I learned effective conflict resolution fast, confronted by a hot mess of hoppin’ mad, red faced, freaked out sales rep, one of the most consistent and biggest winners on my team. He burst into my office blinded by the temporary insanity of a big problem, holding out angry, empty, shaking hands … no solution. In that instant I could see he wasn’t going to be good at using his inside voice, so we took it outside for a walk around the block. It turned out to be a pretty big block. About two miles.
Walking is man’s best medicine. ~ Hippocrates
Photo credit: Ardon LXXXIII
While we walked, we worked it out. He hollered a little bit, blew of some steam, regained control of his adrenaline, talked until he was able to listen, and made a space in his busy brain for reason. Together we carved out a path and created a solution. It only took a little walk around the block.
If I were going to quote to you wisdom about how working out leads to wins at work, it would be from Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey, MD and The Owner’s Manual for The Brain by Pierce J. Howard, Ph.D. Both good books. Buy them. You’ll see they reinforce why we crave the feelings we get from working out: resilience, determination, discipline, persistence. Clear vision and good brain chemistry. A positive posture and the confidence that we can do a difficult thing.
When I’m feeling freaked out, I get my freak on and work out. Like this:
http://youtu.be/aN7lt0CYwHg
These days I often work from home, waking up early and enjoying a relatively short commute. Twelve steps from my bed to the computer. I can get in two or three solid hours at the grindstone before most businesses open their doors. The earlier I start, the higher my adrenaline, the faster my gyroscope spins, the more I need a work out break, which I take between 9:00 and 10:00. The more I need the work out break, the more spectacularly obnoxious my gym outfit. Today’s is a winner.
The way I figure it, being fit is a crucial part of a high output life. A responsibility I bear for the people I serve; clients, friends, family, and myself.
Because the truth is, sometimes I’m a hot mess. But at least I’m hot.
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Inspiration PROPS to This Girl Can, celebrating “the women who are doing their thing no matter how they do it, how they look or even how sweaty they get. They’re here to inspire us to wiggle, jiggle, move and prove that judgement is a barrier that can be overcome.” #thisgirlcan
