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threadwalkerThe games we play…
Work: When to speak and when to be silent? Which messages are the right ones and which are the wrong ones?
I see two types of conversations at work: one that relates specifically to the welfare of our customers and compliance. The other is about politics, finger-pointing, and fiscal consequences. This post is about the later.
I’m practicing silence a lot more and watching how people communicate. I’m evaluating who’s effectively silent, who’s an effective speaker and who’s simply ineffective. I’m resisting the urge to answer questions that are posed in meetings even if I know the answer because it isn’t necessarily in my best interest to be the bearer of bad news (they really do hate them in this play ground). I think by now I’ve finally learned to stop sticking my neck out for others. It’s not about tit-for-tat even though I know that no one defends me; it’s about survival and winning. Knowing the answer and telling the truth as I see it isn’t going to be good for me long term, so I’m watching, learning, and practicing silence.
Fitness: I’m a slacker. Slackety-slack-slack-slack!
I need a new coach.
hahha! You get what you pay for.
Why? I ran 6+ miles Sunday night. I ran 3 miles at lunch on Monday. I ran 3 miles at lunch on Tuesday. The aches in my muscles snow-balled each day and even if I’d had a lunch break on Wednesday, there wouldn’t have been any running. Yowsa!
With hind-sight I can see that I was doing 1 “big” effort run and 2 “little/moderate”-effort runs a week, which was maintaining my fitness level but not improving it. The Reality Check has been cashed and I’m back to running 6 days a week.
The interesting thing I’m discovering about myself with the running group at work is that it reminds me of when I was on a coached cross-country team in high school. You run, rain or shine; you run despite aches and pains; if you are too injured to run, you walk. I made a commitment to myself to run with them 3 days a week, so even though I was sore on Monday, I ran. And let me say that I wanted an “easy run” and instead what I got was Mr. M and Mr. H who kept me to my “race pace” for the first 15 minutes, which is where I had to drop back to something where my legs and ribs weren’t going to go on strike. On Tuesday, despite the increase in aches in my muscles, Mr. M kept me at a good clip the entire way; he was able to chat during our run and I could only talk on the exhales and only in short intervals because I was working so dang hard to keep up with him. I could have dropped out, dropped back or just not showed up. In fact, if I hadn’t joined this lunch-time running group I probably would have taken Monday as a day of rest without batting an eye. Maybe I’ve hit one of the stumbling blocks of self-coaching; sometimes it’s hard to recognize when you are back-sliding and turning that around takes some sort of motivational jump-start or disciplined boot camp. Fortunately I’ve found a groove.
I anticipate that the benefits of sticking to the lunch-runs will be increased fitness and pace. I’m also getting to know some colleagues better in a safe environment.
P.S. I Hate Cube Life
It smells; I sit 5 ft from the coffee maker and I don't like the smell of this brew, which cooks all day. Plus, when it isn't brewing it's burning; I'm not sure if it's technically worse, it's just a different stink. The microwave (next to coffee maker) spews forth all sorts of pungent stuff all day. Sometimes I go outside to get my head and stomach clear of the stink. I hate the smell of microwaved cheesy-meal products. It's disgusting and makes me a little naseaus.
The interruptions are incessant. The noise from casual conversation is annoying. (Listening to some right now where two others are talking loudly about politics and economy and shoes). The ever-present sounds of hustle and bustle add. It’s very hard to do my detailed document reviews. I missed something the other day in a review which my boss caught. I was mortified. I may have to take my work and go find somewhere quiet in order to do reviews. My old office is currently vacant… it’s been stripped of furniture, but I could sit on the floor with the door closed and actually get something done… dang! That’s a good idea!
Yesterday I tried to eat outside but a yellow-jacket ran me off, so I retreated to my desk. My 40 minute lunch was constantly interupted by people who needed to talk to me "for only a few minutes". Color me grouchy by 12:50, which is when I folded up shop and headed off to my next meeting.
Work: When to speak and when to be silent? Which messages are the right ones and which are the wrong ones?
I see two types of conversations at work: one that relates specifically to the welfare of our customers and compliance. The other is about politics, finger-pointing, and fiscal consequences. This post is about the later.
I’m practicing silence a lot more and watching how people communicate. I’m evaluating who’s effectively silent, who’s an effective speaker and who’s simply ineffective. I’m resisting the urge to answer questions that are posed in meetings even if I know the answer because it isn’t necessarily in my best interest to be the bearer of bad news (they really do hate them in this play ground). I think by now I’ve finally learned to stop sticking my neck out for others. It’s not about tit-for-tat even though I know that no one defends me; it’s about survival and winning. Knowing the answer and telling the truth as I see it isn’t going to be good for me long term, so I’m watching, learning, and practicing silence.
Fitness: I’m a slacker. Slackety-slack-slack-slack!
I need a new coach.
hahha! You get what you pay for.
Why? I ran 6+ miles Sunday night. I ran 3 miles at lunch on Monday. I ran 3 miles at lunch on Tuesday. The aches in my muscles snow-balled each day and even if I’d had a lunch break on Wednesday, there wouldn’t have been any running. Yowsa!
With hind-sight I can see that I was doing 1 “big” effort run and 2 “little/moderate”-effort runs a week, which was maintaining my fitness level but not improving it. The Reality Check has been cashed and I’m back to running 6 days a week.
The interesting thing I’m discovering about myself with the running group at work is that it reminds me of when I was on a coached cross-country team in high school. You run, rain or shine; you run despite aches and pains; if you are too injured to run, you walk. I made a commitment to myself to run with them 3 days a week, so even though I was sore on Monday, I ran. And let me say that I wanted an “easy run” and instead what I got was Mr. M and Mr. H who kept me to my “race pace” for the first 15 minutes, which is where I had to drop back to something where my legs and ribs weren’t going to go on strike. On Tuesday, despite the increase in aches in my muscles, Mr. M kept me at a good clip the entire way; he was able to chat during our run and I could only talk on the exhales and only in short intervals because I was working so dang hard to keep up with him. I could have dropped out, dropped back or just not showed up. In fact, if I hadn’t joined this lunch-time running group I probably would have taken Monday as a day of rest without batting an eye. Maybe I’ve hit one of the stumbling blocks of self-coaching; sometimes it’s hard to recognize when you are back-sliding and turning that around takes some sort of motivational jump-start or disciplined boot camp. Fortunately I’ve found a groove.
I anticipate that the benefits of sticking to the lunch-runs will be increased fitness and pace. I’m also getting to know some colleagues better in a safe environment.
P.S. I Hate Cube Life
It smells; I sit 5 ft from the coffee maker and I don't like the smell of this brew, which cooks all day. Plus, when it isn't brewing it's burning; I'm not sure if it's technically worse, it's just a different stink. The microwave (next to coffee maker) spews forth all sorts of pungent stuff all day. Sometimes I go outside to get my head and stomach clear of the stink. I hate the smell of microwaved cheesy-meal products. It's disgusting and makes me a little naseaus.
The interruptions are incessant. The noise from casual conversation is annoying. (Listening to some right now where two others are talking loudly about politics and economy and shoes). The ever-present sounds of hustle and bustle add. It’s very hard to do my detailed document reviews. I missed something the other day in a review which my boss caught. I was mortified. I may have to take my work and go find somewhere quiet in order to do reviews. My old office is currently vacant… it’s been stripped of furniture, but I could sit on the floor with the door closed and actually get something done… dang! That’s a good idea!
Yesterday I tried to eat outside but a yellow-jacket ran me off, so I retreated to my desk. My 40 minute lunch was constantly interupted by people who needed to talk to me "for only a few minutes". Color me grouchy by 12:50, which is when I folded up shop and headed off to my next meeting.
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