Breaking Cycles

Happy Friday!

Welcome to this edition of “Breaking Cycles” (#223).

Let me start with a scenario that most of us can relate to:?

Consider for a moment that you are engrossed in an active strategic game, like sudoku or crossword, that calls upon all your analytical thinking and sharp intellect. There are moments where you indeed reach a dead end, where no progress seems feasible. The frustration mounts and temptation to surrender becomes formidable. However, a simple action of detachment, a momentary step away from the problem usually holds the key to the solution. Approaching it with a?fresh perspective, 90% of the time, can indeed break the deadlock.

Doesn't that ring a bell and resonate with our life at the workplace? From small tasks to major projects, we go through similar cycles of stress, frustration, stagnation, and eventual victory. When a task or project seems unmanageable, we don't need to yield to the pressure. Just taking a break, maybe a stroll, a conversation with a colleague or even a good coffee, can provide us the fresh perspective we need to decipher the problem, re-strategize, and eventually conquer it.

This brings us to my next point, how many of us really dig into the available resources, the guidelines, or the process manual when we encounter a problem at work??Research?shows that 75% of people don't bother to read a manual when they start using a new product, and those who do seldom absorb it entirely. Isn't it an interesting parallel with how we tend to approach workplace challenges?

We are often rushing towards solutions without fully grasping the process or utilizing available resources - documentation, standard operating procedures, or best practices. However, when we feel stuck, would it not be wiser to take a?step back?and follow the laid down process? I am quite certain that many of us would find the answers right there.

Drawing upon these parallels, I wish to remind myself and all of us that our accomplishments at work are often defined by how well we can adapt the simple principles of life to our professional journeys - the power of perspective and the wisdom to respect and adhere to processes.

As we ponder upon these thoughts and prepare for the challenges that await, let us remind ourselves of this powerful quote by Winston Churchill, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

I invite you to share your experiences of success from when you took a step back.

I would also like to extend a special note of thanks to my friend and colleague, Molly McCoy , for inspiring me to write about this.

Happy weekend, everyone!