Yesterday, I finished up day 1 of a 2 day workshop. It was an interesting day with much debate around the topic of engagement. At most of my workshops I have to spend time working with an ‘illogical logic’ that for some reason leaders often cling to. If you’ve read Covey’s 7 habits for highly effective people you will recall the story of the lumberjack whose job description was to cut down x amount of trees in a day. Over a period of time he begins to return home later and later, his family life suffering as a result. The question is ‘why?’ Most say he is demotivated, bored, lazy. The answer is actually that his saw is getting blunt. What the lumberjack most needs to do is stop and sharpen his saw. He does not stop! why? He does not have the time. He is to busy trying to get through the trees with a blunt saw! And there it is - what we most need to do we very often are least likely to do.
In speaking about engagement with the delegates, I shared how what is critical is that we dialogue with our staff. Engagement is not an instruction. My belief is that one the most significant contributors toward engagement is perspective. Rarely are we dealing with why our team see the factors that disengage them the way they do. I asked “Have you had to deal with the same issues in repeated cycles over the last year?” There were nods all round. Issues are usually dealt with (absenteeism, lack of productivity, bad attitude for example) by focussing on the issue itself and punishing or warning against it. “Do not be late again, here’s a warning letter!” This is a short term solution. These issues rob us of time, yet leaders can’t find the time to deal with deeper issues that cause these issues. That is illogical.
Like the lumberjack, leaders need to disconnect and create space to think about the way they are working and how effectively they are contributing toward long term engagement. Rarely are leaders uncovering what perspectives are contributing toward staff disengagement and their own engagement.
I took a walk after the session down a windy road that opened up into a flat savannah. I reflected on the day, on the questions that I asked and the challenges that I put out. I thought about the next day and how best it could work. Then I chilled and soaked up the scenery. I too have to engage people during my workshops, creating the right space for discussions, sharing insights and hopefully shift perspective. I only have 8 hours, but my focus can never be to get through x amount of content in x amount of time. What’s more NB? A bunch of knowledge or a desire to shift? If we are aiming to achieve engagement, we absolutely need to commit to working against the myth of lack of time.
Don’t be fooled by illogical logic. Commit to the engagement dialogue.
What do you most need to change? Is time an excuse for not making those changes? Think long term - what is the consequence if you don’t?
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Travis Gale has spent the last 5 years running his own development business in South Africa’s corporate world and is currently involved in various long term partnerships with clients across a number of industries. Furthermore he has travelled to conferences internationally hunting down latest trends and insights. Having cycled around the world and survived a tsunami, his passion for crossing borders often lends itself to an interesting blend of stories and insight. He sees himself as a ‘change catalyst’ and displays strength in facilitating insight into the right spaces. Find out more at www.appletreelive.com