There are beautiful streaks of purple and blue in the sky this morning. I welcome change from the pure blue of the last few days.
I did some walking yesterday – just across the street instead of driving, but walking none the less. My body feels so strong and healthy with the blessing of my Pilates instruction and my focus on and interest in it.
I didn’t take care of it last night, however. Someone was late on a project – and the project was done incorrectly. I was angry because it meant I would have a huge amount of work that I had not planned on with an impossible deadline because I am travelling today. I did the work, and a friend and colleague helped out. The sharing of the burden made it lighter and more enjoyable (and yes, when I looked closely, I could find enjoyment in solving the problem). I was too tired to complete it all, and I got up early to finish. Another hit of positive energy as I accomplished what I had to.
I wasted too much energy being unhappy with the person who flubbed the project. Interestingly, it came from two sources. One was my inability to define the project tightly enough to enable the other person to complete it flawlessly and the other was that the project was LATE and bad. I have been spending some time pondering leadership abilities. It was a blow to have to abandon a different project that I had committed to without understand the full parameters, and this latest project was a reminder that I need to slow down. So, in a way it was a good thing that the project was late and bad and I had a lot of extra work. It was a reminder of what is important.
This is a time to work on philosophy and ordering my day so that I can spend more time imparting values to my staff. There has to be time to explain it and nurture it.
Another lesson in mindfulness. They are everywhere. How beautiful it is to slow down and see what is right in front of me!
Tags: leadership, meditation, problem solving
March 11, 2008 at 7:06 am
I like the full-around realization of the situation.
I recently did a blog on the positive qualities of a great leader and the negative qualities of a failed leader – perhaps it could help you – and your readers.
http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/
Your blog made me look up an old Hillism…
There are few things in life that are as bad as they seem at first. Dealing with adversity begins with analyzing and accepting your situation for what it is. When you realize that things are not nearly as bad as they might have been, you have taken the first step toward working your way through the problem. It is a truism that you will never be asked to carry a heavier load than you can bear, but it sometimes helps you better appreciate that fact if you volunteer some of your time to help those who are less fortunate than you are.
Ben