Otis Woodard

Three Specific Actions for Managing Teams During Covid-19

COVID-19, Liminal Space

This document outlines three specific actions we recommend team leaders do now, as their teams migrate to working from home. A downloadable PDF of this document is available here.

The Need – Context for Taking These Three Actions

  • Work Change Stress: We have people now working from home, many of whom are accustomed to the structure and community of being “at work.” That, alone, is a “shock.” But it doesn’t stop there.
  • Personal Stresses: Many of these people now have additional stresses and demands placed on them in addition to adapting to the change in how they work – some have children attending school from home, family members and friends moving in, and spouses also working from home. Some have friends or loved ones in at-risk categories or working to deliver healthcare on the front lines. And all happening under “shelter in place” orders where they are in close physical proximity with one another.
  • Pandemic Stresses: All of the above stress is in addition to the worries, fears, and anxieties nearly everyone is experiencing to one degree or another due to COVID-19.
  • Team Member Impact: The impact on team members is they are doing their best to work from home without the structure and community they once had, they are doing that under the general stress of COVID-19, and they have very specific personal challenges. Many people are afraid, stressed, and distressed, yet trying to perform and function for work.

[Read more…] about Three Specific Actions for Managing Teams During Covid-19

How I Create My Annual Plan

Planning and Productivity

Sometimes people ask me how I plan for the year. Honestly, my approach changes a bit every year because I change. That said, I’d like to share with you how I will approach my planning this year in the hope you might find something useful. Let me start by saying this from the start…

I don’t believe there is one right approach, even though lots of people are very willing to sell you their planning approach. I’m not against buying someone else’s approach because you can always learn something about planning. I’ve bought other people’s planning processes in the past, and that has been helpful. But at some point, I think you will find you will unnecessarily chafe when using someone else’s plan and will ultimately want to develop your own approach.

I’m telling you this because I’m not sharing my approach to convince you it is the end-all, be-all. It isn’t. It is my approach and it works for me. And it evolves over time. This very process I’m sharing now is my intended evolution in the process for this year. Don’t be constrained by it. Find your own way. This said, in the hope that seeing mine might help you, here’s mine…

[Read more…] about How I Create My Annual Plan

How I Reflect at Year End

Planning and Productivity

Between the Winter Solstice and the New Year, I reflect on the prior year and plan for the new. I take a mental break between reflecting on the year ending and setting goals for the new. Putting a short pause — a day or two, typically — between the reflection and the planning works well for me.

This really sets me up for my year. It’s amazing what happens when I do this well or lackadaisical. Big diff.

You can use this exact same process once a quarter to put more intentionality, focus, and discipline in your life and work. However, I haven’t gotten there just yet. I usually do a mid-year review. In 2020, I’d like to hit all three interim reviews. More on that, later.

But planning isn’t the end game. It starts the game. It’s the game plan. But playing the game is another thing altogether. Plans change when they meet reality. That’s why quarterly reflections can be so powerful.

Before I walk you through my ten steps to reflection, let me share this. The third part of the process is this…

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In Spirit

Compassion & Self-Compassion, Internal State

For many, the holidays mean lots of exciting things — egg nog, mistletoe, buying and wrapping presents, reflection, reconnecting with their spiritual aspirations, and with spirit. And family.

Time with family. For many, that is both exciting and anxiety-provoking. Ram Dass famously said,

If you think you are enlightened, go spend a week with your family.”

If you feel a little anxiety or perhaps even some dread about hanging with your family over the holidays, I have a little stocking-stuffer for you. I’ll give you a simple, two-step maneuver that might make this holiday a little merrier and bright, and also enable you to remember, tap into, and transmit spirit to the people and world around you this holiday season. Here goes…

[Read more…] about In Spirit

Giving Feedback (Don’t Do It)

Crucial Conversations, Feedback, Internal State, Psychological Safety and Candor, Vulnerability

I’ve been noticing lately how we tend to be pretty bad at giving feedback. In fact, we are so bad that the people around us are flying blind. As are we.

We all have blind spots. One of the gifts you can give me is to help me see into mine. I can give you the same gift. That’s where feedback comes in. Or does it?

Do we know what “feedback” is? I don’t think so. Who has taught us? What did they know of it? Why do we avoid it? Our misunderstandings and misfires lead me to question if we really know what feedback is.

Should we even give it? I don’t think so. Does it surprise you that I don’t think I should give you feedback and that I don’t want yours? It shouldn’t be a surprise — given that we tend to do more harm than good. But!

[Read more…] about Giving Feedback (Don’t Do It)

It Starts with a Feeling

Internal State, Psychological Safety and Candor

Tears were rolling down Terry’s cheeks at the end of her story, a story that conveys the essence of personal development. Terry’s tears were tears of joy, tears of a discovery of something within her that she didn’t know existed, didn’t think was possible, and will never forget.

Terry (not her real name), like so many of us, had been trying to approach personal development with her rational mind. She has a quick and agile mind, bristling with new ideas to chase and explore. She’s a classic Enneagram Seven — the Enthusiastic Visionary. In this story, she did something she’d never done. For just a moment, she set her thinking aside. She busted a move — she summoned her courage, silenced (ignored) the inner chatter, and used her heart. [Read more…] about It Starts with a Feeling

Lyin’ Eyes

Compassion & Self-Compassion, Crucial Conversations, Personal Development

I see it frequently, sadly, but for some reason, it has hit me harder this week. As I was thinking about writing to you about the topic I want to get into now, lyrics from one of the Eagles’ songs came to mind.

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes

And your smile is a thin disguise

I thought by now you’d realize

There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes.”

I see people suffering this week because others have withheld feedback from them, the feedback they desperately needed. The feedback they could have considered, acted upon, and used to change for the better.

Why was the feedback withheld? [Read more…] about Lyin’ Eyes

For the Love of Conflict

Conflict

Dan said, “Are those microphones behind you?” I was on a videoconference with Dan (not his real name) and the other people in his cohort, and he saw two large microphones on the desk behind me.

“Yes,” I said. “Several years back, Sara and I had a podcast on iTunes. We had 40,000 downloads over 18 months.”

“Did you like doing it?” Dan asked.

“Yes, but it was hard work.” I thought back in time. Then I laughed.

“Especially when we fought,” I chuckled.

Dan and the rest wanted me to go on, so I did. Here’s the story I told them…

[Read more…] about For the Love of Conflict

The Waking Sleep

Personal Development

Over the past week, I finished listening to Eckhart Tolle’s classic book A New Earth, started reading The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut, and finished ORIENT, module 1 of the personal development course I am writing.

Now I get to tie those three things together for you.

In A New Earth, Tolle made this point. While our external purposes in life will differ, we all have the same inner purpose:

“To wake up and to remain awake.” [Read more…] about The Waking Sleep