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You deserve a break when…

BY: MICHAEL STERN April 11, 2007


I get a good deal of exercise: at the gym three or four times a week; cycling in summer; skiing in winter. These are important “appointments” for me and I appreciate not just the physical activity, but the mental break it provides.

Not everyone feels that way: certainly not the person I recently saw on the elliptical machine -- trying to close a business deal on his cell phone. He probably can’t wait for the waterproof Blackberry so he can read his emails in the shower?

It’s time to pull the plug, people! In both our executive coaching and search practices, we see more and more signs of stress in the workplace. Ten or 20 years ago, there was a healthy backlash against excess stress. Even employers warned against overwork and encouraged people to take breaks and find balance.

Not today. Increasing competitive pressures mean more stress. Time frames are getting squeezed, every decision is more complex, and everyone is trying to do more with less.

Combine that pressure with today’s wireless technology, and now it’s assumed that your workday stretches from daylight till late-night and you will respond to every message instantaneously. “If I don’t reply to an email within 30 minutes, the sender thinks I didn’t receive it – or that I’m pissed off with them”, one client told me recently.

Some business people feel empowered in this environment, happy to be in constant touch with work, colleagues and clients. But for many others, the accelerating “speed of business” is creating problems.

Never mind the growing body of research that says multitasking (e.g., checking e-mail while in meetings) is massively counter-productive. It’s not good for office relations either. People tend to get annoyed at colleagues who thumb-type when they should be listening. Go figure!

And it’s not good for your health: The fear of missing a call, the stress of thinking about business all day long, the reluctance to leave your BlackBerry behind on vacations – these all take their toll on executives’ well-being.

These days we are seeing a lot more “colds” and flu in business – and it‘s not because our clients and candidates don’t wash their hands. We see stress putting them on edge, wearing them down, and eroding their natural resiliency. And I think companies ignore these warning signs at their own peril, because their best performers may be most at risk.

How can you tell if it’s time for you to chill out? If you hear yourself saying (or thinking) any of the following:

• “I’m surrounded by idiots!”

When someone says “I’m the only one around here knows what the hell they are doing” it’s a sign of trouble. It means your judgment is out of whack. At times like this, you can't trust your feelings. So it’s time to slow down and put off major decisions until you can regain some balance in your life.


• “Why bother?”

That’s the sound of someone giving up. Once in a while, many people feel that way. But if the concern is enduring it’s time to give yourself a shake. Admit you’re in a funk and begin doing something constructive about it. It’s human nature to focus on the problems looming ahead rather than the once-huge challenges that you can laugh about in retrospect. Change your focus. Keep a diary of the hills you’ve climbed. Force yourself to acknowledge your accomplishments

• “Fun? What’s that?”

When I work with coaching clients, one favorite question helps me gauge their level of stress: “When’s the last time you had some fun?” For most people, this question cuts right through the defenses and rationalizations that surround their work behaviour, and hones in on quality of life. If they are stuck for an answer, or admit it’s been years, or pause uneasily before saying “work is my fun” (or some such drivel) I know they’re playing tag with burnout.

Fun, balance and relaxation aren’t just about leisure, or filling in the times that aren’t “work.” They’re about refreshing and renewing -- giving yourself a chance to regard work and other pressures in your life from a healthy distance. It’s where new ideas come from, and where you rekindle the passions that remind you why you work so hard in the first place.

So if anyone ever tries to sell you a waterproof BlackBerry, just say no.