You spend at least 40 hours per week working “in” your business. And hopefully, you spend at least 90 minutes each week with your Leadership Team working “on” your business.
Have you ever thought about where you do that work, what type of environment you create for your work? Let’s think about that today.
Some number of years ago I read a blog that recommended referring to your workplace as a studio. The author made the case that “studio” replaces the drudgery we often associate with the word “work” and captures the creativity that occurs in our businesses.
Every business creates something — a product, a service, actual artwork, design work, customer engagement — you get the picture.
So we started referring to our company as a studio, as in, “I’ll be back at the studio about 2:00 p.m.” or “Our new customer will tour our studio on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.” That word completely changed how we viewed our company, our workplace, and our colleagues. A simple change with significant impact.
If EOS®is your company’s management system, where do you have your Level-10 Meetings™?
Are you meeting in a closed office or conference room? Does staff know those 90 minutes are sacred and, unless the office is struck by a lightning bolt, they are not to interrupt you? Does everyone on the Leadership Team disconnect from all technology for the 90 minutes?
Yes? Great! This is important because those 90 minutes every week are your Leadership Team’s opportunity to work “on” the business. Protect that time by sequestering yourselves and staying focused on your business. Doing so will make for a better week.
How about your Quarterly Pulsing™ and 2-day Annual Planning sessions each year?
Not only are you well served by disconnecting from technology; you are also well served by meeting off-site. Yes, get out of the office! Scheduling these sessions out of the office changes how you behave, how you act, how you think.
These are five critical days for your company each year. You are evaluating the previous quarter and year, reflecting on what you did well, what you could have done better, and what you learned. And you are prioritizing for the next quarter or planning your next year; you are solving key issues; and you are working to strengthen team health.
You need to show up ready to participate, because it is a privilege to be here. You cannot do that fully if you are in the conference room listening to the discussion going on in the hall.
I encourage you to try on referring to your workplace as a studio —humor me and see how it feels. Think about where you hold meetings. It is important to get your mind in the right place.
And please let me know if referring to your office as a studio changed your mindset about work. I’d also like to hear about your ideas for upcoming off-site meetings. Please reach out to me using the contact form below if you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts with me. The consult is free, with no obligation. I welcome the opportunity to talk about EOS®and how its systems and processes can get your mind in the right place.
