Kevin Armstrong, one of Evergreen Leadership’s executive coaches, painted this image last week in a client call:
“I was running in Central Park recently when an older man ran past me at a really fast pace. Although that was interesting, what was even more interesting was that he was maintaining that pace while juggling balls as he jogged. And quite successfully, I might add.”
That is quite the image and quite the feat.
I don’t know anyone who can run AND juggle balls in a crowded park. Yet, I do know plenty of people (myself included) juggling way far too many balls while moving at a crisp rate AND working hard not to drop any along the way.
We feel that way. We act that way. And we often get pretty proficient at juggling and running fast.
But too often, not with grace and ease. Juggling all those balls and running that fast comes with a price. The cost we pay can be internal angst, external frazzle, and sheer exhaustion.
I know, for I too, can get too many balls in the air while attempting to run very fast.
My only good fortune is that as I mature, I can “spot it cause I got it.” And the ability to spot “it” enables me to pause, catch my breath, and remind myself that I’m doing it again.
And then to change my approach.
The conversation with Keven got us thinking about our options when we “have too many balls in the air.”
It seems the most common approach we make is to try to do better, to work harder. To put on a façade of “having it all together”. As much as we try to keep them all aloft, we often deeply know it is virtually impossible.
In our conversation, we came up with three options one might take. (Nerd note: I love that they all start with the letter D.)
Delegate
What if we got over our belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness and instead saw it as a smart way to manage multiple priorities? If we were humble enough to recognize that our way is neither the only way nor the best way? If we were open to alternative ways of getting something done? If we were astute enough to know that there are benefits to sharing the load – that can include learning new things, feeling a part of something, and pride in being trusted with something.
Drop
The mere idea of “Dropping a Ball” may cause your stomach to knot and your heart to race. We equate dropping balls to being inadequate, untrustworthy, incapable. Yet I suspect you’ve had the experience (multiple times) of a dropped ball that never made a splash. No one but you noticed. The sun still rose, you were still alive, and life went on.
What if you examined all those balls you are currently juggling and made a conscious decision to drop a few? To focus on the vital few and not the trivial many? To acknowledge that some balls are worn and tattered, and it’s time to allow them to drop. And that you’ve picked up others that are not yours to own or may not really matter when you play the long game.
Deflate
Deflating a ball enables you to continue to juggle it; it’s just a bit smaller. It may shrink to 5% of your time and attention and not 10%. Take a hard look at all those “balls” in your life and ask if you are overdoing some of them. Are you striving for perfection when good is good enough? Are there tasks that need focused effort to complete and can then can be set aside?
Deflating doesn’t mean not doing. It doesn’t mean less than. It means making that ball the right size using the right effort – and no more.
Delegate, drop, or deflate?
What might the workload and worry you juggle daily look like if you took inventory and then dared to juggle only the most essential balls? Would you be more focused and more relaxed? More effective and more efficient? More productive and less stressed?
I think so! I’ll give it a try!
I would be remiss to point out one final approach:
Don’t pick them up in the first place!
But that is for another blog!
