The power of doing nothing
Photo by Zac Ong on Unsplash
Over the last few months, perhaps more than ever before, I’ve relied on my “Board” of trusted, treasured peers to support, guide and provoke me as I have navigated my way through the various challenges presented by COVID-19. I’ve been reflecting on the inspiration that has come from these conversations and have noticed that the combination of 2 independent perspectives, that sometimes feel contradictory, can lead to a powerful idea. The most recent case of this for me has been the power of motion in combination with the power of stillness.
I’ve worked with some leaders who proudly describe themselves as “big D Drivers”. They push their teams to move as fast as they can, all the time. They attempt to create a sense of perpetual motion and consider standing still to be the enemy of results. While this can work in the short-medium term when goals and timelines are very clear and quantifiable, over the longer term (or in pandemic times when capacity is challenged) this has some inherent risk for both the health and the results of the team.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong advocate for creating vision and purpose-led motion. (I’m actually an ambassador for Be In Motion, a product designed to induce motion by delivering unexpected encouragement). The critical part is that the motion has to serve the purpose and the people making it happen. With that in mind, I find it helpful to reframe the conversation to momentum – the amount of motion we’re able to generate in the desired direction.
There’s only one problem. Our context doesn’t stay the same. Something is always changing. At the same time, the energy of each team member varies based on their individual circumstances at work and at home. Hasn’t 2020 been the perfect example of that!
So, while we launch ourselves and our teams into motion, generating all-important momentum, things change around us. If we don’t stop to recognise those changes and plan for their impact, the momentum could be in vain. Consider the value of stopping, or rather creating stillness – the moments of rest and quiet that enable us to see the bigger picture, re-energise and course-correct as required.
Momentum and stillness operate like the accelerator and the brake in a car. Both are necessary to make the car effective. Together they balance opportunity and risk - and the value of each is enhanced by the other.
So how do you create that balance? I recommend starting by thinking about the routines and rituals that your team currently has in place.
Ask yourself:
Which of our routines and rituals help us to build and maintain momentum? How effective are they?
How might our rituals be hurting momentum?
What did we observe in our environment this week that has already impacted or will likely impact our momentum?
How did we create space to step back, think and reflect this week? What did we learn?
How did our momentum guide our decisions about working on “today” outcomes and “tomorrow” outcomes?
Who in our team needs a little extra quiet time next week? How can we help them create it?
As you’re answering these questions don’t forget…
Momentum is not always about BIG things. Sometimes a series of smaller, incremental efforts are the most effective way to address an important challenge.
Regular, frequent check-ins on vision, purpose and priority ensure that your actual momentum remains in alignment with your intended momentum.
Your narrative should highlight your lead dominoes – the elements in your strategy that, when you knock them over, will create immense positive momentum. Your narrative should also highlight the way you value stillness.
Checking the energy in your team relies on multiple senses. Take note of what you’re seeing, hearing and feeling when working with your team. And don’t forget to note the things you’re not seeing, hearing and feeling. Sometimes absence is a better barometer than presence when it comes to energy.
You can encourage stillness in the team through your words and actions. Take a walk around the block on your next team call. Give your team a day off and explain that you just know they’ll come back with some fresh thinking as result – not because that’s the ask, but because that’s what happens when you stand still for a moment. Share a mindfulness resource with the team. Perhaps a podcast like Mindful Venturing, created specifically for the pace experienced by entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives or a meditation app like Headspace or Calm (both of which offer a free trial).
It may sound paradoxical to consider “doing nothing” as a valid approach to leadership. I’ll admit, on its own, it probably doesn’t make much sense. When combined with a focus on building momentum it is an incredibly powerful tool.