If you only have 30 seconds, see the summary at the end of the main text & welcome to 47 new subscribers who have joined us this week from Denmark, USA, Belgium and UK.
Introduction
Get Free Worksheet here
I recall feeling like punching the speaker repeatedly in the head. A little harsh I know but I was tired. I sat in the conference listening to a well-meaning ‘Time Management Guru’ rattle on about having balance. I was getting a few hours of sleep a night as my 1 year old son had displayed an early Olympic talent as a sleepless wonder. Balance was a panacea that sounded like a myth and only induced a sense of guilt as I felt my life resembled some type of YO-YO fitness test shuttling between cones.
I understood his sentiment and applaud the natural presupposition that we should not live lives out of balance or out of kilter. However, each day as I dragged my sorry ‘you know what’ into work, balance was the last thing I felt like I could attain. I realised that living a life of perfect balance was not only a great cause of guilt but was impossible. The stage of life that I was in and the demands of the situation meant balance was a poor metaphor for where life was at.
If balance was not the best metaphor, then what would be more useful? More on this LATER.
Science: How Metaphors Impact Reasoning and Problem Solving
The metaphors we choose are powerful and govern our thoughts and lives. A recent academic study by Paul H. Thibodeau and Lera Boroditsky showed how the power of a single metaphorical word altered the entire diagnosis and operations of how people reason through a situation.
When the academics changed one metaphorical word in a problem, people offered very different solutions. Their solutions were consistent with the metaphor that they were presented with by the academics. In one of their studies, participants were told to predict the solutions offered by two politicians who were advocating for different approaches to the crime problem. Half of the participants were told that the politician was describing crime as a BEAST. The other half was told the politician was describing crime as a VIRUS.
Interestingly, the participants presented with the beast metaphor, advocated solving the crime problems with solutions such as increased law enforcement and punishment. Alternatively, those participants who were presented with the virus metaphor advocated solving the crime problems with solutions of social reform, improving the economic health and educational system. One word changed their reasoning, interpretation and solutions.
Let’s unpack the metaphor of ‘Balance’
Balance would insinuate that all competing priorities are of equal value and can therefore be balanced against each other. A person walking across a tight rope would want the balancing bar to be balanced rather than heavily weighted on one side. Naturally, this type of balance is attainable IF you can choose the bar.
However, when facing the demands of work or family it may be something that you don’t have full control over. In life, demands of various weights and shapes are thrust upon you, without your consent.
For example, the mother and father trying to feed, bath and dress their children for bed. Not to mention the inevitable hours coaching them to sleep. The entrepreneur in the early stages of a business start-up who is not only business development manager but also accountant, marketer, HR manager, CEO and coffee getter all in one.
This notion of balance is often impractical for a leader in today’s high-velocity environments. It is virtually impossible to give equal time and attention to two things at once. There is a better analogy for today’s leader that can alleviate stress and increase productivity.
Cue a new metaphor: Seasons
I left the seminar and realised I could fight my current reality in a vain attempt to get balance. I would probably waste a lot of energy and still not attain the nirvana of balance. Not only would I waste energy I would miss out on the enjoyment that I could be embracing. I had a young family, was in a new stage of life and was now a father.
Perhaps a better metaphor would beto embrace the ‘Season’ I was in. Things were hectic but also very exciting. Memories were being made that would last a life time and the time I spent with my growing family would be crucial in the years to come.
Seasons was a better metaphor by which to approach my life. Famers understand the nature of seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter all with their own nuances that nicely frame what they should do to be most productive in that season.
How to embrace a ‘Season’ Metaphor
1. Acknowledge the Season
Embracing the metaphor of seasons begs the obvious question,
“What season are you in?”.
Every Season has an essential energy or intention. Ask the farmer, some seasons are about preparation, some planting, others for harvesting. There is an essential energy that defines a season.
Working with the essential energy of a moment means understanding the big picture. What is the main intention of the season?
Let’s consider a leader running a team. If a team is newly formed, the seasons would be more aligned to ‘relationship building’ (aka spring) as opposed to high performance. Working with the essential energy of a team will make the leader more effective rather than trying to crowbar a result that the team is not ready for.
Leadership Application: Choose an area of life / work
- The season that best defines this area is _______________________
2. Get in Sync with Season
Your energy and intentions need to match the energy and intentions of the season. There is no point in trying to harvest when you should be planting. Despite your efforts, it will yield no results.
Ancient Chinese scholars promote a notion of “Wu Wei’ which embraces the concept of ‘working with the essential energy of a situation’ rather than trying to force your own will in a situation. Water, being a powerful metaphor for the Chinese, is used to describe Wu Wei. It is easier to direct where water is going rather than try and push water uphill with a rake. It is easier to work with the energy provided rather than go against it.
When a leader learns how to get in sync with the season, they tend to find the internal tension of trying to ‘make something happen’ begins to lessen.
The team leader with the newly formed team needs to focus on building a team culture and building trusting relationships in the team. Then focus on team performance. Not vice versa
Leaders maximise the outcome of the season understanding that the right action at the right time equals results and vice versa.
Leadership Application:
Now that you’ve identified your current season, complete the following statements:
- The “big picture” of my season is _____________________________
- The challenges I am facing or will face in this season are: ____________________
- The expectations I must fulfil in this season are: ___________________________
- I’ll know this season has been a success and/or come to a conclusion when: _____________________________
3. Prepare for the Next Season
No season lasts for forever; seasons change and transition. Likewise, life, parenting, teams, organisations and products all go through various seasons or stages of development. The farmer cannot harvest forever. It would be unwise to adopt one way of operating and expect that seeing as it worked in the past it will work in every season.
The farmer knows that winter will arrive whether they are prepared for it or not. Likewise, in life and leadership there is a reading and observing of the current environment and being ready for the changes as you enter a new season. To be unprepared is to miss opportunities and to be out of step with what is required in the new season.
Leadership Application: Answer the following questions
- The next season for my life is ________________________
- I will need to be prepared by _________________________
Summary
- Your Life Metaphor can impact how you enjoy life.
- In today’s fast-paced environment, a metaphor of ‘Seasons’ is more helpful.
- Embrace a ‘Season’ Metaphor by
- Acknowledge the Season
- Get in Sync with Season
- Prepare for the Next Season
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.