This is From The Balance Beam

[TheBalanceBeam] - Redefining Normal

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THE BALANCE BEAM
Ideas and Inspiration for Creating a Life that Works
Vol. 3 No. 19, November 1, 2001
Published by Success Builders, Inc.
http://www.SuccessBuildersInc.com
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"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened."
Lao-tzu
In this issue: REDEFINING NORMAL
====================================================================== Dear Friends:
What's normal for you these days? In your business? In your personal life? In this issue of The Balance Beam we take a look at what the notion of "getting back to normal" is really all about in these uncertain times.

If you are interested in reading earlier editions of The Balance Beam, you can easily retrieve them by clicking on http://www.successbuildersinc.com/newsletter.html and going to the Archives section. If you are not yet a regular subscriber to The Balance Beam, you can also enter your subscription information at this location.
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Today's Topic: REDEFINING NORMAL

You can hardly turn on the news these days, or engage in a conversation with a group of colleagues, without the topic of "getting back to business as usual" coming up. It's one of those issues that evokes the wishful thinking response. Even as we hear encouragement from economists, the nation's leaders and our CEO's to resume our normal activities, we know that we're kidding ourselves if we think we can simply pick up where we left off. I'm reminded of that famous line of Dorothy's in "The Wizard of Oz": "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

Most people think of "normal" as being some comfortable state of affairs that feels like a pair of old shoes. We may not always love it, but it's predictable and reliable. And it doesn't require us to change very much. It's interesting to note that even after decades of talking about change and the importance of being flexible and adaptable, it's only recently that we've become challenged by change of the major-league variety.

The word normal derives from "norm," which Webster defines as "a principle of right action binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control or regulate proper and acceptable behavior." Taken literally, this might suggest that getting back to normal is about getting back to the right way of doing things, as if there were a "right" way.

I've heard a lot of people say recently that they simply don't know what to do or how to feel. It's a phenomenon that permeates both the business arena and their personal lives. The world feels volatile, and even everyday activities like opening the mail are suddenly suspect. Clearly not normal.

So it seems to me that as we go about the process of redefining normal, we need to step away from absolutes and start looking at how we balance things. Call it the Yin and Yang of the times we're in, normal is now about effectively playing in the gray area. Consider the following examples:

Carefree vs. Paranoid - Gone are the days when you could ignore security procedures and have a free-for-all in your workplace. But going to an extreme can leave you worried about every doorknob you touch or package you open. It only makes sense to exercise an appropriate balance of caution in an era of bioterrorism, but don't let it paralyze you or your organization.

Blind Loyalty vs. One Foot Out the Door - The days of staying with one employer for an entire working life now seem like a distant memory. On the other hand, living in fear of the axe falling every day can render you anxious and unproductive. It's a good idea to stay on top of opportunities in the job market and keep your resume up to date. But don't miss out on the valuable experience to be gained by living in the moment of the job you have today.

Quick Fixes vs. Long-Term Viability - True strategy has all but disappeared in many organizations as the focus shifts to administering triage in the wake of recent events. However, it's awfully easy to get hooked into a chronic reactive mode that leaves people spinning their wheels and unable to produce true results. Balance short-term solutions with an eye for what the big picture objectives look like.

Ultra-Serious vs. Devil-May-Care - The entertainment industry has probably been hit the hardest with this one. It's been fascinating to watch the tenuousness with which comedians and talk-show hosts have gone back to work. But in the midst of tragedy, there's a place for appropriate lightness and laughter in all of our organizations. It's healing medicine, and we all need it.

Emotional Rescue vs. Total Task Orientation - Let's face it, this is a time when people need to talk, and talk specifically about their feelings. And it's also a time when economic recovery demands that people get back to work. Giving folks some time and space to talk about how they're doing with things is not only caring and humane, it also provides for a productivity payoff in the long run. Just don't let it go so far that your workplace turns into your own little version of CNN Headline News.

Redefining normal is not about creating a new set of rules. It's about using common sense and context to strike a balance that meets the needs of both the workplace and the people who keep it in business.
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Words to live by:

"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from."
- Jodie Foster
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We are currently scheduling organizational forums, teleclasses and workshops around the topic of leading during emotional times. To obtain information or discuss your organization's needs, please call (864) 268-5386 or email us at coaches@successbuildersinc.com.