Personal Performance: Ducks In A Row or Go With The Flow?

Some of us like to have everything planned out in detail. We fill out our checklists and methodically tick off our items--in the proper order, thank you!

Others of us buy yearly planners every December 31st because "this is the year we're getting it together." Then sometime around mid-February we stick Post-It Notes™ in the calendar pages until we eventually leave the calendar at the airport or train station. It is at this point we breathe a sigh of relief and joyfully return to the comfort of running our lives--and businesses--on the backs of napkins and toll receipts.

While one group would certainly (and does) frown on the opposite approach of the other, both have equal opportunities to excel. Each seems entirely natural to its adherents and they often can't understand how the other accomplishes anything. Paradoxically, each needs to stop focusing on "how" and totally immerse themselves in the "what."

And there is a way to do that.

It's All About Being Fully Engaged

David Zinger prompted me to think more about this in his Flow Into Engagement post. David highlighted the work of Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his approach to "flow."

Think of it this way: you've had special moments where everything just flowed, you were immersed in what you were doing, and it may have seemed as if time were standing still. The work itself was its own reward.

I don't want to steal David's thunder by doing a cheesy cut-and-and past, so take a click at Flow Into Engagement. David supplies an outline of the process as well as links for further exploration.

For those of you who are looking for new ways to become immersed, engaged, and satisfied, this could offer a new way of thinking about how you approach life and work.

Take a moment to subscribe to All Things Workplace so we can continue to explore the workplace issues that are on our minds. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Comments

[Andy Cunningham]

I don't seem to fall into either camp. For the important stuff, going with the flow is all I need: it just happens. But for the administriva of life, the documentation writing, and all of the other less important and interesting stuff, I need the system to keep track for me.

Either way, the engagement happens, either because "this is fun and important" or "look how much stuff I got off my Next Action list this morning".

[steveroesler]

Sounds as if you've got it nailed, Andy.

If you can float that 4x4 across the pond, maybe we can get you connected as Chief Flow Officer.

Thanks a lot for taking time to comment...

[David Zinger]

Hi Steve,

I wondered where the sudden "flow" in traffic on my employee engagement blog was coming from. Alas, I think I found the flow zone was from here.

I look forward to staying subscribed and exploring what is in our hearts, on our minds, and shared between us.

I admire the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business work in this area ranging from flourishing to high quality interactions.

See: http://www.bus.umich.edu/Positive/

Keep flowing,

David

[steveroesler]

Hello, David,

I do hope that some much-deserved traffic headed your way.

I wasn't aware of the work being done at U of M. But then again, I come from a total Ohio State Buckeye family and it is a sacrilege to say the name of that state out loud, let alone the institution.

I'll have to squirrel away in the dark and visit their site before erasing my tracks!

Looking forward to continuing the conversation.

All the best!

[Viji]

Thanks for the link. Yes, David's blog is quite interesting and good things to follow in our day to day life at office. Viji

[steveroesler]

Yes, Viji, I think David has a nice touch when it comes to writing about engagement.