Results Relationships and Rest
When I work with leaders and teams, I have an interactive and reflective group activity that I do called “The 3 Rs" which represents three important domains of work and life.
The 3 Rs are:
Results (executing and making progress towards your goals/mission)
Relationships (maintaining and deepening your connection to others)
Rest (pausing to be still, reflect, relax and enjoy rejuvenating experiences)
If you desire to live and lead in a holistic way that cultivates fulfilment and prevents burnout for yourself and others, all three of these domains require your intentional investment.
Because it's not uncommon for at least one of these three domains to need some more intentional care, the activity is designed to 1) define what's most important to you across these three domains, 2) assess where you are at now in relationship to each, and then 3) identify specific actions to help you refocus your energy and attention in ways that align with those priorities.
What happens when investment across these domains are insufficient or out of balance? You already know, because you've experienced it yourself or with someone else.
We know that when leaders are overly focused on Results, their relationships suffer (as well as their stress levels) which will ultimately sabotage the progress they're trying to make and the rest that they need.
Likewise, leaders that are overly focused on Relationships without enough attention to results will begin to experience low employee engagement and poor performance issues that will no doubt eventually affect their ability to feel at rest.
And of course we've all experienced what happens when we neglect our need to have regular rhythms of Rest. Without adequate rest, both our results and relationships will eventually suffer negative impacts.
Properly investing in all 3, in a balanced and intentional way, is essential for yourself, and is key to good leadership and overall career and life satisfaction.
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get some Rest on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. It was an ideal way to start the new year afresh. We visited El Morro (fortress) and El Yunque (rainforest) and soaked in plenty of vitamin D near Coco Beach in Rio Grande. If you haven't been, I highly recommend!
Make Rest Your Cornerstone
Is Rest your cornerstone?
According to Wikipedia, a cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. "All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure."
I thought of you and my fellow recovering workaholics and recovering perfectionists out there...My hope is that you, too, have been able to protect and prioritize your Rest this month, as your foundational cornerstone.
If you haven't yet, determine to make your plan today.
Start with defining what Rest actually means to you during this season of your life.
Maybe for you Rest means finally booking that vacation - a staycation, a weekend getaway, or an extended trip...
Maybe it's blocking off some PTO days next month to look forward to protected time in the near future so you can sleep in, do some pampering, or get to that overdue doctor appointment.
Or maybe Rest for you is connecting with an old friend or loved one over lunch or dinner or cuddle time with your pet.
Perhaps Rest for you is physical activity like a day at the gym or a taking a hike...or something creative like visiting a local pottery studio.
While for others Rest is planning to have no plan at all - to let the day be open and free (a clear calendar for a change)!
Whatever it is, have a plan to disconnect from work and refill your cup. Trust that as you prioritize Rest the Relationships and Results that are important to you will naturally follow as your efforts will flow from a more energized and centered place.
Reach out and let me know what you think about The 3 Rs. I always love hearing from you, to learn what's on your mind and what's going on in your world.
All my best,
Yvonne
