I was talking with a client who has lost some of his verve for work, and it’s bugging him. Henry’s always been one to dive in, looking beyond the obvious, to expand his knowledge for his own satisfaction as well as for the good of his people, the clients and the company.
But, for a number of months now, he’s not feeling as engaged, and he hasn’t been turning on his camera for meetings.
Henry has a 5 year old and 3 month old. His wife works outside the home 60+ hours/week and is on call one full weekend every month. Plus, they recently got over Covid. He’s trying to be a good dad and husband, but he’s lost his spark for work.
I asked what he used to do to maintain his naturally energized self. It was easy, he said, because work was always #1. He never questioned it. His interest in doing what was best for the client always energized him.
Now his #1 priority is his family, and it’s unsettling. He wants to be the best dad he can be because his dad wasn’t for him, but he’s struggling. We talked about how our priorities can change during different stages in life. With his second child, wanting to be a better dad, he’s experiencing different feelings. I suggested he experiment with what works for him and give himself some slack as he works through this change. It’s not uncommon to be uncomfortable when developing new habits.
Henry is a planner. I suggested he look ahead to the summer months and think about what he could possibly do to re-energize his thinking so that he’s selective about which meetings he’ll be on camera.
Questions to think about:
-When is his best time of day for certain thinking, planning, and specific meetings he can control? What can he do to protect at least some of that time?
-When is his worst time of day to participate in meetings/on camera? Awareness leads to better decisions.
-Does he have a trusted colleague who could give him candid feedback on how he’s coming across in meetings off camera?
-What could he possibly change so that being on camera is comfortable again?
-What conversations could he have with direct reports and colleagues about how they’re dealing with virtual meetings, what’s working and what’s frustrating for them? What could they possibly learn from each other?
Henry can’t stay in this slump indefinitely. He has to find what will help him replenish his thoughts about himself, his possibilities, his family and his work.
What about you?
-What helps you spring back when you’re feeling deflated?
-If you’re not turning your camera on because you don’t feel fully engaged, what helps you shift gears?
-What have you done (could you do) when a colleague has not been on camera for a while?
