We work together as a team. No person is an island and no person should work in isolation. Most goals are designed to be reached i coordination with others. Additionally, no one should think that they should go through the ordeal on their own, that the objectives should be reached on their own merits.
You are sufficient, as an individual. You are enough within your own right, but when the storms of life are raging and objectives and performance targets must be achieved., you are not enough, nor should you be all that is needed. Involve the team. Involve mentors and coaches and peers. Your growth will accelerate and escalate when you realize and say to yourself, “I am not enough.”
I Am Not Enough
In search of wisdom I think vanity
Will hide the weakness of humanity,
As ego converts the truth into lies.
Misguided in the darkness I confuse
Reality with an elegant ruse;
What I surmise as wisdom is not wise.
Sometimes rejected, the world will mock me
And life will rock me, and friends will shock me,
Reminding me that I am not that tough.
Though I consider myself fully grown;
The evidence is present and has shown;
When I am in need, I am not enough.
I am proud of being spontaneous,
With wit that’s sharp and instantaneous
And eloquent when speaking off the cuff.
I state opinions with precision
Use intellect to discuss religion;
An empty vessel who’s seeking more stuff.
The myth of the person who is self-made.
The courageous one who’s never afraid.
Gregarious in the face of trials.
Despite a vivid personality,
I’m stuck with the truth and the reality
That something is missing behind the smiles.
A goal in life is to be prominent;
To play a role, forceful and dominant;
Confident life, will never call my bluff;
A revelation is inside of me;
Doubt points to an innate deficiency.
I was created for community,
When I am alone, I am not enough.
And when friends have aching hearts filled with grief;
Burnout occurs when we try to do all things and be all things to all people. When we bite off more than we can chew and much more than we can digest. When we are running 100 miles an hour and need to reduce speed and take a rest, but we ignore the warning sign and keep going. Burnout occurs when we fail to acquire the skill to shape our lips and say No.
Burnout has three definitions that I would like for us to consider. The first two are from the Oxford dictionary.
the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.
the failure of an electrical device or component through overheating.
The third is from http://www.helpguide.org which defines burnout as “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. … Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.”
Together these definitions describe a situation where an individual is physically and psychologically drained. This is not a desirable state in high performance individuals or organizations. We are more productive and more valuable to our company and families if we develop strategies to preserve our overall health.
I coined the phrase, “we will kill you if you let us.” This was spoken because I saw people with good intentions, deny their families, allow the workplace to encroach into their living rooms by failing to structure their time and priorities properly. They refused to delegate or ask for help when the workload was too high.
When the burden is great and before it is too late, we must slow down. Review the poem, Slow Down and make a list of tactics you will use to improve work/ life effectiveness. This is a phrase that many organizations use instead of work life balance, because they realize that balance may not be possible.
Slow down
How many signals do you need?
A mind is tired,
A body fatigued;
A heart is idling
At high speeds;
As you push harder
To succeed.
You’ve seen examples
Of careers,
That crashed and burned
In overdrive.
You’ve seen the sorrow
In your peers,
Who lived each day,
But never alive.
You better slow down
Before you go down
For the count.
You’re running red lights
And go to bed nights
With what amounts
To a weary heart.
How long have you seen
Warning signs?
How long have you been
Scorning signs?
You awake and
The morning lines,
Are unkind,
For you can’t unwind.
You better slow down
And get the low down
On your soul.
Don’t let the red zone
Lead to a headstone
On the goal.
How many signals do you need?
A mind is tired,
A body fatigued;
A heart is idling
At high speeds;
Create the balance
And succeed.
New leaders, in my day, were given 3 pieces of advice. These words were to guide us throughout our business careers. These words could also be a gauntlet for any leader. They have been known to demolish the morale in an organization and destroy someone’s reputation and career. We were told to never get involved in conversations regarding sex, politics and religion.
A new leader had many areas to grow and we did not need to be distracted by these very volatile topics. We can debate the relevance of this advice today, but I would like address one of the topics in a positive way. We frequently hear about the desire for employees want to bring their entire selves to work. We cannot deny that spirituality is important for many people.
Spirituality is a key part of our makeup that defines who we are. Organizations may not discuss religion in the workplace, however many of them will provide space for people to reflect, study and pray at work. Organizations should be sensitive and aware enough to encourage religious expression, outside of proselytizing (recruiting) and making others uncomfortable.
Spiritual Leadership in our 31 Day leadership gauntlet refers to the way our spirituality influences our decisions and our interaction with others. It also covers how we express personal values that align with corporate values. Creating a climate where morality, respect, responsibility, integrity, caring and forgiveness are practiced, is essential for a respectful workplace.
Leadership for the Soul 