Zipping along with the finish line in sight isn't the only way to be productive and effective at work. And what if there isn't a finish line and your focus is simply racing around the work track? What if you slowed down - or even stopped?
A friend was updating me on working for a new client and she said: “He wants to sit around and talk… I keep thinking ‘Shouldn’t we be getting some work done?’”
It made me smile and I responded: “That is work. I sit around, listen and talk to people – it’s called being a sounding board. How else do you generate fresh thinking and better perspectives?"
Making and taking time to talk, to listen, to share ideas, to process, to develop – all of these things are “working”.
In my experience, people underestimate the value of making time to stop, listen and talk, but it’s a fundamental part of how we come up with the best (not first or fastest) solutions. It's certainly how I help people move forward in their work and careers when they've got stuck just racing around the track.
In an increasingly busy world, it's vital to press pause and just...stop.
For a bit.
Breathe, assess and move forward recharged knowing you have clarity and can act with purpose to you maximise the return on investement for your efforts.
It's not slacking off. It's acting with purpose, which is a time and effort saver.
It never ceases to surprise me how little time people allow themselves to ‘think and reflect’ on well, anything. They are so busy being busy and doing, doing, doing, racing around the track that they aren't investing in analysis to assess if what they are so busy racing around doing is actually the optimal activity.
It's true with my clients who all too often have been so busy doing, doing, doing that they look up one day and realise they took a wrong turn and ended up in a career cul-de-sac or they feel unfulfilled, under-appreciated and just...stuck. They haven't invested in strategy. They aren't checking in with themselves to ask "Am I going in the right direction? Am I where I want/need to be?" No wonder they find themselves stuck or going around in circles! And I know how that happens and feels, it's what happened to me.
So, go on. Take some time to think. Regularly. You and your career deserve it - and it will ensure you don't get stuck.
Are you happy with your career? Are you where you want to be? And if not, where would you like to be?
Invest in a sounding board, like me, who can help you find the right questions to ask and explore how you answer them to accelerate your analysis and assessment - and connect with your gut feelings on what is right for you.
Get in touch for a free chat and let's see how some space to think and being asked the right questions for your situation can help you recharge your career so you can zip along with purpose, not just speed.
Click on the button on the site to book a call or email me to say hello: louise@careertherapy.co.uk
For more tips tools and talks, follow Career Therapy on Instagram and connect with me on LinkedIn: Louise Newton
More thinking less racing. What's stopping you?
Image Steve Johnson for Unsplash+
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