With pandemic measures, like physical distancing and stay-home orders, people modified their work habits to navigate the new reality. That meant creating different strategies for getting along in new work spaces.
So, how did people adjust to their new environments? If you’re not getting your natural wiring met each day, it can be draining.
The understanding of the distinction of human wiring is powerful. Your wiring is part of your nature and something you’re born with while your behaviors are part of your nurturing environment. Human wiring pre-determines the environments in which you best thrive.
For example, one of the human wiring elements is communication, which identifies how you process thought. If you’re wired higher in communication (I like to refer to them as External Thinkers), you are energized by face-to-face communication. You are energized by verbally sharing your ideas and thoughts. As you externalize your thoughts you crystalize them.
With physical distancing and stay-home orders environments, people higher in communication who enjoyed the face-to-face communication in the traditional office, are not getting their natural wiring met by being at home. They tend to lose their energy particularly with prolonged periods by themselves or without that daily interaction. Without face-to-face interaction, External Thinkers seek it out, sometimes with someone they live with. If the individual they are living with is more of an Internal Thinker – that is, they enjoy their think time or alone time, constant interruptions or interactions will be energy draining for the Internal Thinker. This dynamic can cause additional stress in the household, which has now become the work space.
What do you do to work together brilliantly? The solutions are simple:
For the External Thinker, set some face-to-face time using Zoom, WebEx or other face-to-face opportunities, like a coffee shop, to interact with others. Remember to leave the Internal Thinker alone and give them their alone time they innately need.
For the Internal Thinker, be patient with the person who keeps interrupting you. They are involving you in this way because they trust and value you.
For both of you to successfully work in the same space, set up Principle of Play (or ground rules) to ensure you get what you both need. These principles might include:
• Designating private individual work spaces
• Mutually agreeing to meet each other only during designated times
• Defining uninterrupted work time
• Identifying meaningful ways to reinforce accountability when either of you break a Principles of Play.
For example, if one of you breaks one of the principles, the offender makes dinner, does five push ups (if you’re committed to remaining healthy), or another fun way to hold them accountable but in a way that furthers a mutual goal.
Understanding human wiring does more than improve communication, increase productivity, and align your workforce. It transforms relationships and how leaders operate in the world.
If you’re inspired to attend the Wired to Win Master Class on May 20-21, 2021 using our hybrid learning platform (online or onsite), please register today at:
http://excellerateassociates.com/wired-to-win
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