacation. It all started with a phantom buzz of the BlackBerry in his coat pocket. He wasn’t wearing a coat. Why the urge to check in?
Stay Connected
The place cannot run without me. I have such an important job/project/title/image that when I’m out, nothing moves forward. Is that your job? What about the ‘hit by a bus’ theory, where if you were hit by a bus, what would actually happen at work? With few exceptions, most businesses would survive the loss of the newest employee, the CFO or CEO, even the entrepreneurial founder. So why do you have to keep thumbs to the BlackBerry or an ear glued to your Bluetooth while your family hits the beach without you?
Let It All Go
What if I took off a week, or two, and no one really noticed? Meetings are held, decisions made and key projects moved forward. Uh oh. Is my work that insignificant to the organization’s goals? Am I that insignificant at work?
Balance the Flow
Certain positions require you to provide input, even when you’re supposed to be away. Find the top three issues/challenges/project decisions that could arise while you’re planning to be away, figure out reasonable scenarios with your minion to determine a course of action, assign responsibility and vacate. Then, should these plagues rear their ugly heads, your organization/team/support staff have a pre-determined course of action from which to work on a solution.
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In the end, if you’re able to stabilize your work, delegate the decision-making process and disappear for a few days, you’ve succeeded where many have failed. Being able to disconnect isn’t easy. You are the first one that has to let go.
Find some time to spend away from work, completely away, and reconnect with family, friends, your dog. Then bring back your renewed self to your organization. That is significant.
Stumble it!
Joe Raasch :: Jul.06.2008 :: Leadership, Organizational Development, Performance Management, Personal ::
Joe,
This is timely.
My cell phone was stolen last Thursday. By Friday evening (July 4) I was somehow convinced that my business would be erased in toto as a result of my inability to field the mass of calls that no doubt were pouring in.
Got the phone back. No voicemails. Still in business.
I think I’ll decided to relax in my insignificance…:-)
Steve
Hi Steve,
Rough neighborhood!
What a great story - proof that you have everything in hand and are on top of your business. You could be disconnected for over a full day and still not collapse. HA!
I had a similar experience with email. Getting back to the office after a few days and finding over a 100 messages waiting. 75% self-inflicted: newsletters, replies to my messages, etc. Artificial significance.
Best,
Joe