Some of us may feel we are drowning in work and need a way out.
Either way, we must be proactive, not defensive.
Defensive: fight back and push against. Say no more often. Negotiate better terms. All these are necessary at times but not optimal.
Proactive: build a leadership style that creates ownership of others. Set other people up for success and give them freedom to run. Build a personal brand that highlights your priority of family or personal life.
This is important. Erosion of work/life balance will lead to burnout and poor leadership. Build it in now. Be proactive where you can.
When in person in a meeting or classroom it takes a few extra seconds of silence to erase the whiteboard. Everyone sits in anticipation and respect for the time to erase. Virtually, we don’t design meetings to have many pauses.
When someone doesn’t speak up its noticed because they have a physical space the physical space they take up doesn’t provide input. Virtually, we don’t have a physical space to associate people with so we can go by unnoticed in a meeting.
When someone is speaking and then takes a beat to think more, everyone waits for them because the presence they take up demands respect. Virtually any little pause is room for someone else to get their comment in.
A lot of this comes down to respect. In person, we know how to do respect. It’s built into our culture and experiences. Virtually, we need to build it in. Work a little harder to design for respect.
For example, when I’m transitioning a meeting to a new topic, I’m going to ask a general question to allow for people to stop and think. As I’m leading a meeting, I’m going to list out on a paper all the people in the meeting and keep an eye on it…maybe even I should make trading cards for those I interact with often, giving them a physical space. When I’m listening to someone and they take a beat, I’m going to assume they are thinking about more to say and wait.
Some of this idea was sparked by John Maeda’s Redesigning Leadership chapter on Technologist as Leader.
Today I started working in my new home office. It’s only the other side of a wall from my old office.
Any work we do, any interaction we have, any relationship we build has context embedded into it. Context shapes our behavior, our interactions, our creativity.
As I set up my new office, I realize space defines context. And therefore space shapes our work, interactions, relationships, creativity…
Es Devlin claims spaces are like protagonists. They become our friends.
David Byrne points out that music is shaped by it’s venue spaces. Ancient chanting was done in cathedrals with wide open spaces where the key and rhythm had to remain consistent and slow. If not, the reverberation would cause dissonance. Motzart played in smaller venues and therefore he could shift keys and play more closely linked notes. African music originated by being played outside. Drums and percussion had to be full, loud, and carry onward with no concern for reverberation dissonance.
Music was shaped by its context.
We need to ensure our spaces are a opportunity for us to shape the context of our work, our relationships, our life.
This preference of space cannot become an excuse for avoiding good, meaningful work but instead spurs us into deeper creation, power, impact.
Space matters.
A few things I’ve set up in my new office to define my context:
Reading nook with a piece of art remembering a friend of mine who passed away. I start each day here meditating, reading, and thinking. Reminds me of passion, love, and my life theme (Invoking people’s truest selves).
Plush dog named Fin who is my company’s mascot. Reminder that my work is greater than me. My team and I are greater than the sum of our parts. Together we do more than we can apart.
Wilson volleyball from the movie Castaway. This was a gift from my previous boss. Even if I’m in this office alone all day, I’m not alone.
Desk is in a location ideal for light for video calls and allows for fluidity of standing/sitting and moving to other locations in office…reading nook, second desk, looking out window, playing with pups.
A chunk of wood with bark leans against the wall. I’ve been grabbed by the idea of stacks of wood and how combustible they are. Keep adding to the pile.
Tandem bike (mounting on the wall in coming days). Go together. Specifically with Kelly, my wife. Go together with people. You are not alone.
“Analog” desk with butcher paper and mirrors. Mirrors remind me of humanity and focuses on humility. When I sit here to map out an idea I remember it’s not all about me. I remember my limits and the true humanness alive in me.
My espresso machine and all snacks are stored outside my office. I could easily put it up here but having it away from office tells me to be sustained by other than work. Food and drink start outside of my work setting. (But of course I snack on things while in the office)
What spaces currently define your context? How can you shape them?
phil invites 