Space to Think

Today's Bosses Find Mentoring Isn't Worth the Time and Risks

From Bill Jensen, Author of Simplicity comes this not so surprising insight into the role of coaching in many of today's organizations.

Ah-Duh! As if this is news to you. If you’re like most of us, the CEO quoted in this article coulda been your boss, “There aren’t enough hours in the day.... We can’t tolerate mediocrity, but we have to presume...competence...and then, [only] when we’re disappointed, spend time coaching and training.”

Net/net: Most of us only get the coaching we need AFTER we mess up or fail. Sound like a
win/win model to you?

Jensen goes on to prescibe a set of core questions that will enable you to get the much of the coaching you need before you really need it:

Help me understand how this changes what I’m doing now?
Establishing context and connections for new to-do’s is critical. The answer to this question helps you connect the dots from your past experiences, as in: “Oh, so this is just like XYZ Project that we did last year. OK, now I what might work and what won’t.”

 What suggestions do you have for my first steps?
Or: What’s the best way to get started?
This is where lots of after-the-fact coaching sessions begin: “Let’s discuss what you could have done differently.” Head this problem off at the pass!

What does success look like?
Or: How will I know I’m making progress and am on target?

If your time with your manager gets cut short, focus on this question above all others.

What tools and support are available?
Your manager’s primary job in supporting you is removing barriers and making sure you have what you need to succeed. Tools and support fall in that category. Checklists, plans and schedules, training, technology, additional teammates, a budget, a brainstorming session — these are among many possible tools and support. Your job is to find out what’s already available from past projects that can be used again, and if any new support has been made available. Often more support is available than you realize: triaging, overworked
managers are to just crazed to connect the dots and explain all the options to you.

Getting out from under

Another Article about taming technology entitled Getting out from under appears in the March 20, 2006 issue of Fortune.

Among the suggestions for ensuring your workday isn't hi-jacked by interruptions:

1. Keep your meetings rare

2. Show your technology who's boss.

3. Give yourself a time-out.

4. Say no. "Sorry" isn't the hardest word--"no" is.

5. Delete.

Fast Company on the Block

Fast Company, one of my regular favorite reads is For Sale. Irreverant, topical, at times downright painful,  and seldom boring, the magazines faces an uncertain future.

The Power of Conversation

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.” Mister (Fred) Rogers

Trevor's Blog: The Fine Art of Conversation.

Endlessly Tweaking

Merlin over at 43 Folders has highlighted an affliction that plagues many who are endlessly searching for the "holy grail" of time management. Whether it's a new software program, a new book, a new workshop, etc., there's always some new solution just waiting out there to FINALLY get us organized. We spend so much time fiddling, tweaking, and implementing new systems and solutions, that we fail to ever really get anything done. (Which was the point after all, wasn't it?)
This one cuts a bit too close to the bone. 43 Folders: Because buying new running shoes is more fun than actually running.

I once worked with someone whose office and desk were a disaster area. Paper went into his office and died there.
One day he decided that what he really needed was a Palm handheld. He began researching which model would best suit his needs and would come into the office each day and tell me (and everyone else) how organized he was going to be once he laid his hands on his new toy.
One day I asked him, "What do you expect this thing will do for you anyway? Are you intending to lob it into your office, like a grenade, then go off for coffee and come back to a fully organized office?" The look on his face told me he didn't share my sense of humor on this point.
He eventually did get his Palm, and to be fair, he did at least appear to be more organized for a while, but it didn't last long.

Tablets and MindMapping

Mindmapping is my preferred was to dump and capture my thoughts. I've been a longtime fan of Mindmanager by Mindjet. This wonderful software allows me to lay out projects and ideas in a non-linear, visual format. I can add color and symbols to flag significants items and with one click can export my work to Word, Powerpoint or Outlook.
But when I just want to free-flow ideas quickly, I find mindmapping on paper to be easier and more natural for some reason. There is something about the feel of pen on papera than seems to coax more ideas out of my brain.
Problem is, I then need to take those ideas and re-key them into my computer in order to take action on them.
Kathy Sierra posts about mindmapping with a Tablet PC Creating Passionate Users: Why I want a Tablet PC.
Maybe this is the answer I've been looking for. I've been thinking about buying a tablet for awhile now. But wait a second-rumors are afoot about a soon-to-be announced Apple Tablet.
No harm in waiting a little bit longer...

Grilled to Perfection

One of my favorite ways to get away and think is in front of the BBQ. Now that summer is almost upon us here in Nova Scotia, I'm ready to grill just about everything in sight.

Over the past few years I've been using a gas grill because it's faster and more convenient. I've really missed the flavour of charcoal.

Well this weekend all my grilling dreams came true. On Friday afternoon a truck pulled up and delivered my Weber Performer Grill.

This beauty combines the efficiency of gas with the benefits of charcoal. One touch and the gas burner ignites the charcoal. After 5 minutes, I turn the gas off and within 10 minutes my grills are hot enough to grill!

Connecting Through Open Space

A great post over at Word Gravity on Wendy Farmer-O'Neil's first experience of Open Space Technology. An excerpt:

"I don’t think I know of a word to describe the working relationship—there was mutuality, fun, an intensity of focus and presence unlike anything I have known outside of serving at silent retreats, respect, space, and an amazing ease of flow from task to task…and freedom."

BTW, the The 13th Annual Open Space on Open Space International Practice Conference will be held in my home town of Halifax, Nova Scotia this August 4-6, 2005.

GMail Accounts Available!

I've got several free Gmail accounts available.
Email me and I'll send you one.

Unplugged!

I was speaking to a client the other day who was bemoaning the fact that he couldn't seem to "break free" of the technology in his life. He could be reached "anywhere, anytime" and had no time to himself (as evidenced by the fact he checked his "crack-berry" at least 3 times while he was talking to me).

Here is an article about this I wrote back in 1999. How little things have changed!

Unplugged!

Two recent occurrences have spurred my thinking about technology and the increasing role it plays in our busy lives. The first was a MAJOR meltdown of my computer and the resultant anxiety and helplessness that followed until I was back on-line. The other was a recent radio interview I listened to in the car one day. A technology correspondent for a major Canadian publication had agreed to play guinea pig in an experiment. He turned in all his hi-tech gadgetry and attempted to live "techno-free" for 30 days. Out went his palm, his cell phone, his answering machine at home, his 500 channels of TV, his pager, his computer and his fax machine.

He even turned in his automatic teller banking card. The interview I caught on the radio was the day he completed the experiment and was reporting on his experience. Among his observations:

• He began to hear birds outside his window that he SWEARS were never there before.
• His food began to taste better.
• While many of his friends initially resented the fact that they could not leave him a message on his phone at home, he LOVED the fact that when he came home he could actually do nothing!
• He felt his senses were heightened and more acute.
• On the bad side, carrying cash and lining up to get cash was a major drag! He missed the bank by 5 minutes on New Year's weekend and went all weekend with 45 cents in his pocket.
• Because he had to write all his correspondence freehand, he came to the frightening realization that he had forgotten how to write. All his letters had begun to resemble "graffiti"! (The handwriting form used to enter data into a Palm PDA)

Going into the experiment, the reporter thought he would emerge after 30 days feeling that this was an incredibly liberating, positive experience. In the end he came to the realization that it really all comes down to intelligent choice. While some of the technology he had accumulated over recent years had in fact overly complicated his life, others had earned their rightful place by enhancing his quality of life.

And so our intrepid hero has had his PDA "surgically re-attached", he gratefully took back possession of his banking card and computer but has decided he can do without 500 channels of TV and will, at least for now go without an answering machine at home (unless his friends revolt).

After considering this man's experience and my recent computer woes, I decided to take stock of my own technology usage and am currently in week three of my own "experiment" in weaning myself off of technology dependency.

1. One day a week (Sunday) has been designated "technology - free day." Specifically this means no computer, answering machine or cell phone. The TV stays because watching movies on Sunday is a family favorite.
   
2. I have decided that I will not boot up my computer before 8:30 am to check my email.

Now, depending on your particular relationship with technology, these may seem like either relatively minor or overly harsh measures. The point is, for me they represent a break from my usual habits. I can report that I have spent two of the most relaxing and re-energizing Sundays in recent memory with my family. And when I happily did "plug back in" on Monday it was with a new relaxed perspective. I think I'm on to something...

As with all things, balance is the key. Take advantage of technology to free up your time to focus on what's truly most important.