December 2010
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Dec 19, 2010 6:55 PM
Pilar Galiana
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Its hard to believe 30 days have past and I managed to post everyday and only had one day where I resorted to an image. I did it! Along the way I learnt a few things about how and when I am most productive. Never mind that more people read bogs in the morning, I write better and quicker in the morning. Not only that, the sense of accomplishment I get from posting a blog in the morning fuels my productivity for the rest of the day.
It is a bit of a drag that on this last day of my blog I am trying to wrap it up at 6 in the evening after a day of entertaining family at a pre-holiday dinner. I am not at my peak and the wine and cocktails certainly don’t help! Although I must say, having a family gathering a week before the holidays is much more relaxing than fitting it in on Christmas day - I highly recommend it, for us it just may become a new tradition.
Back to productivity, I really like what the Energy Project team has to say about it, they have a “take back your lunch” campaign - because taking a lunch break is important. In fact, did you know that if you eat in front of a computer or TV, you are likely to get hungry again more quickly? And if you aren’t getting the drift, its the kind of activity that over time will contribute to you becoming overweight? Best way to really control what you eat is to stop and take time to enjoy what you eat and be aware of every morsel of food you put in your mouth, and enjoy the flavors and textures of each bite. The idea is that, the more self aware we become, the less we actually eat.
The folks at the Energy Project also talk about how we work, and they often bring up the example of the athlete. Athletes, or so I am told, combine schedules of activity and non activity (more accurately describes as a period of rest and renewal) as key elements in their training. Studies show, our bodies and minds work best on periods of 90 minutes of activity followed by a period of rest. Tony Schwartz , one of the minds behind the Energy Project, used this methodology when he wrote his last book, enabling him to write more in far less time.
When I think back to my corporate days, there wasn’t much thought put into when we are each most productive, which is quite a shame. Working on our own, it is some thing that we need to learn and harness quickly. As I said, for me the morning is the time when I can produce the most at the quickest pace. So, as much as going for a morning coffee after I drop my daughter at school seems practical, for me that is a waste of my most productive time. For me, if I need to get out and interact with the world, it needs to be mid morning after at least 90 minutes of productivity or even better, over the lunch hour.
Do you know when you are most productive, and are you taking advantage?
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts,
Productivity
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Dec 18, 2010 8:29 AM
Pilar Galiana
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My family has the same routine every morning, I was going to call it a ritual, but then I looked it up in Wikipedia and the definition scared me. Every morning for as long as I can remember we have started the day with all three of us in the bed and when my step-son was younger sometimes even four in the bed. As soon as the alarm goes off or, these days when my alarm clock of a child wakes up, she crawls into bed with us. We cuddle in bed and watch the news till 7 a.m. and then get up and start our day. Sadly its the same on the weekend.
Although I shouldn’t say sadly - its only sadly because of the time, it is a routine that we all cherish as it is such a gentle, comfortable and beautiful way to start the day. We had this same routine when my husband and I were rushing off to offices - the rush never started until 7 when we got out of bed. As a working mom it was key bonding time for me and my child.
I first thought of the importance of these kinds of bonding routines when I was interviewing for my last job. During my interview with the then VP, a woman who was traveling what seemed like more than she was home, told me about the nightly routine she had with her daughter. No matter where in the world or what time it was, this VP would set an alarm if she had to so she could call her daughter before bed and say the words from Robert Munsch:
I love you forever,
I like you for always
As long as I am living
My baby you’ll be.
Makes me a little teary eyed even writing it. Its a beautiful story, and even cooler that we discussed it during an interview, a time when women are taught never to discuss motherhood never mind its challenges. And I needed to hear the story, to know that even with a job that meant a commute and travel I too could stay connected with my child, but I needed to find these things (rituals, routeens), that no matter what, needed to come first.
Part of me, the part that is always beating me up, wants to tell you I lost the battle, the commute, the travel, work-load and stress where just too much. But the part of me that has emerged even stronger over the past year knows that’s not true. Now I know I am capable of working for myself, being financially successful and fulfilled by a job that lets me work where and when I want, now I am brave and strong.
And every morning I still start the day with my arms wrapped around my baby girl and I enjoy it even more knowing that my office is just up stairs! |
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts,
Inspiration
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Dec 17, 2010 9:45 PM
Pilar Galiana
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Flexible work means working the hours you want to work, and for some it also includes working from home. Many of us who work from home will tell you and even recommend that you mix it up and get out every once in a while and work from a coffee shop or a library as it breaks up the sense of isolation and can even fuel creativity and much needed connections. Once you try it, you will realize quickly how many places provide free wi-fi and extra plugs!
There is an even more adventurous group of flex workers who go beyond the coffee shops and actually take their work on the road. Timothy Ferriss is one of the more famous advocates of this lifestyle in his best selling book, The Four Hour Work Week. He gives what he claims are easy to implement tips on how to dial back your actual work, with outsourcing and improving efficiency (an honestly having work that generates lots of income with limited input) so that you can travel the world and live and do the things you have always dreamed (like become a professional Tango dancer in Buenos Aires).
Natalie Sisson calls herself the Suitcase Entrepreneur and her goal is to help people live location independent lifestyles while still running a successful business. Like Timothy Ferriss, Sisson has lots of tools and trick to streamline your business and reviews of a wide range of services that make any small business owner’s life easier. Even if you don’t plan on working from the beach, many of these tools make life easier, and help you present a more professional product.
The fundamental motivation of a location independent lifestyle is to live your life now, rather than overworking yourself for 20 - 30 years for something you may do when you retire. Ferriss does a great job of outlining how little you really need, financially, to travel the world.
My flex work gives me the freedom to be more involved with my daughter and her school, not quite as glamorous as becoming a professional Tango dancer but, right now it is exactly how I want to live my life. And who knows, maybe one year we will take off to Europe and just continue to work as we do now, remotely and at times from a local coffee shop. |
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts
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Dec 16, 2010 9:22 AM
Pilar Galiana
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For flex roles to be successful, men need to be just as involved as women, and in some cases even more involved. The harsh reality is men still hold the majority of senior jobs in just about every type of business. The type of change required for flex jobs to truly succeed, for companies involved and for individuals, needs to be embraced at the top.
I advocate flex jobs as a key way to reduce the burden on working moms, because that is what I can most directly relate to, but the other day I stumbled across a site started by two 20 somethings who were just as outraged as I am about the hours the corporate world expects from all of us, I know the desire for flex work goes well beyond mothers.
In fact stats in Canada indicate that more men than women work from home. My husband works from home (and yes, our marriage is still fine!), and I can see how it has changed him, he is more relaxed and more creative about how to run his existing business and full of ideas for new ones, its pretty awesome to watch.
I read an article yesterday on Cindy Krischer Goodman’s blog, The Work/Life Balancing Act, Urban Meyer resignation: citing family as an explanation? Get real! that I can’t stop thinking about. We need support from men, so why is Cindy so mad (her words) that Urban Meyer, University of Florida’s football coach used what she called the “family” excuse when he resigned:
“At the end of the day, I’m convinced you’ll be judged on how you are as a husband and father an not on how many bowls you win.”
I think yeah! a guy that gets it, I mean isn’t that what we want, men valuing family and time with them as much as many mothers do? According to Cindy, the truth is the coach was burned out, it was causing health problems and on top of it, the team was doing badly.
Cindy goes on to point out that men can bring out the “family” excuse and it makes a departure more palatable. Where as when women do it, like Brenda Barnes who stepped down from PepsiCo in 1997, they are accused of setting back the feminist movement.
What does Cindy want? She wants men like Meyer to use there influence to advocate for change, change that creates more family friendly workplaces so that everyone can spend more time with their families without having to quit their jobs! |
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts
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Dec 15, 2010 10:30 AM
Pilar Galiana
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Its funny how we need to see something to truly feel in control even though seeing isn’t knowing or even understanding. How many of us like to pop-in when there is a contractor at our house despite the fact that many of us wouldn’t have a clue what was or wasn’t going wrong. Behavioral studies indicate that we think highly of individuals we see at work despite not knowing what they do and that positive impression rises when we see then at their desk in the evening or on the weekend.
Its crazy to me, not even knowing what someone is doing, just seeing them is enough to create a positive impression. Makes you wonder how many managers actually reward based on what they see vs. what is actually done.
It seems to me that the techniques that will make the virtual office successful are also things that will make managers better and employees more productive and accountable in the old style office too. Jim Magary in his post, Managing Remote Teams: The Art of the Virtual Cup of Coffee, stresses that managers need to build relationships, stay in charge and empower others. Sounds like a recipe for a good manager in any situation.
When your team is virtual, some of these things like staying in control and empowering your team actually become more important. And building a relationship takes more effort since you can’t rely on casually bumping into each other at the water cooler. I really like Jim’s advise to set up a regular “virtual cup of coffee” once or twice a week, a time to get together, without an agenda and simply connect and build your relationship.
Too many managers skip over much of the performance measurement techniques that HR departments so diligently try to implement, once your team is virtual you can no longer rely on seeing someone to know they are getting the job done, you actually need to review objectives and results. And honestly shouldn’t you be doing that anyway?
How do you remain in control with a virtual team? |
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts
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Dec 14, 2010 9:53 AM
Pilar Galiana
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For many people landing a flexible job is really more about negotiating one. It often happens once someone has established and proven themselves in a job or during the hiring process when employers may be willing to do anything to get you to take a job.
Although I created my own flexible working arrangement by quitting my job and starting my own company, that is not what I want to focus on today. I want to talk about how to insert flexibility into your existing job.
It seems like I am stating the obvious, but you need to make sure that working from home is for you and that you will truly be more productive and effective from home. If your kids and the nanny are home and you won’t have a dedicated working space, or you don’t have the best internet connection, don’t bother it will fail and create more stress rather than the blissful lifestyle you are hoping for.
First off, you need to be prepared to make a formal pitch, negotiate and counter lots of negativity. Do this right, do your research, internally (any other individuals or departments doing this?) and externally (what companies do this, what are some of the known benefits). What ever you do, don’t make an emotional pitch, and follow these guidelines:
1. You need to create a business case for working from home and this means documenting the benefits to the organization (this is not about you!).
2. Outline how you will complete your different functions remotely (or if it is a blend, what will you do in the office vs. what you will do at home), the more of your duties and responsibilities you can map out the better.
3. Treat this like a job interview, sell all your best qualities and how you are not only suited to this arrangement, but how it will enhance your strengths and contributions.
4. Be prepared to work twice as hard to make it work and this means making sure your are easily accessible via phone and email and that you clearly document and circulate communications.
5. Suggest a way to measure the success of this new arrangement and then be prepared to regularly report on your progress.
6. Propose to test the arrangement - say for 1 - 3 months.
Want some help with that proposal? Check out Pat Katepoo’s site, Workoptions flex time tools and tactics. She has lots of resources and sells proposals for a great price helping you hand in a nice polished proposal, I think its worth the price. She also happens to be an awesome lady and she will get on the phone and chat with you if you have questions.
Need some Canadian stats and suggestions?
Globe and Mail, "Flexible work options: From recession cost cutter to talent magnet".
Do you have a flex work negotiation story to share?
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Flex work,
30 days 30 posts
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Dec 13, 2010 10:23 AM
Pilar Galiana
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I read a stat in the Globe and Mail that said Canadians collectively have 36.5 million unclaimed vacation days. And for all my American friends, you are actually the worst, you take less vacation than any other nation despite receiving less than virtually all other countries. Not only do many people skip their vacations, too many of us work evenings and weekends. Ironically those of us who work at home often have the biggest challenge separating work and life since they take place in the same setting.
Yesterday I took a break, I slept in, we had family over for a long leisurely lunch, I baked, did laundry, chatted on the phone and hung out. I attempted write a blog post but nothing felt right so I posted a picture, kinda lame, I know, but it was still a post and I was enjoying the break.
Not so surprisingly, today I am refreshed and focused and feeling on-top of everything. Not like some Mondays where I can’t really remember what happened the week before, and I know I am not alone in feeling this way! Ironically, it’s the weeks where we don’t take breaks that we feel a bit lost on Monday morning.
Studies show that people who take more vacations actually have a lower risk of suffering from a heart attack. On top of that, when people go on vacation their sleep tends to improve and with that reaction times increase by 80%. The sleep study also showed that improved sleep tends to continue after a vacation resulting in reaction times that were improved 30 to 40 percent more than before the trip. The key here is to really take that vacation and that means turn off your phone! Imagine, if you did shut down on vacation and you improved your reaction time, how much more productive could you be when you get back?
There is lots of evidence out there, an Ernst & Young study showed employees who took longer vacations performed better. Another study shows people who work longer hours, tend to sleep less, exercise less and are more likely to dislike their jobs.
Sadly rest and renewal, even if it is just over the weekend, isn’t valued by most North American organizations. And despite the facts and studies, there seems to be a consensus that we should all work more, the truth is we need to slow down, rest and renew.
Did you take a break this weekend? Do you take your vacation? How about breaks throughout the day? If your not doing these things you are likely not performing at your peak.
Check out the Energy Projects Energy Audit to see if you are effectively managing your energy.
Want to read more?
Harvard Business Review, "Productivity Myth"
Harvard Business Review, "Take your vacation, please!"
New York Times, "Vacations are Good for You, Medically Speaking"
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30 days 30 posts,
Productivity
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Dec 11, 2010 4:52 PM
Pilar Galiana
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I met a young woman named Natasha while I was traveling in Portugal almost 20 years ago. The details are fuzzy, I think we met on the street, she was also Canadian and knew of a cheap, safe place to stay. I can’t even remember how long we stayed in that first town, but I do remember hours relaxing on the beach and winding through the small streets to get away from the tourist restaurants and find a traditional Portuguese grilled chicken.
We traveled to a few towns together and after Lisbon we parted ways, my travel companion and I were due to study in Salamanca, Spain for a month. Natasha, who had been traveling on her own, continued her adventures. We connected again back in Toronto, she came to a party of mine while I was still in university. Then I bumped into her where she was working, then her husband and I started working together. We don’t see each other often, but somehow have always stayed connected.
I have always admired Natasha, when I first met her it was because she was traveling alone. As life has gone on, I have admired her for always staying so connected to her convictions. She now has what I think is one of the coolest jobs working in corporate social responsibility.
Natasha’s birthday is close to Christmas and rather than be irked that she is missing out on two separate times to receive gifts, she has always asked her friends to direct their generosity not to her, but to a cause that matters to her. And she doesn’t do this because it is the latest trend or because it fits in with the work she does, she has always done it and she believes it. This year is no different, but rather than simply make a donation, I thought I would share her compelling message with you, and maybe you can help turn her birthday wishes into wells!
Dear Friends,
As you many of you know, it has become a tradition for me to celebrate my birthday with a fundraiser.
Given that I turn 40 this year, I thought I would change things up a bit.
While there are so many important causes worthy of support, I would like you to consider this:
- Nearly 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.
- More than 2.5 billion people are without basic sanitation.
- 1.5 million children under the age of five die each year from unsafe water and poor sanitation. That is more than 4,100 deaths per day.
- Women are disproportionately affected by lack of safe water. Many women and girls who do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities experience poor physical wellbeing and sexual harassment. This severely limits their free and equal participation in the economic and social life of their communities.
Now, consider this.
What if I told you that your donation to Watercan's Wakiso project in Uganda, which will help bring clean water to 3,410 men women and children, would be matched 3:1 by the Canadian Government.
$4000 raised = $12,000 for Watercan. Imagine!
And consider this.
If 40 of you each ask 20 of your friends for $10, we'd raise $8000 = $24,000 for Watercan.
Whether you are able to give $40 or $400, every gift is needed and appreciated.
Remember, it's not about the water per se. It's about the possibilities that open up when people have access to adequate sanitation and clean water. Lives, and communities, are transformed.
So, please, dig deep! (pardon the pun)
CLICK HERE TO HELP TURN MY BIRTHDAY WISHES INTO WELLS
Thanks in advance for your compassion and generosity, and for being part of the first 40 years of my life.
In friendship,
Natasha |
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30 days 30 posts,
Inspiration
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