This picture is of a cool team (Oracle Social Cloud) and we are promoting the #Idrivefor campaign by General Motors in support of breast cancer awareness. Tweet with the #Idrivefor and GM will donate $5 to breast cancer research. I drive for my Dad (Bapa).
My Bapa was a
do-er (lobbying for houses for the Tsunami victims, building flyovers and Metrorail, inviting cutting edge industries to invest in Tamil Nadu - he was always on the go) -- there has been so much of talk around cancer awareness this month, I lost him to cancer - so have been thinking of him constantly this month (and most other months).
A lot of the lessons I learnt from him I have applied to my day-to-day work and personal life. Some of these sound deceptively silly stupid but have worked for me consistently over the years
#1 Don't think Showing up Equates to Productivity - Trying to solve issues, work through real problems for your company - ensuring that you are aligning your actions to the bigger company goals are critical. Don't get too comfortable with status quo
#2 If there is no work, find some - let's be honest when there are organizational changes, there is usually a lull in productivity and there is a lot of gossip time by the proverbial water cooler - I will be the first to admit that I do indulge in "some" gossip - however, I try and get updated on market reports, product training and professional training when I get these lag times. It helps me feel rejuvenated, useful and ready to tackle new problems.
#3 I eat craw - ok not to gross you out or anything , but this is my metaphor for the things I least like to do - I make my weekly to-do list (there is one for work and one for home). I keep a day for my least liked chores on the To-Do List ( hint : that day is Wednesday) -- so if I seem especially crabby on Wednesdays now you know.
#4 Fight the tyranny of the urgent - this was a concept I had read in a magazine article a while back and it stuck with me. There are urgent little things that have to be done "right now" that get in the way of the things that really matter for the business - these little things have a way of getting in the way of the big things ...unless it is something that my boss absolutely needs right away (look at the priority set) -- I try to schedule it in vs.letting it get in the way of real work.
#5 Give up Multi-tasking - I am a busy mom, multi-tasking is second nature to me - I am checking my email while I am cooking my son's pasta in the morning or quizzing my son while chopping the vegetables...what I have realized over the years is - sometimes that is just not enough. Our brains are wired to focus and when I multi-task, it reduces my performance and efficiency. I am trying mindfully to be 100% present in whatever it is that I choose to do at that moment
#6 Be Authentic - At the end of the day life is too short, so I am really WYSWG ( what you see is what you get) . I don't behave differently with people based on their standing in life. Having observed my father's interactions with people ( and being exposed early on in life to sycophants, cars with flashing red lights and a lot of undue attention - look there goes the collector's daughter!) ) - I realized really early in life that it's better to be who you are vs. wear airs. Maybe, that makes me naive but I know in the journey that is life I will be content and happy. And work place will be about real connections and friends.
#7 Practice Empathy - my father was so good at this but I was so quick to judge people based on their aptitude, attitude and capabilities. He always told me -
Ma, everyone has a calling and everyone has a bad day. It is so easy to be the judge and the jury and so hard to go beyond the facts and look at what is really happening. Look at what is really happening and don't judge so quickly. My father is gone, and it's so hard for me to practice this but I am trying everyday.
At the end of the day only you can control your output at work and your feelings of accomplishments that go with it - key is to be true to yourself, make connections and help contribute to the business goals. So it's my turn to quit talking and start doing...let me know when you are ready to join me :-)
