Jan12
I want to share a thought that emerged from a recent strategic planning session with a client, which ties together unconventional wisdom and practical insights. This is about learning from smokers - not for the smoking, but for their habit of taking breaks, a concept I like to call 'smoke the stress'.
In high-stress environments like strategic planning, it's easy to get caught in a relentless cycle of meetings and decision-making. During the session, I observed that the smokers on the team would regularly step outside for a smoke break. This pattern highlighted a crucial lesson: the importance of taking deliberate, regular breaks to decompress and refocus, irrespective of smoking.
Here's why this practice is a game-changer for leaders and high-performing teams:
So, whether it's stepping outside, taking a deep breath, or simply pausing for a moment, these 'smoke breaks' (minus the smoking) are a simple yet powerful way to rejuvenate and refocus. It's about breaking the cycle, slowing down, and allowing ourselves that crucial moment of pause.
Adopting the 'smoke break' mentality, metaphorically speaking, could be the key to enhanced performance and well-being in high-pressure situations.
By Dean Miles
Keywords: Business Continuity, Coaching, Mental Health
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