Take a break
Ian Kinnery - The Scale-Up Coach
Founder & CEO at Kinnery - scale-up business coaching for ambitious entrepreneurs
It is strange how patterns seem to emerge and, like taps on the shoulder, it is worth taking notice of them.
Over the last 10 days or so I have noticed quite a few clients and contacts all commenting on the same challenge of fatigue. Irrespective of age or situation, fatigue, however it is labelled, seems to be affecting many people right now.
I shouldn’t really be surprised. For many people who have been working from home the working week has become seven not five days long. The working day has stretched well beyond what we would regard as normal office hours. The lack of a commute, not travelling and not going out for lunch has saved time but all of that time has been spent working not relaxing.
Stress levels are high with huge uncertainty around whether we can support our families, our teams and our businesses. Confusion is high and rules seem to be changing daily and risk levels, well they just keep rising as freedom of movement increases.
I am sure this is true for everyone but there has never been a time when business leaders needed a cool rational head on their shoulders more than they do now. Part of the entrepreneur’s nature is that they just keep on battling on.
When humans are tired and stressed, we are incapable of accessing the higher levels of the brain where clear logical thought happens. We exist in a sort of reptilian survival mode. Which might have been helpful at some stage of our evolutionary development but doesn’t really add to our ability to strategize the survival of our complex, connected twenty first century businesses.
We were all very aware of the risks to our mental health when the crisis first began. Now, over 100 days in, is when we need to be even more vigilant and even more aware. We will all have some tough decisions to make and some decisive actions to take. Do yourself, your teams and your businesses a big favour and make sure that you are not too exhausted to make quality decisions. Find yourself a thinking partner, a coach or a trusted advisor to help you.
You need to be at your very best right now. Get the rest and the help you need.
Founder & Managing Director, MI Supplies Ltd. Sponsors in UK Cycling & Sport.
4 年Very good Ian. In February my dad nearly passed away and I worked for a month from his bedside, then last four months have been extremely manic/off the scale and I realise I have had one day off since August and wonder why I’m mentally tired!! Last 6 weeks riding my bike most dinner times to keep fresh and trying to plan some regular days off. It’s on the agenda to freshen up.
Delivering emotional Intelligence, a Master Trainer in EQ-i 2.0 assessments Leadership Coach Facilitator & Conference Speaker
4 年Having just come off a coaching call where your questions Ian were hugely relevant. Personally, I have been able to reengineer my day during this season. Taking 30 mins of exercise each morning has meant I’m in bed earlier and feeling the benefit the next day. My fatigue feels like it is at the right time of the day, night time! Less travel and commuting has definitely helped. My aim is to continue my new routine as I get back to the office next week.
Owner, Davison Smith Financial Management
4 年I am in week 16 of home working and I can definitely relate to your content. Interestingly, I picked up a book recommendation of yours this week and Robin Sharma talked of doing some of his best work on a ski slope, which underlines your points. Another great read Ian.