Post by Lori Hebert on May 12, 2021 11:42:29 GMT
Leadership PDSA- Small change to improve my skills.
1. Identify area/process I want to improve my leadership skills:
• Based on 360 and feedback from my staff an area for improvement is self-care. One of my supervisors said and I quote “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. I find myself often preaching to my team about taking time away from the computer, taking a lunch/break, refueling…. But I practically never follow my own guidance. And it never really resonated that they see this behavior and it could possibly be affecting how I lead, lessoning the credibility.
2. Identify a small test of change:
• Easier said than done, my day is filled with meetings, sure I could say I will take a break every day, totally walk away from the work, but then how do I test that? See/measure results. But I had to try it, my test was to take a 20 minute break once per day for two days. This means, no phone, no laptop while eating, step away from work. I also had to intentionally block my calendar and labeled it break.
3. Prediction – what do I think will happen?
• I thought this while an easy task, was going to be hard for me. I worried that stepping away would somehow lesson my momentum in the workday as I tend to be a hyper focused individual. I questioned if there would be any difference in how I felt through the day or if any change the staff would see in my leadership. I did however hope that it would re-energize me and eventually be a better example for my team than I have been.
4. Measure it:
• The measure will be qualitive, both from myself after two attempts and then testing my team to see if they see any difference during our afternoon sessions.
5. Do it- small test:
• Day 1- took a 20 min walk in between meetings no phone. I felt anxious to do it, what if phone rang? Would I lose my groove in work? But after I felt good and no loss in the groove.
• Day 2 – sat in the sun for 20 min eating lunch, no phone, no laptop. Felt less anxious than day 1. During afternoon meeting one of my staff said, “how are your breaks going?”. She had noticed I blocked my calendar and thought it was a great idea, we live by our calendars on this program and if it is scheduled, it must happen! So she followed suite and is doing the same thing just by seeing my calendar!
6. Was my prediction correct?
• Yes, and then some. Day 1 was harder than day 2 and though it was not technically easy for me, I found the value. The comment from my staff hit me to the core. I forget that as a director/leader how much my behavior can influence theirs in the field, and how important it is that I keep that at the forefront.
7. What is next? Squash it or keep it?
• I am going to continue blocking my calendar for 20-30 min per day to totally step away. I am also going to share this program wide with all our team this Friday. My goal is by sharing it will show that I am walking the talk as a leader and supporting the program’s continued development; from the work to the staff to myself!
1. Identify area/process I want to improve my leadership skills:
• Based on 360 and feedback from my staff an area for improvement is self-care. One of my supervisors said and I quote “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. I find myself often preaching to my team about taking time away from the computer, taking a lunch/break, refueling…. But I practically never follow my own guidance. And it never really resonated that they see this behavior and it could possibly be affecting how I lead, lessoning the credibility.
2. Identify a small test of change:
• Easier said than done, my day is filled with meetings, sure I could say I will take a break every day, totally walk away from the work, but then how do I test that? See/measure results. But I had to try it, my test was to take a 20 minute break once per day for two days. This means, no phone, no laptop while eating, step away from work. I also had to intentionally block my calendar and labeled it break.
3. Prediction – what do I think will happen?
• I thought this while an easy task, was going to be hard for me. I worried that stepping away would somehow lesson my momentum in the workday as I tend to be a hyper focused individual. I questioned if there would be any difference in how I felt through the day or if any change the staff would see in my leadership. I did however hope that it would re-energize me and eventually be a better example for my team than I have been.
4. Measure it:
• The measure will be qualitive, both from myself after two attempts and then testing my team to see if they see any difference during our afternoon sessions.
5. Do it- small test:
• Day 1- took a 20 min walk in between meetings no phone. I felt anxious to do it, what if phone rang? Would I lose my groove in work? But after I felt good and no loss in the groove.
• Day 2 – sat in the sun for 20 min eating lunch, no phone, no laptop. Felt less anxious than day 1. During afternoon meeting one of my staff said, “how are your breaks going?”. She had noticed I blocked my calendar and thought it was a great idea, we live by our calendars on this program and if it is scheduled, it must happen! So she followed suite and is doing the same thing just by seeing my calendar!
6. Was my prediction correct?
• Yes, and then some. Day 1 was harder than day 2 and though it was not technically easy for me, I found the value. The comment from my staff hit me to the core. I forget that as a director/leader how much my behavior can influence theirs in the field, and how important it is that I keep that at the forefront.
7. What is next? Squash it or keep it?
• I am going to continue blocking my calendar for 20-30 min per day to totally step away. I am also going to share this program wide with all our team this Friday. My goal is by sharing it will show that I am walking the talk as a leader and supporting the program’s continued development; from the work to the staff to myself!
