“Forward Thinking…”

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Shared by Kristina Smedley

“Forward Thinking…”

This week I had my “Forward Thinking Day” at work.

A great idea my manager started this year, giving us a day each quarter to appear out of the office so we can focus on strategy and forward progress.

This Thursday was my day!

Unlike last time, where I spent part of my day down at the beach, today I decided to just stay home.

I put on my favorite sweats and a lulu hoodie.
Got out my notebook.
Grabbed a cup of coffee.

Lexi-Love snuggled in next to me and I let my thoughts flow…

-> Leadership mindset shifts that would benefit my teammates.
-> Career development plans.
-> Elaborating on our team mission statement.
-> How to visualize a huge project we’re in the middle of.
-> Recognition to send to colleagues.

Suddenly, my stomach was grumbling and I looked up to see that four hours had already passed.

I was starving, thirsty, and still had so much more I wanted to dig into.

The last few hours flew by.
It was like when you’re hanging out with a best friend…
Deep in conversation.
Completely comfortable.
Relaxed.
And then you look up and it’s midnight and your wine glass is empty.

You should go home, but there’s still so much to chat about!

Spending dedicated, quality time with people, concepts, and ideas deepens our relationships.

I’m sure this sounds a bit foreign… relationships with concepts and ideas?

Relationships describe how two or more things are connected. And how they regard and relate to one another.

We’re most used to thinking of relationships in terms of people.

But consider for a moment your relationship with safety.
Do you mess with your phone in any way while driving?
Do you speed through neighborhoods?
Drive after having just a couple of drinks?

Now, imagine if someone texting (or speeding, or drinking) crashed into someone you care about.
Suddenly, your thoughts and feelings on texting while driving would change.
You would think about this act in a completely different light.
And you likely wouldn’t do it again.

Your relationship with this act and with the idea of safety would deepen.

It would change your value system in this space.
It would change your actions.
And shift what’s possible.

Although much less extreme, the same thing happens on our Forward Thinking Days.

I finally had the time to dig deeper, consider new ideas, and broaden and deepen my relationship with my teammates' needs, our team’s mission and progress, and how much I appreciate so many of my colleagues.

As time continued to fly by, I wrapped up my wild and endless brainstorming with a checklist of so many more ideas to explore. And then set out to make dinner before Sennad got home.

I believe completely that relationships are the foundation of accomplishment.

Our broadening and deepening of relationships with people, concepts, and ideas make all the difference in what’s possible in our lives.

I love the opportunity to spend a Forward Thinking Day each quarter focused on many of my relationships and the potential and opportunity that this surely unlocks.

 

#IntegrallyRelational

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