Is it truly possible to disconnect and take a break?
"Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax." David Allen
This blog comes to you from Costa Rica! I’m enjoying a relaxing week with my wife Leslie at a coastal resort. The Costa Rican people are warm and friendly, and this trip has been eventless with ample pool time and lovely people bringing us things – all by design. Costa Rica is a small, relatively poor country yet very stable for Central America. It attracts many Americans. Our rooms are equipped with American standard electrical B Type outlets and USB ports for charging phones and computers. Debit cards work easily here and there is generous internet coverage. My cell phone might have a few less G’s but it works great as if I were home at work. All this modern technology poses a problem. I can remain connected to work in real time.
Many modern businesses, to gain efficiency and function in the 24-hour world, have operating systems which one can use from their phone or a laptop. Chat rooms, email, and virtual Zoom-like sessions allow leaders to connect with people regardless of their location. I have an application called Housecall Pro, popular among trade and home improvement companies such as mine where I can see our schedule, communicate with, and manage customer interactions. I also use the application OpenPhone which allows me to answer our business phone from any location as if I’m in the office. I remember a time in the Army when we traveled away from our unit we were essentially disconnected from the office. Those days are long gone.
I’m a leader and I cannot easily disconnect from the demands of the office and my people. Call it a curse, I care too much. Indeed, all good leaders care and because we do, the office comes with us everywhere, even on vacation. In my small business, I just lost a key teammate the week before I departed, and our sales are slumping a bit in this election year. The company needed my attention and leadership, and I almost canceled this trip. I obviously didn’t. I’m here with my toes in the sand and a beer in my hand.
I wish I could offer a magic solution for this challenge or a pill you could take to disconnect. I know it must happen though, for a leader to catch his or her breath and recharge. Like all good leaders I feel guilty about being away, but I know, having disconnected a bit, I’ll be a better leader when I return. Furthermore, my team will have to perform without me and if they do well, which I’m confident they will, it will be a confirmation of something I work hard to create – an organization which can function without me.
I didn’t get it perfect this week. I’d say I got it more right than wrong and here are some tips below which may help you. There are many more and I implore you to study unplugging techniques as you feel the magnetism of your organization and its people.
Do the hard work prior to disconnecting. I spent last week setting things up for the team to succeed in my absence including leaving some short but important guidance for them.
Ask this question: “What is the worst that could happen?” You’ll likely find the answer is not as bad as you first believed. I usually discover that my team will handle everything just fine or that they could always contact me.
Find something while on vacation you love doing which will take you away from technology. I’ve done some writing and reading, and I went to the water where phones and computers don’t belong.
If you must check in with work, plan a short check in. Get in, find out what is happening, offer guidance, and get out. Consider not checking in at all.
Make a pact with your loved one (or a coach) to relax. Slow your pace. Take in the scenery, sounds, and smells. Remove yourself geographically.
There is more you can do, and you should do it. Disconnecting is important. We must all have a life outside work. The younger generations are better at this, focusing on life over job. That gets you so far in my Generation X assessment, but we can all do better.
I find in all that I do I’m working toward some future state where I can truly disconnect and find and enjoy my playground. My coach has awakened me to this fact: that future state is now. Slow down. Be in the moment. If it can’t be a coastal resort in Costa Rica, let it be a local coffee shop, a used book and CD shop, or wherever and whatever you fancy. Disconnect! Your people need that of you.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell