September is an interesting month; it is almost like a second New Year’s. Around June things start to wind down in many ways. People are looking forward to holidays or a slower pace, and, hopefully, some warmer weather. Those of us with kids particularly go through this. In June my kids have had enough of school and they are ready for a break. By the end of August they are ready for school to start back up again – even if they won’t admit it. I know I am ready for school to start back up and I am happy to admit it.
Fall is a re-start time. People have been away, things have usually slowed down a little, and now it is time to get moving again. Summer schedules tend to be more relaxed, fall schedules much more hectic.
All of this has me thinking that there is a routine to our lives that is needed. We do not often like to use the word ‘routine’ because it has come to mean boring or unexciting. Maybe that is true in some cases, but I think routine has a good side to it.
Many athletes have a pre-game ritual they go through that gets them focused on what they need to do to be successful. Many of those same athletes will talk about a training routine that they also follow, just to make sure that everything that should be happening is happening. And it is not just athletes that do this. I have heard people from all walks of life speak the same way.
I believe that routine in work life is important as well. It is the ability to find the necessary structure that makes success possible. Routine that is not boring, but a system, or process, or way of doing things that makes sure the fundamentals that are essential do not get missed, is necessary for success.
What makes this discussion difficult is that there are usually a variety of personalities involved. Some of us thrive on constant motion and action. Routine is a nasty word for us. We like it when there is a flurry of activity and unpredictability around us. And some of us prefer a much more expected environment. We like things to unfold as they should; we function better when there is a timely, structured manner to life.
The best teams and organizations seem to find a healthy balance between routine and spontaneity. Rhythm might be a good word to describe it. Rhythm to me suggests an underlying structure with the ability to change the pace or flow when necessary. The best organizations have the routines in place that make sure the important details are taken care of, but they also have the ability to adapt when required. They find a way to build predictable strength and successful habits while avoiding complacency. Not an easy task, but an important one.
I trust your fall is off to a good start and that you are able to establish some rhythm in what you do.
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Routine and Rhythm
Fall is a re-start time. People have been away, things have usually slowed down a little, and now it is time to get moving again. Summer schedules tend to be more relaxed, fall schedules much more hectic.
All of this has me thinking that there is a routine to our lives that is needed. We do not often like to use the word ‘routine’ because it has come to mean boring or unexciting. Maybe that is true in some cases, but I think routine has a good side to it.
Many athletes have a pre-game ritual they go through that gets them focused on what they need to do to be successful. Many of those same athletes will talk about a training routine that they also follow, just to make sure that everything that should be happening is happening. And it is not just athletes that do this. I have heard people from all walks of life speak the same way.
I believe that routine in work life is important as well. It is the ability to find the necessary structure that makes success possible. Routine that is not boring, but a system, or process, or way of doing things that makes sure the fundamentals that are essential do not get missed, is necessary for success.
What makes this discussion difficult is that there are usually a variety of personalities involved. Some of us thrive on constant motion and action. Routine is a nasty word for us. We like it when there is a flurry of activity and unpredictability around us. And some of us prefer a much more expected environment. We like things to unfold as they should; we function better when there is a timely, structured manner to life.
The best teams and organizations seem to find a healthy balance between routine and spontaneity. Rhythm might be a good word to describe it. Rhythm to me suggests an underlying structure with the ability to change the pace or flow when necessary. The best organizations have the routines in place that make sure the important details are taken care of, but they also have the ability to adapt when required. They find a way to build predictable strength and successful habits while avoiding complacency. Not an easy task, but an important one.
I trust your fall is off to a good start and that you are able to establish some rhythm in what you do.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 at 3:14 pm and is filed under Comments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.