The Coaching Corner with Michael Riegel: Wash, Rinse, Repeat

There are certain phrases that have become part of our regular language that we don’t often think about in terms of origin or perhaps intent. I can remember a time before “got thrown under the bus” was the catch phrase for being blamed for something unjustly. I find it challenging. It allows a person to feel aggrieved without any self-reflection or acceptance of some responsibility they may have for a situation that went awry.

Until the movie came out in 1993, nobody ascribed any special meaning to Groundhog Day aside from waiting on Punxsutawney Phil to pop out and determine when the weather would begin to warm. Now, Groundhog Day has become synonymous with doing the same thing over and over without gaining insight or knowledge. Starting from scratch each time. Recently, my wife decided that she would not schedule work on Fridays so she could spend time in the morning luxuriating with our dog, meeting friends and colleagues for lunch, and creating space for just thinking and generating ideas.

My Groundhog Day moment comes every Thursday evening when I ask, “what’s on your agenda tomorrow?” She has been true to her word (that has not always been the case on this issue), and I sometimes struggle to recognize her success at keeping a work-free Friday. The lessons we can take away from all of this can be impactful:

Downtime is Crucial

Our minds need to rest as much as our bodies. We don’t all have the luxury of taking one day per week off to take a step back and think about bigger questions and ideas. Trust me, the other four days on her calendar are very full. Plan for some downtime. Take the time to meet a colleague for lunch or coffee. Regularly spend a few minutes pondering the possibilities, personal goals, or asking yourself the big question of “why”?

Keep Learning and Improving

Defining learning and improvement takes on many forms. There is the personal learning that makes us better friends, team members, and colleagues. Look inside to recognize where there is room to do better. Identify an area of interest that will make you more well-rounded. For me, I have a stack of books on the corner of my desk for personal growth and I continue to bake bread with increasing success.

Let’s all do our best to retire the catch phrases or consultant speak that has crept into our vernacular. We all seem to roll our eyes at “it is what it is”, “no offense”, “with all due respect”, and “thinking outside the box” when we hear them offered as some explanation or panacea. We all have an opportunity to set a positive example for others and learn from our mistakes. Maybe, just maybe, we can relegate the rodent back to predicting the weather. Personally, I don’t put a lot of faith in or have much anticipation for Groundhog Day.

You can reach me at MRiegel@AECBusinessStrategies.com.

Michael Riegel