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.
About The Author
For the past two decades, Cecilia Gorman has helped advertising agencies and other creatively-minded companies fix costly communication and productivity issues by teaching managers how to become better connectors, motivators, and leaders. Cecilia is the author of Always Believe In Better, creator of the digital learning course for managers—Manager Boot Camp, and co-founder of the global training and support community for working women—Empowership.
Interested in growing your skills as a manager? Check out how Manager Boot Camp might help.