| Several
months ago, I worked with a leadership team that had been
dedicated to improving its performance execution for well
over a year. They achieved major improvements related to customer
satisfaction and cutting costs. Results could not be better,
apart from the fact that the team’s energy and enthusiasm
had dropped significantly during the past two months. When
they contacted me, the management team was quite surprised.
Why was the team so discouraged when the results were so successful?
My advice: Take an Accountable Break. For one month, I recommended
that the team not meet on their normal weekly basis. No more
improvement. No more change. No more focus on performance
execution. They were to take a break to recharge themselves.
They were stunned at my recommendation, but decided to make
it official. They started the break with a celebration of
their success and for one month met only to discuss normal
business activities. One month later, they met to initiate
the performance execution improvement process – this
time with a renewed energy and inspiration. They accomplished
more in the month after the break than they had in the three
months preceding the break.
Sometimes, the most accountable thing is simply to take a
break.
(We made this newsletter deliberately short…to invite
you to contemplate this idea and to invite you to have the
experience of taking a break now.)
Accountability-Based Questions 1. How long
has your team been functioning on improvement efforts without
any kind of break to relax, step back and gain a new perspective?
2. What could you do to plan a break from your improvement
efforts, making it a deliberately chosen activity that is
motivating for your team?
3. What is your process for celebrating success in a way
that people feel rewarded before stepping into their next
improvement process?
4. How can you apply this concept in your personal life?
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