Let's All Adopt This Phrase: Strategic Rest
I saw this photo in my LinkedIn feed the other day. The phrase, "Strategic Rest" caught my eye.
I haven't read the book, not really even sure what the authors mean when they say strategic rest. In my imagination, however, it sounds fascinating [and so needed!].
Let's Make Rest One of Our Most Important Team Tools
Resting is like resetting -- bringing your energy and effectiveness back to a baseline level so you can handle the next day's work/projects/stressors without imploding.
Like a car engine that gets overheated from too much use - racing around endlessly, running in super hot environments, pushing its limits to capacity - you too would get burned out working in overdrive for too long.
Raise your hand if you've felt overwhelmed and near your redline recently ?
My guess is this is where the "strategic" part of rest comes in -- knowing when and how best to recover so that you get the maximum amount of recovery presumably with the least amount of effort.
It's not happenstance, it's thought about, planned, and, well, strategic.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MANAGERS
Managers, remember you play an important part in not only explaining Strategic Rest but also in role-modeling what it looks like.
I'm sharing a few thought starters to get you thinking deeper about the role rest can play on your team:
Rest is an essential tool, not a luxury - We NEED rest to be productive and creative and communicative and caring and helpful and positive and every single other thing that's being asked of us at work.
Rest is not laziness - Proper recovery time -- mental/physical -- is a proactive step to maintain health and happiness {ie performance} on a team. It doesn't always mean someone's checked out or disengaged.
A manager's rest is exponential - When you are well-rested, it pays off for you. It also pays off for anyone else who has to work with you. No one likes an exhausted and short-fused boss.
Rest should be shared and celebrated - Consider sharing your experience in taking time off or scheduling quiet time in your week and how it has positively impacted your work and life.
Rest looks different for everyone - Have a conversation with your team about how they rejuvenate. How do they get rest throughout the week or over the weekend? This may clue you in on how to encourage and support their downtime.
For managers, it's always a good time to get some rest. Strategically.
Want more advice + tips on managing teams? Sign up for my newsletter below…
About The Author
Wildly addicted to all things leadership, Cecilia Gorman is a veteran of the advertising industry and the owner of Creative Talent Partners, a training consultancy that specializes in manager development.
Whether it’s a team offsite, a manager workshop, or through her Manager Boot Camp program, Cecilia’s mission is to teach, inspire, and motivate people toward their greatest potential.
