Recalculating
I was recently on a driving trip during which my GPS got a real workout. Whenever I missed a recommended turn the GPS would immediately say ‘recalculating’ and then offer new directions. After hearing this a number of times it dawned on me that ‘recalculating’ was a good mnemonic that could be used in changing work situations. It seems to be a kind of emotional intelligence. Some people are good at taking in information and ‘recalculating’. Others are not. Here are some examples.
1] You’re in a meeting with an expectation of how it’s going to go. Suddenly the senior person in the meeting offers a surprising piece of information. I suggest you whisper ‘recalculating’ to yourself at this moment. You might think of this as ‘don’t react yet’. By saying ‘recalculating’ to yourself it’s a reminder to pause to consider options and develop new thoughts before reacting emotionally.
2] You’re leading a group completing a project. Suddenly one team member lets you know that they’ve been moved elsewhere in the organization effective tomorrow. It’s a time to ‘recalculate’ not only by filling the gaps but also by evaluating your previous strategy to see if there are some things you would do differently now that there’s a chance to reorganize.
3] Your career is going along well. You’re making an ok salary. The organization you work for is pretty good. But then suddenly your boss, who you greatly admire, announces their retirement. Uh oh, time to ‘recalculate’. Without your existing boss is your salary really ok? Is the organization still good enough? Is it time to look to see where the resume you’ve been growing will take you?
