Things that influence the quality of your 'Work'
Optimizing your pre-working and post-working hours
So much of productivity-based literature has been reduced to a few concepts e.g. time management, multi-tasking vs deep work, and 4-day week vs 5-day week. But these are not the places where the treasure trove of quality work is hidden, these are illusions occupying the minds of academics or Ph.D. students.
Quality at Work cannot be defined in exact terms, but you know it when you see it.
Some examples:
CEO executing his role with grace and flair, without letting stress break her down
A Professional juggling his commercial responsibilities along with maintaining great relationships
An Executive paying rapt attention to you when you seek his time for a suggestion you want to make
Quality at work is like a well-synchronised dance amidst a busy airport
It refers to getting things done while maintaining harmony and order.
But getting to this state of performance cannot happen if you are tired, angry, hungry, or feeling lonely. This may be a HALT recommendation from AA but it applies to the corporate world too. You would time and again see people around acting emotionally, speaking in a fit of anger, dropping the ball when they are not rested well, or experiencing brain fog when they haven't taken care of their health. Some can be seen as least spirited and struggling to participate or even smile.
Why does this happen?
This is the exact outcome when money and success are prioritized over mind and body, over happiness and joy, over longevity and abundance.
If only an executive would take time out to indulge in experiences that
enthrall the mind
strengthen the body
give you pure joy and happiness
add bounce to your spirits, to your very being
lay the tracks for living a healthier and longer lifespan
If only you used the waking hours left after work, or those before work, into these being-enhancing experiences, the dividends of this time investment could accrue to you for life. The simplest way it will show up is getting quality work done day in and day out.
Gone are the industrial days of factory labor. You live in an information age where you are expected to be the Hulk, the Ironman, and Captain America all on the same day.
You will not be able to deliver the goods or meet the sky-rocketing expectations if you're tired, angry, hungry, or feeling lonely.
So pay attention to yourself in 2024, listen to the body and give it a good rest, entertain the mind by taking on challenging or exciting pursuits, spend time with family, build strong social bonds, and play long-term games.
You'll be surprised with the home runs you will hit at work this year.
Wishing you the very best 🤝
The regular readers of my newsletter would notice that the length of this post is only 455 words, compared to my regular posts that trend between 1000-1500 words. The next three posts will also be short in length as this is a new format I’m trying out while participating in the 30-day Intensive Writing program called ‘Ship 30 for 30’, hosted by Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole.
I am having a blast in there, and as a commitment to express myself fully in 2024, I will be posting a new atomic essay every day on my LinkedIn, Twitter, and Typeshare handles. Feel free to connect with me there and to provide your valuable feedback, as you always do.
I’m hoping you enjoy the crispy format of the atomic essays, till I am back with my long-form pieces in February.
Wishing you a fantastic day ahead 🤝
And sending you loads of love and luck 🧿
Manish