3D Juggling 511: Underemployment
Claire writes: I had one of our cups of coffee last week with someone who works for a public sector organisation which has already made its first round of redundancies. Those people who are left are expected to deliver the same service with less resource. Does that sound familiar?
It may well be that their work can be done differently and more effectively with less people. But only if they have time to stop and think. James Watson, an American scientist, said: “It is necessary to be somewhat underemployed if you want to do something significant”. Creativity comes when our minds are not fully or over occupied. What can you do to create just enough underemployent in your week? Think about it...
© 2011 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
When we are working with executives and executive teams we often become aware of ‘tension’ between executive directors (EDs) and non executive directors (NEDS). Typically EDs value the external experience, expertise and challenge that NEDs bring whilst experiencing frustration about how this is offered (‘they don’t understand our constraints...’), and NEDs value the experience, expertise and commitment of EDs whilst experiencing frustration at their assumptions about what’s possible (and often, in the public sector, an apparent lack of accountability). We’re thinking about how NEDs establish authority and relate to EDs, and about how EDs can help them to challenge appropriately. We’d love to hear about your experiences.
Click here for a factsheet from the Institute of Directors about the role of a NED
Showing posts with label Thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thinking. Show all posts
Friday, January 14, 2011
Monday, September 06, 2010
3D Juggling 491: A Time to Share.... and a time to stay quiet
Su writes: "I arrived very early at the office this morning in order to get some outstanding work completed. In a large open plan office there is just me and one other colleague, head down, working. I fly through my work but with a sense of calm and enjoyment which comes from the knowledge that I am not going to be interrupted. It is nice to have the quiet companionship of a co-worker. The only sounds come from the clicking of the keys and the gentle white noise of the office.
It crosses my mind that I should turn round and tell my colleague what a good way to work this is, without the interruptions and with this calming peace around..... then I realise that to do this would be to destroy it. I would become an interruption.
Best to keep that gem to myself. Knowing when and when not to share is my first lesson today."
Love this? If you need some help in your organisation to make time to think, come out for a cup of coffee with us to talk about how we can help you. We'll pay!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Su writes: "I arrived very early at the office this morning in order to get some outstanding work completed. In a large open plan office there is just me and one other colleague, head down, working. I fly through my work but with a sense of calm and enjoyment which comes from the knowledge that I am not going to be interrupted. It is nice to have the quiet companionship of a co-worker. The only sounds come from the clicking of the keys and the gentle white noise of the office.
It crosses my mind that I should turn round and tell my colleague what a good way to work this is, without the interruptions and with this calming peace around..... then I realise that to do this would be to destroy it. I would become an interruption.
Best to keep that gem to myself. Knowing when and when not to share is my first lesson today."
Love this? If you need some help in your organisation to make time to think, come out for a cup of coffee with us to talk about how we can help you. We'll pay!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Monday, June 14, 2010
3D Juggling 482: Thinking Time
Claire writes: 'Rodin's Thinker sits in a Paris garden and ponders. To me, he is a sy
mbol of analysis paralysis... the kind of prolonged thinking that doesn't necessarily lead to action. With the internet, analysis paralysis can be seen by the search for new information and never having quite enough to make a decision.
People think in different ways. Kolb talks about activists (who like to do), reflectors (who like to review), theorists (who like to learn) and pragmatists (who like to apply what they have learned quickly). All of us need a bit of all those processes in order to learn and develop and grow.
People need time to think. I met someone yesterday who would like to speak to his new line manager and says that he can't becaure the manager's diary is scheduled from Monday early to Friday late. Every week. Where, I wonder, does he think?
Last week I took a week, without appointments, to think. The first thing I did was download my brain and write in a notebook all the unfinished things on my mind, as well as a whole list of new ideas that began to surface. It took a couple of hours. I sat in a coffee shop. No colleagues. No laptop. No phone. If that is all I had done last week, that would have been valuable. In fact, I was then able to organise ideas, discuss them with colleagues and begin to plan a way forward.
Organisations also need time to think. Together. With the cuts needed in the public sector, there is a danger that activist decision makers will make choices without enough reflection. Speed may be of the essence, but the power of corporate thinking is vital. It's the staff and teams who will be able to make the most intelligent cuts. Not external consultants. If they are given the time to think together.
My experience is that the busier we are, the more we need time to think. The power of the human mind is incredible. But it needs space to be effective.
How do you and your organisation take your time to think?'
Love this? If you need some help in your organisation to help people take time to think together, come out for a cup of coffee with us to talk about how we can help you. We'll pay!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Claire writes: 'Rodin's Thinker sits in a Paris garden and ponders. To me, he is a sy
mbol of analysis paralysis... the kind of prolonged thinking that doesn't necessarily lead to action. With the internet, analysis paralysis can be seen by the search for new information and never having quite enough to make a decision.People think in different ways. Kolb talks about activists (who like to do), reflectors (who like to review), theorists (who like to learn) and pragmatists (who like to apply what they have learned quickly). All of us need a bit of all those processes in order to learn and develop and grow.
People need time to think. I met someone yesterday who would like to speak to his new line manager and says that he can't becaure the manager's diary is scheduled from Monday early to Friday late. Every week. Where, I wonder, does he think?
Last week I took a week, without appointments, to think. The first thing I did was download my brain and write in a notebook all the unfinished things on my mind, as well as a whole list of new ideas that began to surface. It took a couple of hours. I sat in a coffee shop. No colleagues. No laptop. No phone. If that is all I had done last week, that would have been valuable. In fact, I was then able to organise ideas, discuss them with colleagues and begin to plan a way forward.
Organisations also need time to think. Together. With the cuts needed in the public sector, there is a danger that activist decision makers will make choices without enough reflection. Speed may be of the essence, but the power of corporate thinking is vital. It's the staff and teams who will be able to make the most intelligent cuts. Not external consultants. If they are given the time to think together.
My experience is that the busier we are, the more we need time to think. The power of the human mind is incredible. But it needs space to be effective.
How do you and your organisation take your time to think?'
Love this? If you need some help in your organisation to help people take time to think together, come out for a cup of coffee with us to talk about how we can help you. We'll pay!
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Monday, April 26, 2010
3D Juggling 475: The Art of Slowlyness 1
Claire writes: “I've been posting a few comments on Twitter about the art of slowlyness which have received some good feedback so I thought I would share them with you. Having spent six days at Spring Harvest where it was good to meet some of you, I have enjoyed sitting and mulling in the few days since I returned. Those trapped by volcanic ash seem to have taken two very different approaches to the chaos. Those with schedules and responsibilities have been desperately trying to find a way home. My parents did a 4 day rescue mission to the Spanish border to fetch my brother and his wife. Others who have less of a pressing agenda are sitting it out and enjoying a slower pace. I spoke to a colleague who thinks his Dad will be the last Brit home as he is enjoying the slow waiting pace so much!
Reflective thinkers seem to find it easy to make space in a busy schedule to think. Activists find it much more difficult because there is always something to be done. Different solutions fit different people, although I recognise in myself that my brand-new solution will only work for a season, although it will probably come back and be fit for purpose sometime in the future. I was reminded recently of an extrovert who wanted some thinking time. The thought of going on a quiet day or even a quiet hour was too much for him. Their solution was to take a few days out, and frequent the coffee shops of the nearby city. They were alone which gave them time to think, but in company and in the hustle and bustle of the city. It worked.
My thinking space is the Starbucks at our local motorway service station. I don’t meet anyone I know, I have my favourite seat and it gives me productive time to think. It doesn’t take long to download and get some clarity about what’s going on, what’s important, and what can be left.
Where do you practice the art of slowlyness?
We’d love to hear your ideas on this. Email info@3dcoaching.com to tell us how you practice the art of slowlyness.
Try it!
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who needs to slow down.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Claire writes: “I've been posting a few comments on Twitter about the art of slowlyness which have received some good feedback so I thought I would share them with you. Having spent six days at Spring Harvest where it was good to meet some of you, I have enjoyed sitting and mulling in the few days since I returned. Those trapped by volcanic ash seem to have taken two very different approaches to the chaos. Those with schedules and responsibilities have been desperately trying to find a way home. My parents did a 4 day rescue mission to the Spanish border to fetch my brother and his wife. Others who have less of a pressing agenda are sitting it out and enjoying a slower pace. I spoke to a colleague who thinks his Dad will be the last Brit home as he is enjoying the slow waiting pace so much!
Reflective thinkers seem to find it easy to make space in a busy schedule to think. Activists find it much more difficult because there is always something to be done. Different solutions fit different people, although I recognise in myself that my brand-new solution will only work for a season, although it will probably come back and be fit for purpose sometime in the future. I was reminded recently of an extrovert who wanted some thinking time. The thought of going on a quiet day or even a quiet hour was too much for him. Their solution was to take a few days out, and frequent the coffee shops of the nearby city. They were alone which gave them time to think, but in company and in the hustle and bustle of the city. It worked.
My thinking space is the Starbucks at our local motorway service station. I don’t meet anyone I know, I have my favourite seat and it gives me productive time to think. It doesn’t take long to download and get some clarity about what’s going on, what’s important, and what can be left.
Where do you practice the art of slowlyness?
We’d love to hear your ideas on this. Email info@3dcoaching.com to tell us how you practice the art of slowlyness.
Try it!
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who needs to slow down.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com
Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching
Friday, May 16, 2008
Juggling in 3D 380: Talk it into existence
We had ten emails about last week's juggling by mid morning on Monday. Seems it struck a chord. We loved the one from a priest who said that a significant learning for him was to read a well known bible verse: I can do all things... including fail... through Christ who strengthens me.
Claire writes: "At awards evening at school last week, a rocket scientist talked about her idea for a self-financing space trip to Mars: Big Brother in Space. It's OK until you come to the evictions! Seriously, though, she has been funded to make a video about the idea and if such a trip becomes scientifically possible, maybe her dream will come true! I kept quiet my idea for a TV remote that would whistle back if you whistled at... and now someone else has brought it into existence.
As long as we keep ideas and dreams in our head, they are likely to come to nothing. At some stage, we need to start talking about them in order to get clarity, challenge, support... and to develop them. At the right time, we need to talk them into existence. That's what gives them life. Last week I did a Career Makeover with someone with a huge dream that he barely dare articulate. Over a couple of house webegan to talk about it and it moved from an intangible place in an unknown future to something that can happen sooner.
Is there something you need to say?"
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to your work neighbours.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
(c) 2008 3D Coaching Ltd
Spend a day away... for a change
Invest in your future. There is a "Whatever Next...?" Day most weeks. Call us on 0845 458 0154 and we'll talk about arranging dates to suit you. http://www.3dcoaching.com/with_your_team/whatever_next.phtml
Empower your new staff by offering them coaching conversations in their first 100 days.
It will transform their impact. Call us on 0845 458 0156 to talk about how we can work with you to develop them. http://www.3dcoaching.com/about_work.phtml
Get inspired on Monday! If you're a new reader, welcome!
Click here to get inspired next Monday http://www.3dcoaching.com/php/members.php?id=11
Coming Up
Managing Faith in the Workplace run by Chartered Management Institute and Three Faiths Network. Come and hear Ram Gidoomal, Tariq Hameed, Sir Trevor Chinn and Claire Pedrick. http://www.managers.org.uk/
Are you a coach and want to be simply excellent?
Are you are among the 85% of coaches and consultants who think that supervision is important... but not among the 40% who receive it? Whether you are an internal or independent coach, supervision will transform the art and craft of your coaching. Call Claire on 0845 458 0154 to talk about how we can work with you as you transform your coaching. .
We had ten emails about last week's juggling by mid morning on Monday. Seems it struck a chord. We loved the one from a priest who said that a significant learning for him was to read a well known bible verse: I can do all things... including fail... through Christ who strengthens me.
Claire writes: "At awards evening at school last week, a rocket scientist talked about her idea for a self-financing space trip to Mars: Big Brother in Space. It's OK until you come to the evictions! Seriously, though, she has been funded to make a video about the idea and if such a trip becomes scientifically possible, maybe her dream will come true! I kept quiet my idea for a TV remote that would whistle back if you whistled at... and now someone else has brought it into existence.
As long as we keep ideas and dreams in our head, they are likely to come to nothing. At some stage, we need to start talking about them in order to get clarity, challenge, support... and to develop them. At the right time, we need to talk them into existence. That's what gives them life. Last week I did a Career Makeover with someone with a huge dream that he barely dare articulate. Over a couple of house webegan to talk about it and it moved from an intangible place in an unknown future to something that can happen sooner.
Is there something you need to say?"
Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to your work neighbours.
Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/
(c) 2008 3D Coaching Ltd
Spend a day away... for a change
Invest in your future. There is a "Whatever Next...?" Day most weeks. Call us on 0845 458 0154 and we'll talk about arranging dates to suit you. http://www.3dcoaching.com/with_your_team/whatever_next.phtml
Empower your new staff by offering them coaching conversations in their first 100 days.
It will transform their impact. Call us on 0845 458 0156 to talk about how we can work with you to develop them. http://www.3dcoaching.com/about_work.phtml
Get inspired on Monday! If you're a new reader, welcome!
Click here to get inspired next Monday http://www.3dcoaching.com/php/members.php?id=11
Coming Up
Managing Faith in the Workplace run by Chartered Management Institute and Three Faiths Network. Come and hear Ram Gidoomal, Tariq Hameed, Sir Trevor Chinn and Claire Pedrick. http://www.managers.org.uk/
Are you a coach and want to be simply excellent?
Are you are among the 85% of coaches and consultants who think that supervision is important... but not among the 40% who receive it? Whether you are an internal or independent coach, supervision will transform the art and craft of your coaching. Call Claire on 0845 458 0154 to talk about how we can work with you as you transform your coaching. .
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