Comments on: White Space - The Necessity Of Downtime For Leaders At All Levels http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/ Bluepoint Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:17:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Oscar http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5644 Oscar Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:19:33 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5644 Great article¡ White space is a good definition for the missing element to deliver creative and fresh ideas to work keeping me mentally sane. Great article¡ White space is a good definition for the missing element to deliver creative and fresh ideas to work keeping me mentally sane.

]]> By: You know you are getting great leadership coaching when… | Bluepoint Blog http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5534 You know you are getting great leadership coaching when… | Bluepoint Blog Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:52:24 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5534 [...] Click to read next article | Back to current issue [...] [...] Click to read next article | Back to current issue [...]

]]> By: Stop Turning Your Talk Up…and Be Heard | Bluepoint Blog http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5533 Stop Turning Your Talk Up…and Be Heard | Bluepoint Blog Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:52:04 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5533 [...] Click to read next article | Back to current issue [...] [...] Click to read next article | Back to current issue [...]

]]> By: Laurel Henkel http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5412 Laurel Henkel Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:57:30 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5412 I completely agree with the insights in your article - though I'd caution against using Europe as an example. In general, the U.S. has a stronger reputation for productivity and innovation. :-) When I have a particularly complex project, I will often spend a little time digesting it and then go do something else. The project bounces around in the back of my brain and often I'll get a sudden light-bulb-moment that moves me ahead much faster than if I'd stayed staring at the project. That white space is absolutely critical for my creative process. I completely agree with the insights in your article - though I’d caution against using Europe as an example. In general, the U.S. has a stronger reputation for productivity and innovation. :-)

When I have a particularly complex project, I will often spend a little time digesting it and then go do something else. The project bounces around in the back of my brain and often I’ll get a sudden light-bulb-moment that moves me ahead much faster than if I’d stayed staring at the project. That white space is absolutely critical for my creative process.

]]> By: David Inmon http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5404 David Inmon Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:41:07 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5404 In 2006 I was recalled to active duty and deployed to Iraq. As a Marine LtCol, I was assigned to run a large base and to mentor an Iraqi Army Colonel and his staff. We were off the beaten path and our office spaces got dirty easily as we tracked in dust or mud, depending on the weather. I would, with some regularity, sweep the floors in our work space. One day, a Major who worked for me asked my why I was sweeping saying "LtCol's don't usually sweep the floor". My response was that I got immediate positive feedback from sweeping. I sweep, the floor gets clean. Everything else I did involved sending an email, or calling someone, or having a meeting which would involve some activity that i may or may not ever see the conclusion of. It wasn't much white space, but it was 15-20 minutes of a mental health break that helped keep me sane. I learned to take the small victories where I could get them. In 2006 I was recalled to active duty and deployed to Iraq. As a Marine LtCol, I was assigned to run a large base and to mentor an Iraqi Army Colonel and his staff. We were off the beaten path and our office spaces got dirty easily as we tracked in dust or mud, depending on the weather. I would, with some regularity, sweep the floors in our work space. One day, a Major who worked for me asked my why I was sweeping saying “LtCol’s don’t usually sweep the floor”. My response was that I got immediate positive feedback from sweeping. I sweep, the floor gets clean. Everything else I did involved sending an email, or calling someone, or having a meeting which would involve some activity that i may or may not ever see the conclusion of. It wasn’t much white space, but it was 15-20 minutes of a mental health break that helped keep me sane. I learned to take the small victories where I could get them.

]]> By: Jeff Giraud, MS, EFO http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5378 Jeff Giraud, MS, EFO Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:59:40 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5378 I can't remember where I heard it said - I know it sounds too obvious to be a quote but bear with me - "You have to exhale before you can take another breath." Maybe it was in a Fulghum book (he has a way of putting things in very simple and stright forward terms) or maybe it was my wife's nurse during the birth of our first child. I watch colleagues and my students going 90 to nothing 24/7, texting, emailing, on the phone...and I wonder when they ever get a chance to breathe??? Susanne - while it is house cleaning for you... for me it's doing yard work while listening to music. My weekly chore usually takes about 3 hours and when I am done I feel refreshed, alive and inspired. It's not my only "recharge" session. I also use my time in the gym and my peaceful drive to work to disengage. I can't even begin to start the next cycle until I've let the last breath out. You've given another wonderful lesson thanks! I can’t remember where I heard it said - I know it sounds too obvious to be a quote but bear with me - “You have to exhale before you can take another breath.” Maybe it was in a Fulghum book (he has a way of putting things in very simple and stright forward terms) or maybe it was my wife’s nurse during the birth of our first child. I watch colleagues and my students going 90 to nothing 24/7, texting, emailing, on the phone…and I wonder when they ever get a chance to breathe???

Susanne - while it is house cleaning for you… for me it’s doing yard work while listening to music. My weekly chore usually takes about 3 hours and when I am done I feel refreshed, alive and inspired. It’s not my only “recharge” session. I also use my time in the gym and my peaceful drive to work to disengage. I can’t even begin to start the next cycle until I’ve let the last breath out. You’ve given another wonderful lesson thanks!

]]> By: Dan O'Connell http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5372 Dan O'Connell Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:28:14 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5372 I lead a team of trainers and instructional designers and I find that I do not have as many opportunities to develop content or deliver training directly. As a consequence, I don't get as readily the personal and tangible satisfaction of a job well done, be that in feedback from individuals or in seeing my own work. I must get my satisfaction from seeing a project come together and seeing others working well together. Although this is very satisfying too, the two are not the same. When I work around my boat, be it cleaning, maintenance or an improvement, I get that feeling of having completed something myself and that is personally rewarding, even if no one else notices. Although, I don't come up with many work related ideas while working on my boat, I believe the change in pace and approach gives me the rest and motivation to continue the work I do and to maintain my current level of satisfaction and enthusiasm for my work and my team. I lead a team of trainers and instructional designers and I find that I do not have as many opportunities to develop content or deliver training directly. As a consequence, I don’t get as readily the personal and tangible satisfaction of a job well done, be that in feedback from individuals or in seeing my own work. I must get my satisfaction from seeing a project come together and seeing others working well together. Although this is very satisfying too, the two are not the same. When I work around my boat, be it cleaning, maintenance or an improvement, I get that feeling of having completed something myself and that is personally rewarding, even if no one else notices. Although, I don’t come up with many work related ideas while working on my boat, I believe the change in pace and approach gives me the rest and motivation to continue the work I do and to maintain my current level of satisfaction and enthusiasm for my work and my team.

]]> By: T. Cepeda http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/susanne-biro/white-space-the-necessity-of-downtime-for-leaders-at-all-levels/#comment-5371 T. Cepeda Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:45:04 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=113#comment-5371 Reading this was like pulling a sliver out of my foot – ahh! The relief! Susanne summed up what I've known but been unaware of. Thank you for freeing me to rejoice in the vacuum cleaner lines in my carpet so that I might have the space inside me to conquer work with gusto. I think I’ll keep a small jar of Mr. Clean in my office for aromatherapy. Reading this was like pulling a sliver out of my foot – ahh! The relief! Susanne summed up what I’ve known but been unaware of.

Thank you for freeing me to rejoice in the vacuum cleaner lines in my carpet so that I might have the space inside me to conquer work with gusto. I think I’ll keep a small jar of Mr. Clean in my office for aromatherapy.

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