I’ve heard it said that “busy” is the new “fine.” I don’t know. Maybe it is true. When someone asks how you’re doing, do you respond with “busy!”?
Is busy really the same as fine? Or do we just accept that this is how life is today? As a leader, you’ve certainly got a long to-do list, I’m sure. Is it just me, or does it seem like we’re addicted to being busy? For many people, I think being busy is in reality “fake work.” Let’s unpack that a little bit.
- Busy is not the same as productive. If you’re busy watching silly cat videos on YouTube instead of cranking out those reports that are due by the end of the day, I’m thinking mayhaps you’re busy doing the wrong thing. Ya think?
- Busy is not the same as focused. If you’re busy responding to email while talking to a team member about what’s going on in their world, while studying production reports, while scheduling upcoming projects… well, you get the picture… you will perform equally poorly on all fronts. (BTW, that was a description of my leader way back in the day. Gotta love him, but he gave new meaning to the term ADD.)
- Busy work does not equal important work. Often we end up spending time on urgent and important activities. However, if we had spent time on preparation, prevention, and planning, they would have never happened or if they did occur, they wouldn’t have required an immediate response. (Think fire/accident prevention.)
- Busy is not a badge of honor. Some people, not you I’m sure, (wink, wink), think that if they’re “busy” they’re important or they have status. That is not status, that is called being a martyr. Stop. It.
- Busy is not necessarily strategic. Your role as a leader involves deciding what’s most important, what’s best, and what’s going to move your organization forward. BTW, the root of the word decide means to ‘cut’ or ‘kill.’ So, essentially, a decision is a ‘cutting off’ of all possibilities except one. When you make a decision you kill all other options. So make a decision to stop being busy.
Think about what happens when someone, say a team member named Bob, greets you as you enter the office. Bob: “Good morning! How are you today? You: “Busy!”
Waa Waa. You’ve just become Betty Buzzkill, aka, Ken Conversation Killer. Your default response leaves Bob feeling like he can’t add one more thing to your already full plate, so he won’t bother you with the serious issue he’s got on his mind right now. Even though you might announce to your team that you’ve got an open door policy and that you’re there for them, your busyness is actually deterring them from talking to you. In essence, your default response is a door slammed in their face.
Another problem with busyness is that you’re likely sacrificing creativity. Have you ever noticed that your best ideas and solutions to problems come when you’re working out or taking a shower? That’s because when you give your brain a break, you make room for creativity. So schedule some white space in your calendar – some quiet, unstructured, non-busy time. You may be surprised at what you’re actually able to accomplish when you do.
Being busy can also lead to hurrying and scurrying through life. Christian author Lisa Terkeurst says that we live according to the rhythm of rush. Sure, there are always going to be urgent tasks that you need to tackle ASAP, but personally, I’ve been making a concerted effort to stop dancing to that funky beat. I’d rather get up a little earlier so that I’m not rushing out the door in a frenzy. Doing so gives me time to be available to help others, to stop and buy a cup of coffee for a frazzled colleague, or to just prepare myself mentally to be really present for a meeting.
I’d like to challenge you to hop off the treadmill and cut the “busy” word – and mindset – from your life. But beware, just as with any addiction, you may suffer some withdrawal symptoms at first. The lasting results, though, will likely be healthier relationships, greater, meaningful progress, and less stress. Nothing fake about that!
YOUR TURN:
- What are your experiences with “busyness?”
- How are you adjusting the way you think, work, and live to eliminate busy from your life?
- Pop a comment below and share with us your insights and experiences.
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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems.
