Getting back (slowly but surely) to the normal work routine here in Barcelona. The city is beginning to retain its former buzz after a typical August when most residents are either at the beach or mountain, with only tourists walking around and wondering why everything is closed!
As part of the work re-start, which I’ve been reflecting on this week on LinkedIn here and here, I wanted to share some reflections on a term I’ve used for many years: artefact.
I’m not sure it’s wholly accurate, but I like it. The Oxford English Dictionary defines artefact (artifact in US) as:
an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest.
I discuss six work artefacts below, and there’s a few more I’m mulling over. You’ll see they’re not ‘objects’ per se but I like the term for a number of reasons. They are things or concepts we have created in the flow of a busy working life, or at least things we should pay attention to, precisely because they give us culture.
Our life/work culture is the sum of the way we do things in our busy working lives, and the artefacts which make that up will dictate whether that culture is positive, or even bearable! or leads us towards fulfillment or results.
Artefacts are also of historical significance and the way we do things is in constant need of updating to the working world of today. Let me frame another way: imagine someone from the year 2124 looking for evidence of the way we worked. What artefacts might they ‘unearth’ to gain insight?
So, have a look at the six below and let me know what you think. What else could be classed as an important work artefact?
Have a great week everyone and see you next Friday.
Steven
Meetings
A huge pain-point for many which can produce a rather depressing reality of “I’ll start work when all my meetings finish” often outside of core working hours. The proliferation of virtual meetings with no break in between increases the pain.
I think September is a great time to push back on meetings and reclaim a bit of space (and sanity). Ask yourself some simple questions:
Does this meeting need to exist? (kill it and see what happens)
Can this meeting be shorter? (cut it in half and do work instead)
How can this meeting be made more enjoyable, while still acheiving its goals? (take it outside, walking, stand-up, over breakfast etc)
Your Calendar
Strongly linked to the proliferation of meetings. Even the default time-blocks on many calendar programs lead to meetings of a set duration which are longer than required. Claim back 15 minutes or 45, or just 7. Take the space to do real work, or simply enjoy the break.
Finding space in a calendar is often an impossible task. And if someone else manages your calendar for you, you can find yourself being dragged along by things that don’t help you get to where you want to go. Block off time for meditation, exercise, lunch, or simply thinking. Give it a different label if that helps safe-guard the slot from others, or if you’re worried about perception.
Deep Work
A key driver of your work success and the predominant culture in which you operate. If considering it as an artefact is a step too far, then the results of a greater presence of deep work will certainly produce artefacts. And ones you can be proud of too.
Do never-ending meetings prevent you from attempting deep work? What about your use of technology?
How much is enough? Two hours is a small percentage of your daily effort, but if you can manage two hours of deep work a day, I think that’s a fantastic result (but don’t stop there!)
What are the optimum conditions (time of day, location, and other requirements) for you?
Social Capital
Very much in the intangible space and moving away from ‘object’ but still worthy of consideration as an artefact I believe because of the close link to culture.
Whether you’re an extrovert, introvert, or somewhere in between we need to pay attention to social capital to get work done. Even if you prefer working from home 100% it’s still a factor — yet recognise that social capital will likely erode if no-one sees each other apart from on a videocall. The workplace is an important source of friendships and the things that bond friendships — trust, loyalty, compassion — drive results too, especially when the pressure is on.
So, how might you build social capital, either face-to-face or virtually? What are the light-touches you need to keep it strong on a continual basis? and what are the bigger, periodic inititaives that might give it a boost?
Starting and Ending Your Day
September’s theme in The Daily Reset is Ways of Working and two of the thirty nudges focus on the first and last 15 minutes of your day (covered also in previous editions of this newsletter).
We often focus on the big time-chunks of the day, perhaps when we’re in the office or collaborating with team members or in contact with clients. Yet how we book-end our days will have a huge impact on our vitality in the longer term.
What intention or action do you want to bring to your mornings and evenings?
Transitioning from Work to Non-Work
This has been a common theme in my executive coaching over the years as busy people find it difficult to let go and be fully present with their families. Technology has created the temptation to be constantly connected, which can show a bad example to others at home.
Working from home and the hybrid nature of work post-COVID has made this transition a more difficult proposition. Space can be symbolic, so if your kitchen table or spare room is also used for work, making the separation is a challenge.
There’s a close connection here (and indeed for any artefact) to the concept of ritual. What are the rituals you can create and employ which clearly separate work from non-work and allow you to get in the right mindset? Consider the role of exercise, or even a simple walk around the block to create the necessary buffer.
What’s going on in the Chief Wellbeing Officer world…
My new website is live. Still undergoing revisions in the next several days and we’ll feature it in next week’s edition of the newsletter, but if you want a sneak-peak you can check it out here.
Looking forward to a post-100 day workshop check-in with the European Broadcasting Union on Monday as another half-day workshop to a group of 100 follows in Geneva in two weeks time.
Excited to record content soon for a community of Chief Financial Officers as part of my collaboration this year with Netsuite.
The Artefacts of Work
Getting back (slowly but surely) to the normal work routine here in Barcelona. The city is beginning to retain its former buzz after a typical August when most residents are either at the beach or mountain, with only tourists walking around and wondering why everything is closed!
As part of the work re-start, which I’ve been reflecting on this week on LinkedIn here and here, I wanted to share some reflections on a term I’ve used for many years: artefact.
I’m not sure it’s wholly accurate, but I like it. The Oxford English Dictionary defines artefact (artifact in US) as:
an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest.
I discuss six work artefacts below, and there’s a few more I’m mulling over. You’ll see they’re not ‘objects’ per se but I like the term for a number of reasons. They are things or concepts we have created in the flow of a busy working life, or at least things we should pay attention to, precisely because they give us culture.
Our life/work culture is the sum of the way we do things in our busy working lives, and the artefacts which make that up will dictate whether that culture is positive, or even bearable! or leads us towards fulfillment or results.
Artefacts are also of historical significance and the way we do things is in constant need of updating to the working world of today. Let me frame another way: imagine someone from the year 2124 looking for evidence of the way we worked. What artefacts might they ‘unearth’ to gain insight?
So, have a look at the six below and let me know what you think. What else could be classed as an important work artefact?
Have a great week everyone and see you next Friday.
Steven
Meetings
A huge pain-point for many which can produce a rather depressing reality of “I’ll start work when all my meetings finish” often outside of core working hours. The proliferation of virtual meetings with no break in between increases the pain.
I think September is a great time to push back on meetings and reclaim a bit of space (and sanity). Ask yourself some simple questions:
Your Calendar
Strongly linked to the proliferation of meetings. Even the default time-blocks on many calendar programs lead to meetings of a set duration which are longer than required. Claim back 15 minutes or 45, or just 7. Take the space to do real work, or simply enjoy the break.
Finding space in a calendar is often an impossible task. And if someone else manages your calendar for you, you can find yourself being dragged along by things that don’t help you get to where you want to go. Block off time for meditation, exercise, lunch, or simply thinking. Give it a different label if that helps safe-guard the slot from others, or if you’re worried about perception.
Deep Work
A key driver of your work success and the predominant culture in which you operate. If considering it as an artefact is a step too far, then the results of a greater presence of deep work will certainly produce artefacts. And ones you can be proud of too.
Do never-ending meetings prevent you from attempting deep work? What about your use of technology?
How much is enough? Two hours is a small percentage of your daily effort, but if you can manage two hours of deep work a day, I think that’s a fantastic result (but don’t stop there!)
What are the optimum conditions (time of day, location, and other requirements) for you?
Social Capital
Very much in the intangible space and moving away from ‘object’ but still worthy of consideration as an artefact I believe because of the close link to culture.
Whether you’re an extrovert, introvert, or somewhere in between we need to pay attention to social capital to get work done. Even if you prefer working from home 100% it’s still a factor — yet recognise that social capital will likely erode if no-one sees each other apart from on a videocall. The workplace is an important source of friendships and the things that bond friendships — trust, loyalty, compassion — drive results too, especially when the pressure is on.
So, how might you build social capital, either face-to-face or virtually? What are the light-touches you need to keep it strong on a continual basis? and what are the bigger, periodic inititaives that might give it a boost?
Starting and Ending Your Day
September’s theme in The Daily Reset is Ways of Working and two of the thirty nudges focus on the first and last 15 minutes of your day (covered also in previous editions of this newsletter).
We often focus on the big time-chunks of the day, perhaps when we’re in the office or collaborating with team members or in contact with clients. Yet how we book-end our days will have a huge impact on our vitality in the longer term.
What intention or action do you want to bring to your mornings and evenings?
Transitioning from Work to Non-Work
This has been a common theme in my executive coaching over the years as busy people find it difficult to let go and be fully present with their families. Technology has created the temptation to be constantly connected, which can show a bad example to others at home.
Working from home and the hybrid nature of work post-COVID has made this transition a more difficult proposition. Space can be symbolic, so if your kitchen table or spare room is also used for work, making the separation is a challenge.
There’s a close connection here (and indeed for any artefact) to the concept of ritual. What are the rituals you can create and employ which clearly separate work from non-work and allow you to get in the right mindset? Consider the role of exercise, or even a simple walk around the block to create the necessary buffer.
What’s going on in the Chief Wellbeing Officer world…
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