Compartmentalization - Leave the Office at the Office, Leave Home at Home
Fine!!! Just leave me alone!! Slam!!! Now, somehow, you have to get in your car, drive carefully to work, and do your job at 110%. What are the chances? And it doesn't have to be an argument with the spouse or the kids, it might just be a bill collector or your tax man with bad news, or someone in the family who is having a health problem. It might even be your own health problem.
Stuff happens, both good and bad, and it is often very difficult to keep on keeping on when it seems that life is doing its level best to mess with you. And, if you are in the selling game, you can be certain that your results will be effected unless you can compartmentalize these issues. But how do you do that and not feel like an emotionless robot.
1. Create consistent transitions between home and office. As you leave home, listen to music or talk that will distract you from the issues of home. Do this every day, not just on difficult days. Then the habit will be well formed on rough days.
2. Let your family know that you will use this very same technique on the way home. That way they can be sure of getting unspoiled attention from you when things are not going so well at the job.
3. Establish a time for contact later in the day to deal with the issue or issues at home. This allows you to back burner the problem with the agreement of others involved. If your child is in the hospital, call at the same time every day. If you are having medical problems of your own, establish a specific time for contacts with doctors or relatives for updates. If you are making or getting calls all day long, it will distract all day long. If you are fighting with your spouse, agree before you leave to e-mail later in the day, call later in the day, or put off the issue until after hours.
4. If the issue begins to take over your day resulting in poor performance, take 15 minutes or as long as necessary to sort it out in your head. If necessary, get permission to take a walk or drive to the local coffee outlet. Now relax, forgive, pray, meditate, regroup, write a list, or whatever will wipe your mind and heart clean for another period of time.
5. Should the issue continue to interfere with performance, consider whether the things you are working on can be moved to another time or day, or even to a coworker. Tackle a mindless task like desk cleaning, bookmark reorganization, computer updating, e-mail filing, or updating prospect lists.
If the issue is long term, don't hesitate to seek wise counsel. This might be available from a friend, pastor, or coworker. But you might also need the help of a professional. Someone I know lost her mother last year to cancer. She has had to process that grief. She has looked up grief articles on the web (helpful), had counsel from friends (very helpful), and had some help from professionals. There is great wisdom in knowing when you need others to help you get from point A to point B.
Stuff happens, both good and bad, and it is often very difficult to keep on keeping on when it seems that life is doing its level best to mess with you. And, if you are in the selling game, you can be certain that your results will be effected unless you can compartmentalize these issues. But how do you do that and not feel like an emotionless robot.
1. Create consistent transitions between home and office. As you leave home, listen to music or talk that will distract you from the issues of home. Do this every day, not just on difficult days. Then the habit will be well formed on rough days.
2. Let your family know that you will use this very same technique on the way home. That way they can be sure of getting unspoiled attention from you when things are not going so well at the job.
3. Establish a time for contact later in the day to deal with the issue or issues at home. This allows you to back burner the problem with the agreement of others involved. If your child is in the hospital, call at the same time every day. If you are having medical problems of your own, establish a specific time for contacts with doctors or relatives for updates. If you are making or getting calls all day long, it will distract all day long. If you are fighting with your spouse, agree before you leave to e-mail later in the day, call later in the day, or put off the issue until after hours.
4. If the issue begins to take over your day resulting in poor performance, take 15 minutes or as long as necessary to sort it out in your head. If necessary, get permission to take a walk or drive to the local coffee outlet. Now relax, forgive, pray, meditate, regroup, write a list, or whatever will wipe your mind and heart clean for another period of time.
5. Should the issue continue to interfere with performance, consider whether the things you are working on can be moved to another time or day, or even to a coworker. Tackle a mindless task like desk cleaning, bookmark reorganization, computer updating, e-mail filing, or updating prospect lists.
If the issue is long term, don't hesitate to seek wise counsel. This might be available from a friend, pastor, or coworker. But you might also need the help of a professional. Someone I know lost her mother last year to cancer. She has had to process that grief. She has looked up grief articles on the web (helpful), had counsel from friends (very helpful), and had some help from professionals. There is great wisdom in knowing when you need others to help you get from point A to point B.
posted by Randy W. Kirk at 4:18 PM
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