By Mike Ford
As part of this blog series on sustainable performance, I would like to introduce you to a concept called “unapologetic recovery”.
A concept and phrase that is likely new to you, but has been a constant for over 50 years in the world of sport.
Harry Kane interviewed at the recent European Championships when being interviewed after a game, he said “Yeah that was a really good performance and win. But now we need to recover again because we go again in three days.
A deliberate focus on recovery.
In the business world and especially in events, our routine looks more like this…
we go to work on a Monday, come home
we go to work on Tuesday, come home
We go to work on Wednesday and so on
The concept of recovery is non-existent and I can hear you now saying “But they’re professional athletes. They’re physical and active and need the recovery.”
But from my perspective, you are a corporate athletes.
You may not have the same physical challenges that they have, but you certainly have the same emotional and you certainly have the same mental challenges, if not greater.
The headline message is a simple but important one …
How you live your life outside of the workplace has a direct correlation to how you perform in the workplace.
The answer is not to fear hard work or stressful projects. Far from it. The answer is setting yourself up to be able to tackle those ferocious activities with full gusto.
To do so over the long term, you need habits and rituals that ensure you embrace the need for recovery. That does not mean leading a boring existence (I know you were thinking it!!)
No, a healthy life doesn’t have to be boring. Making healthy changes can be addictive and lead to feelings of energy, happiness, and clarity. However, some people may assume that being healthy means giving up on fun. Far from it.
But if you want to be at your best to make a positive impact and perform at your best time and time again, you need to think about your lifestyle and habits today.
Some things for you to ponder…
- Be careful what you consume. Be the gatekeeper to your mind
Pay attention to what you consume because your emotions, stress levels, and mental health are directly impacted by what you consume.
When was the last time you watched the news on TV…and came away saying..wow, I feel better for that!! NEVER!!! My point exactly.
Content consumption has a direct correlation with how we feel.
As Gandhi famously said, “ I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet”.
2. When you are “off”, make sure you are not still “ON”
When was the last time you sat and watched a film, series episode, or programme without having your phone and constant notifications ongoing at the same time?
But it’s not just the constant switching between content and social media that is affecting our mental health, it’s also our overall increased screen time. In fact, a study conducted in the US found that there were higher odds of developing depressive symptoms if you spend six hours or more a day watching TV and /or using the computer.
3. Do you celebrate a culture of “midnight oil success”?
I used to be a leader that celebrated what I call “hustle culture”, with late-night and sometimes all-night creative output celebrated.
While I recognize the industry sometimes requires this and like my previous message I am not suggesting we do not embrace ferocious activity, but we need to ensure we counterbalance it with acceptable downtime and also importantly do not build a culture that encourages or god forbid expects all-nighters as the acceptable norm.
There. Is. Another. Way.
Even in the hustle and bustle of the event industry
Taking breaks
Associated with that, let’s now explore the importance of the word “unapologetic” in my headline of unapologetic recovery. How many of your team take a break, especially when working remotely, yet don’t feel empowered to do so. Too often, when we do take breaks, we somehow feel like a fraud, that we are skiving from work or that we are letting someone down. That mindset provides little or no true relief or the break we actually need.
During a recent workshop, I was discussing this very topic with a team of event profs and they all stated that I tried to not take more than 3 mins for lunch (whether in the office or remotely) and if they did, they were always clock watching and getting more stressed by being out/away from their desk.
When I looked towards the leader for their perspective, the leader looked dumbfounded and said “I wasn’t aware of this and I certainly have never made this a rule!”
So then I asked the group where this behavior and perception came from. They said it because it was written in their work contract that said 9-5.30 pm with 30 mins for lunch. The base contract was written more than 10 years ago and this small clause had a powerful negative impact on the team.
So my question to you is – what habits or rules do you have amongst your team that are hindering their ability to be unapologetic in their taking of breaks and recovery?
So in summary, TWO key messages:
- Consider how your habits OUT of work are impacting your ability to perform at your best sustainably.
- Review your habits and culture IN work and how well are you embracing the concept of recovery amongst your team … and unapologetic recovery at that.
For more information, visit our website at https://fromallpoints.co.uk/ or email us at hello@fromallpoints.co.uk.