The Power of Time

I received a healthy dose of "don't forget what you can do Jay" from a member of the team during a call last week. I had decided to forgo an extra night at a hotel to save my company a few bucks. But... 

...I was reminded that time is more valuable than money.

Making It
Despite the never ending stream of "I'm so busy" comments that we hear all day, it is really not about our work, or responsibilities, or life that gets in the way. It is our unwillingness to make time. Have you ever heard this phrase before?

"Where does the time go?"

Of course we all have a full plate, that's not what I"m talking about. It is the choice to protect time, schedule time...to literally make time to get important things done.

Sharing It
One of the most important things leaders can do is share their time with the people around them. Yes, the people that help make them, and the company, successful. Sharing our time is not a one way communication. I often receive as much as I give when I connect with our team.

Often...as in...every time.

Not only does sharing time help with the fundamentals like communication, building internal communities, and living the values of the company. It also reinforces the influence leaders have in their organizations.

Think about the early days of your career. Did it matter if a senior executive took time to connect with you. Not because they had to....but because they genuinely wanted to?

It sure did for me.

There is another reason it is important to invest your time in the people you work with, and it is quite obvious. We all talk about how important our people are to our businesses. When we connect with our people, we are connecting with the lifeblood of our companies too.

Are you with me?

How About You
The old adage that time is money is true. But it is far more important than dollars and cents. How we prioritize our time speaks volumes about whether we back up our executive-speak or not. So, how will you spend your time today?

Thanks for the reminder Julie.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Life Value vs. Career Value

The world of work is an interesting place. We focus on "our careers" and "our skill set" and "our development" and "our potential." In the next breath we complain that team-players are nowhere to be found in the chaotic "war for talent!"

What? It's all about the individual, right? It's all about me, baby! #ImTheMan

How Did We Get Here?

It seems we've created one of the greatest corporate cultures of schizophrenia without ever acknowledging it. Be an individual, work hard and good things will happen to you, set up your personal goals, and mission statement, and career plan, and on and on...

How can we expect anyone to be focused on team success, let alone the department or company if we've spent the formative years of just about every one's career telling them to focus exclusively on themselves?

Well I'm glad you asked. 

The sad reality is we can't expect them to be focused on the team. How about that? We've done too well brainwashing them that the world is a collection of individuals with no real connection to anyone else. Sure networking gets a lot of press, but doesn't it seem like most of the networking posts you see have an agenda (read here --> networking is only useful to help me get ahead of you!) 

Where Do We Go From Here?

Am I suggesting that we stop working hard on our careers? Perhaps throw away our aspirations, dreams, and vision for what we might become someday? Sacrifice everything for the "good of the order?"

Um, no.

What I am suggesting is that somewhere between our self-obsessed career path and the realization that if we don't work together we won't have a career path, we need to find balance.

Not the beaten to death work/life balance messaging that seems more philosophical than realistic. I'm talking about networking balance. I'm talking about reaching out to those who could be important to you, but asking them for nothing.

Maybe never asking them for anything... Ever.

I know, I know...I'm out of touch. Actually I don't think I am. Several members of my inner circle have stayed connected to me for several years now.

They connect on a variety of channels including using the phone to actually talk, as well as in person when we can see each other. While I could be helpful to them, they've asked me for exactly nothing. 

They asked for nothing. Let that sink in. 

Nothing.

Those kind of connections move far beyond "my network," and become true friends. 

How About You

When was the last time you focused on expanding your network for the sole purpose of connecting with good people who could bring tremendous life-value to you, but little or no career-value? Has that thought crossed your mind? The funny thing is...once you see the value they bring, it sends a bolt of energy into your career without you even realizing it.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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