Why you need rhythms like winning sports teams
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Reader, If you had to describe your rhythms in a sentence or two, what words best capture the ebbs and flows of your work? For much of my career, my rhythms were basically on or off. Working or not working. Busy or sleeping. Then I had kids, and exhausted joined the list, and I operated that way for years. I remember driving to work one day when my second daughter was not even a year old thinking, "I wonder if I should be driving to work today. I'm really tired." Not a bad question since the day before, I had left the stove on...twice. Today, we're taking a fresh look at rhythms — not just in terms of time management, but through the lens of impact. A team that never stops. Imagine a professional soccer team that operates like many organizations do — an hour of game planning each week, training crammed into regular team meetings, and go-time all week. Every week. 52 weeks a year. How can you give your all if you never stop to recover? How can you make an impact if you never pause to think? The better question is, why? Ebbs and flows unlock potential. I don't know a lot about sports, but I do know that athletes' rhythms are optimized to enhance performance and progressively build towards excellence.
Athletes give their all within defined seasons, games, and periods — while actively recovering along the way. The building blocks of high-impact rhythms. Just like athletes, leaders need rhythms that support their best work.
Which of these are part of your rhythms? Which aren't? What's the cost? Making rhythms personal. You are unique! To optimize your impact, you need to understand the rhythms help you thrive. Some people are most productive early in the morning, and others in the afternoons or evenings. Some can focus for hours without a break, while others need to step back for brief moments. For me, I realized that the one rhythm I need most is unscheduled time at the start of every week to think, prioritize and set direction. When I get that time, my whole week is better. When I don't, it shows. Getting curious. Want to rethink your rhythms? Start here.
If you’re thinking, "My rhythms don’t match what my team is doing," that’s real. But it’s not a dealbreaker. Playing calendar Tetris. My coach once invited me to create my ideal calendar. At first, it seemed impossible, and I thought it was a waste of time! But I wasn't being very effective anyway, so why not try? I started blocking my time a few weeks ahead. An hour for strategy and thinking here. Three hours for deep work there. A meeting day. One day, a teammate noticed and asked why. I explained that when I intentionally block time for what matters most, I have more energy and impact. Slowly, my team started honoring these blocks and I got better at scheduling them in advance. Progressively build the rhythms you need. Remember where we started: Athletes optimize their rhythms to enhance performance and build towards excellence and victory. You can too. Now, years later, my calendar almost always reflects my ideal most weeks. When it doesn't, I notice, correct, and adjust back to the ebbs and flows I need. Right now, I'm in a season that requires extra thinking time, and I protect it because I know it won't last forever. This season will give way to another. Stop. Right now. And remake your rhythms. If "perpetually busy", "always on", and "rarely recovering" describe your rhythms, it's time to remake them. Think of it like a visit to the trainer — taping your knee, having a quick ice bath, and injury prevention — so that you can keep playing tomorrow. What's the one rhythm you'll change this week? Enjoy! Sara |