1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vandercamp. I'm a mother of five, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. And this is Sarah hart Unger. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm a mother of three, a practicing physician and blogger. 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: On the side, we are two working parents who love 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: our careers and our families. Welcome to best of both worlds. 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Here we talk about how real women manage work, family, 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: and time for fun, from figuring out childcare to mapping 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: out long term career goals. We want you to get 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: the most out of life. Welcome to best of both worlds. 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: This is Laura. This is episode two hundred and eleven, 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: which is airing in mid August of twenty twenty one. 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: We are going to be talking work tips today, some 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: of our favorite work strategy and effectiveness efficiency techniques, and 14 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: then we'll be talking with Helena Weiss Duman, who will 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: do just a short segment with us on how to 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: have better meetings. So a lot of great tips there. 17 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: Looking forward to diving in. It's kind of back to 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: school season. We think of almost all of August is 19 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: back to school season, even though my kids aren't going 20 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: to back till mid September basically, and while most adults 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: are not starting school. Some are, but most aren't. It 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: does always help to think about how we can do 23 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: things more efficiently, more effectively, right, Sarah, I mean you 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: like that back to school energy for this sort of thing. 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: Of course, I feel like it's your bonus new year, 26 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: like that hits you know, just when you need it most, 27 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: when you're not going to make it all the way 28 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: until January. So yeah, perfect time to just sort of 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: think through how you're doing things and whether there's anything 30 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: that needs tweaking or optimizing exactly. So go ahead and 31 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: start with our list of top ten work tips. I'll 32 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: say one, Sarah will respond with her takes on it, 33 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: and we'll get through it there. So the first one 34 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: not a surprise to anyone who's been reading me for 35 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: a while, but is to plan your upcoming work weeks 36 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: On Fridays, Ally's had a little bit of time and 37 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: think about what are you going to accomplish by the 38 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: end of the next week. List this all out and 39 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: plot it out on your schedule. I would also recommend 40 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: planning tight and then planning light, so aim to do 41 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: anything big on Monday or Tuesday and try to leave 42 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: the latter part of the week more open because stuff 43 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: is going to come up, or the big stuff that 44 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: you put for Monday and Tuesday might take longer than expected. 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: So when you have some days that are relatively more 46 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: open later in the week, you have to place to 47 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: put things without falling behind. Sarah, you are a Friday 48 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: work planner as well, aren't you. I am, And I 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: was just going to kind of piggyback on that. Not 50 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,119 Speaker 1: only should you think about building an into your routine, 51 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: this sort of planning session, but you probably need to 52 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: actually schedule it. I mean, it may not be true 53 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: as much for Laura because she works for herself, and 54 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: if she kind of knows her routine is that on 55 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: Fridays at three she's going to plan her week and 56 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: that's just a standing thing. Great. But for I feel 57 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,519 Speaker 1: like meetings are always trying to fill in every available 58 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: crack and crevice, and if I don't preemptively block out 59 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: my kind of wrap up weekly planning time, then it 60 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: can easily just not happen, and then it's not great. 61 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: So I mean, for me, this could be challenging. I 62 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: don't always have large swass of time on Fridays. I 63 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: actually just added back in half a day clinic on 64 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: Fridays like about two weeks of the month, so that 65 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: means by the time I'm done my notes, there's like 66 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: not tons of time, but I do see the value 67 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: in it, and honestly, I'm willing to not have Friday 68 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: be an early relaxed day so I can really think 69 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: through my next week and get that done and kind 70 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: of have a nice clear slate before the next week. 71 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: But I do have to block it in very intentionally, 72 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: but honestly, when people get in the habit of doing 73 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: this a designated weekly planning time and really think through 74 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: the upcoming week, it becomes like a superpower because things 75 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: are less likely to catch you off guard. You make 76 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: space for the things that matter to you, so you're 77 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: not like, Wow, another week and I didn't get to 78 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: these things that are my priorities. So definitely Friday planning. 79 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: Also on Friday, Tip number two, do a calendar triage, 80 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: looking at what is on your calendar for the upcoming week. 81 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: Is there anything that shouldn't be there, anything that could 82 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: take less time, anything that someone else can do. You 83 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: may be able to buy yourself an hour or more 84 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: in a few minutes because one of the things you'll 85 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: see is like, oh, wait, there's a meeting that's gotten 86 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: rescheduled four times. Maybe if it's gotten rescheduled four times, 87 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: I should just put it out of its misery, Like 88 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: it's never going to happen, so let's just get it 89 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,119 Speaker 1: off the calendar and acknowledge that instead of continually trying 90 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: to go back and forth and find a place to 91 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: put it. Or if you see that three people on 92 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: your team are in the same meeting, well maybe you 93 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: could just share information afterwards, right, Like, this is the 94 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: sort of thing that maybe you could triage in a 95 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: strategic thinking situation. But what happens when people get so 96 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: busy because they don't look at their calendars ahead of time, 97 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: they don't think about these things strategically, and then you 98 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: just wind up tramping from thing to thing. You're like 99 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: middle schoolers changing classes, like by two o'clock, by three o'clock, 100 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: at four o'clock, and it's like, well, did you actually 101 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: have to do all of those Did all those meetings 102 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: absolutely have to happen? Did they all have to take 103 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: an hour? I don't know, But you're not going to 104 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: ask that in the moment. You want to ask it 105 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: ahead of time, and the funny thing is I've had 106 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: people do this exercise in my workshops and speeches sometimes, 107 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: and I would say that in a couple of minutes, 108 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: twenty five to thirty percent of the people in the 109 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: room can get themselves an hour over the next week. 110 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: And I think if I gave them more time, a 111 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 1: lot higher percentage would find sometime. So it's really worth doing. 112 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: I love that, especially focus on meeting bloat. I've actually 113 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: noticed that recently people have started to figure out how 114 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 1: they could streamline meetings. I know that's what the topic 115 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: of this episode is about, but you know, by sending 116 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: kind of minutes and documents ahead of time and then 117 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: saving the meeting time for actual discussion and assigning of 118 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: action items, you can turn an hour long meeting into 119 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: a twenty minute meeting and then wow, forty minutes to 120 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: do something else forty minutes YEA, all right. Number Three. 121 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: Make yourself a to do list for each work day 122 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: before you leave work the night before, and what you 123 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: can do is look at the day's appointments and what 124 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: you want to accomplish and block out a schedule that 125 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: takes all of this into account. For instance, if you 126 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: have something you think will take ninety minutes of focused work, 127 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: and you have a ten o'clock meeting. You might be 128 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: best off doing that focused block from say eight to 129 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: nine thirty. You know, even if you normally start working 130 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: let's say eight thirty, it might be worth starting at 131 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: eight in order to get it done on that particular 132 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: day and maybe shift your hours at some other point. 133 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: But if you don't look at your schedule and you 134 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: don't have your to do list for the day, you 135 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: won't be able to think about these strategic things, and 136 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: you'll be like, wait, I've got this ninety minute project. 137 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: I've got to do it. It's four o'clock now what 138 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,679 Speaker 1: So make the list the day before, look at the schedule, 139 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: and you'll be able to get it all in. Personally, 140 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: I am more of a fan of making the list 141 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: early the morning of because I just happen to think 142 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: and plan so much better in the morning. So just 143 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: an alternative to the night before. Part of my everyday 144 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: morning routine is basically looking at my calendar for the 145 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: day and just roadmapping out what I'm going to do 146 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: and what I'm going to try to accomplish that day. 147 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: And so you know, that's an alternative to the night 148 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: before is if you prefer to do it the morning 149 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: of all right, So we've got tip number four, which 150 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: is match the right work to the right time. So 151 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: for most people, we tend to be more focused and 152 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: productive in the morning. So that means that you want 153 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: to do your work that requires the most intense thought 154 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: in the morning, not in the afternoon. That's the time 155 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: that you can do the work that's a little bit 156 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: less intense, or even things that you know you're going 157 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: to do anyway, right, Like you will go to that 158 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: status meeting regardless of how you feel, whereas you probably 159 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: won't work on really brainstorming that great new idea for 160 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: your new client at two thirty when you are tired. 161 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: So try to do the important stuff first, leave the 162 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: less intense stuff for later. Do not clear the decks. 163 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: I know a lot of people have sort of things 164 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: they need to get to in the day and they're like, oh, well, 165 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: I'll get to the big stuff as soon as I 166 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: get rid of all the little things off my to 167 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: do list. But the problem is we all run out 168 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: of steam. Next thing, you know, you never get to 169 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: the big stuff. You're saying, don't clear the decks in 170 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: the morning. Yeah, don't clear the decks in the morning, right, Yes, agree, 171 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: because clearing the decks can always take longer than you 172 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: think it's going to take. And next thing, you know, 173 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: mid morning you're like, oh, I'm hungry for lunch, and 174 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: then there goes the day, all right. Number five is 175 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: to take breaks. So if you find yourself dragging, it 176 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 1: is much better to get up and walk around then 177 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: to lose forty five minutes down an internet rabbit hole. 178 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: One of my tranquility by Tuesday rules is to move 179 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: by three pm. And if that is at all possible 180 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: in your life, I think you will see some major 181 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: productivity benefits. I find most people need some sort of 182 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: break by then anyway, and a physical one will boost energy. 183 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: I'm also a fan of taking a real lunch break, 184 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: actually get up up, get away from your desk for 185 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: a minute or two, you know, stop doing what you're doing, 186 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: and then you can refocus afterwards. I still personally love 187 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: to take walks at lunch when I can. At work 188 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: it is not always feasible, But yesterday I did not 189 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 1: finish all my notes, but I am very grateful that 190 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: I went outside for forty minutes, even though the heat 191 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: index was ninety nine degrees because I did feel way 192 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: better afterwards, and honestly, if I hadn't done that, my 193 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: time outside for the day would have been zero and 194 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: my steps would have been about fifteen hundred. And it 195 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: just doesn't feel good so so much. Highly agree with 196 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: that one. Yeah, all right, So now the next one, 197 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: number six. If the day has drifted, and it often does, 198 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: but even if it hasn't, even if it's been perfect, 199 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: take some time sixty to ninety minutes before you plan 200 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: to stop working for the day to review what has 201 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: happened and what still needs to happen, because that way 202 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: you can make a plan to deal with it and 203 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: make sure that you are not, you know, wasting that 204 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: last hour doing stuff that actually doesn't need to be 205 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: done for tomorrow when there is stuff that does need 206 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: to be done for tomorrow. The next tip seven, if 207 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 1: you will be it's related to this, but if you 208 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: will be doing a split shift because for some reason 209 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: that last sixty minutes you're not getting through everything, or 210 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: you are intentionally leaving work at a very early time, 211 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: let's say three thirty four in the afternoon to do 212 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: the after school shift with your kids. Consciously knowing you 213 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: are going to be doing work at night after they 214 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: go to bed. Make sure you have a plan for 215 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: the split shift, because you wouldn't get through a one 216 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: thousand email backlog from nine to five during the day, 217 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: and you're not going to get through it from eight 218 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: to ten at night either, So don't set that out 219 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: as your goal, because that's how people wind up staying 220 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 1: up all night or feeling frustrated in general. So say, well, 221 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: what are the two to three things that actually need 222 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: to be accomplished as part of the split shift, And 223 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: if there isn't anything, then maybe you don't have to 224 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: do it. I know that the split shift is how 225 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: a lot of our listeners do work long hours and 226 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: manage to preserve time with young children to go to 227 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: bed relatively early, But you may not have to do 228 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: it every night, So that's good to keep in mind. Okay, 229 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: I have two comments there. First of all, if you 230 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: are the kind of person where if your day drifts, 231 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,679 Speaker 1: you find it psychologically difficult to get back on track, 232 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: I see you, I am you. So I like this 233 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: tip and I'll think about this tip, but I don't 234 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: always find it as easy to execute in real life. 235 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: Maybe if I take more time to kind of acknowledge 236 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: and forgive myself for the drift and think about how 237 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: I can care for myself by maybe getting something else done, 238 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,719 Speaker 1: if one thing was sort of hitting a dead end, 239 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: things would be better, or maybe even just a longer 240 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: break and then getting back to something else, or looking 241 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: ahead on my calendar, how I can swap things to 242 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: fit where I am that day. It can be hard, 243 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: especially if what has set everything a drift was stressful, 244 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: and often it is. I mean, truthfully, it's some work emergency, 245 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: or someone's in distress and needs help unexpectedly, or it's 246 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: a kid emergency, and it can be hard. But I 247 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: agree that the more calmly one can kind of go 248 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: through and think about how you can best recover the better. 249 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: And then my other comment is that I hate the 250 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: split shift, so it's okay if you do too. I 251 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: will do almost anything to avoid it. The last thing 252 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: I ever want to do at night is do work 253 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: related to my actual job or even the podcast. Really, 254 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: five am is a different story. I can bank these 255 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: out at five am, So I guess it's a different 256 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: kind of split shift, And maybe that's kind of my answer, 257 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: but I also would much rather work late on occasion, 258 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: and I'm now very lucky that I can. When I 259 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: need to do I do it every night. No, I 260 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: don't want to because I don't want to miss that 261 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 1: kid time. But if I need to come home at 262 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: like seven point thirty on a random Tuesday, our nanny 263 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: does not mind. She is flexible in that way, and 264 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: a lot of days she's able to get a later 265 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: start due to school. So for me, that works better. 266 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: And that's one alternative if you absolutely hate whipping out 267 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: your laptop after the kids are asleep. Yeah, the early 268 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: morning is in fact a split shift. It's just a 269 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: different side of the sleeping. You know, it's still working 270 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: so different, so it's still working when the kids are asleep, 271 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: right like that is, If that is the split, you 272 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: have split your major chunk of work into a morning 273 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: and a day or a day and an evening, and 274 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: hopefully not an early morning and a day and an evening, 275 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: because then that's just crazy. So pick one, all right, 276 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: Let's yeah, let's just pound through these last ones and 277 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: then get to our ad break. So number seven is 278 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: to batch the little things on Friday, so through the week, 279 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: little stuff will come up that is not urgent but 280 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: still needs to get done. Put all of these in 281 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: a small window, ideally on a low opportunity cost day 282 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: like Friday, but another time is fine too. Or you 283 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: can also do say thirty minutes each day where you 284 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: are batching the little things that come up during the 285 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: day so you can power through them all at once 286 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: and without them being distractions the rest of the time. 287 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: Because I find this last part is the slightly more 288 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: pernicious aspect of this, Like we have eight things on 289 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: our to do list and we're like, oh, you know, 290 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: it's it's hard to do this big project I'm working on. Hey, 291 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: I could just go order that birthday present, or I 292 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: could just go respond to that email about a meeting 293 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: six weeks from now, or I could just go fill 294 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: out that form that HR sent me. And we do 295 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,839 Speaker 1: these things not because they necessarily have to be done, 296 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: but it feels good to cross them off, and then 297 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: you feel like you've done something, whereas if you're sitting 298 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: and wrestling with a big project, you may not have 299 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: gotten anything done. So we sort of give ourselves those 300 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: easy wins. But sometimes it's better to sit with the 301 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: hard stuff for a while to allow that deep work 302 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: time to be there and then to batch the little 303 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: things at some other point when you can just get 304 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: through them and get them done. Number nine is to 305 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: commit to making space for the work you love. Now 306 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: we have all seen this. It is so easy to 307 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: spend days, weeks, years on the random stuff in your job. 308 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: You know, you fill your day with figuring out what 309 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: meeting is going on when, and how do I get 310 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: to everything on time? And you know, what's the logistics 311 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: of all this? And you feel like you're never doing 312 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: the stuff of your job. But whatever it is that 313 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: drew you to your job does irves a space on 314 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: your schedule. So when you're doing that Friday planning, make 315 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: sure that you have carved out space for the stuff 316 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: of your job, the part that makes you happy, that 317 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: makes you, you know, want to tell people about it 318 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: when you're seeing them and meeting them, that deserves to 319 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: have a place there. I'm curious, Sarah, what is that 320 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: favorite part for you? Well, as you're speaking, I'm like reflecting. 321 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I think developing real one on one relationships 322 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: that are meaningful either with patients that I get to 323 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: know over the years. Because I am lucky that I'm 324 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: in that kind of longitudinal well lucky for me because 325 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: I like that longitudinal specialty. It's so fun to see 326 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: some of these families, you know, with children with chronic illness, 327 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: like year after year, and really get to know them. 328 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: And then the same with residents, you know, especially when 329 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: I feel like I can help them. I don't always 330 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: feel that way because there are challenges inherent in that job, 331 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: but when I feel like I can be helpful, it's 332 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: really fun. Yeah. For me, it's writing. I'm sure anyone 333 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: would know that. I really love working on book projects. 334 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: So I'm really happiest when I'm deep into writing a 335 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: chapter and I'm fortunate right now that that's what I'm 336 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: spending my time doing. And finally, our tip number ten 337 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: is that yes, working moms can go to happy hours, 338 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: So don't neglect the people part of your job. Sarah 339 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: just said that the people is what makes it really fun, 340 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: and I'm sure a lot of people feel that way. 341 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: So make sure that you don't tell yourself like, oh, 342 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: I don't have time for it. I have to, you know, 343 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: race home every single day. I can't have lunch. I 344 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: need to work through lunch because I can't socialize because 345 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: working moms can't do this. We have to get out 346 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: of here. I see that on timelines people tell me 347 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: about they're so efficient. Like I shut myself in my 348 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: office and work through lunch and that's why I've able 349 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: to leave fifteen minutes earlier every day. And I never 350 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: talked to my colleagues. Like come on, all right, it's 351 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: pretty shortsighted. You don't have to go to anything every night, 352 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: every day whatever. Nobody wants to do it every day. 353 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: But if you never socialize with your colleagues, then you 354 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: don't become part of the loop. People don't really trust 355 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: you as much because they don't know you as much. 356 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: It makes it harder to advance. It makes it harder 357 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: to figure out this sort of unofficial stuff that's going on. 358 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: And knowing that unofficial channel of information is often what 359 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: does intend to save us tons of time. Like you're like, 360 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: don't work with that guy, right, that's the kind of 361 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: information you get at the happy hour. He's a disaster, 362 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: Like all of his projects are terrible. Like you want 363 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: to know that, right, And by doing the socializing you 364 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: get to know that. So working moms can go to 365 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: happy hours, not every night, but occasionally Sarah, are you 366 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: going to happy hour? Well not anymore, because that's true. 367 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: That's true. I know what is right now, but you 368 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: know what I mean, the metaphorical happy hour. Yes, absolutely, 369 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: and when we were able to do things in person, 370 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: which I hope we will again soon. You know, sometimes 371 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: I would dread going to something because I just felt 372 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 1: tired or whatever, but I never ever regretted it. And 373 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: you're right. I mean, that's that's what makes work fun, 374 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: is the relationships and the building them, you know, outside 375 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: of the work environment, sometimes so fully indoors going to 376 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: social events. Here we go, Well, those are our top 377 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: ten work tips. We're going to take a quick ad 378 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 1: break and then we'll be back with Helena Weistumman talking 379 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: about how to have a great meeting. Well, I am 380 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 1: here with Helena Weiss Duman, who teaches meetings and other 381 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: such things over at Berkeley. So, Helena, how about you 382 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: introduce yourself to our listeners. Thanks for having me. Yes, 383 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: I'm Helena Weiss Duman. I teach project management and leadership 384 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: at UC Berkeley Extension. My work comes from a lot 385 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: of herding cats and planning lots of meetings as a 386 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: project management consultant. I produce conferences and professional training programs 387 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: for Stanford and my TL Berkeley or some of my clients, 388 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 1: and I also help run a forty person department that 389 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: produces events and communications for alumni and donors at UC Berkeley. Yeah, 390 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: so we are excited to hear about your tips for 391 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: running good meetings. So, I mean, we could start with 392 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: what makes so many meetings so bad? Lack of planning 393 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: is the main thing. People don't put enough strategy into it. 394 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: People are running from meeting to meeting, and it does 395 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: take a lot of work to put together a good meeting, 396 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 1: but it's worth it in the long run. So there's 397 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: unclear objectives, the wrong people are in the room. So 398 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: you need to put some thought in ahead of time. 399 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: So what does need to happen ahead of time in 400 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: order for there to be a good meeting? Okay, I'm 401 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: going to talk about four things that need to be 402 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: in your agenda to up level your agenda. First of all, 403 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: there needs to be clear objectives for each agenda item. 404 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: You can't just put a topic. It should be really, 405 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: what is the objective of having that item on your agendas? 406 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: To share information, collect information, make a decision. So really, 407 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: have an objective and being clear about that. Also, you 408 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: want a timebox things y'all want to give everything a budget, 409 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: a time allotment and not go over that and make 410 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: sure or that you stick to that. Also, people need 411 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: the background, they need relevant information data reports so that 412 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 1: they can come to the meeting informed and knowing what 413 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: they giving the context. And then also the process. Who's 414 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: leading that topic, what is the process for making a decision? 415 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 1: Are you going to have a vote? Is there going 416 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 1: to be consensus? Is the leader going to just make 417 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: a decision based on the discussion. So just knowing the process. 418 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: So those are the four things that really up level 419 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: your agenda. Yeah, and once you're I mean with the 420 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: meeting itself, are there ways to think about what should 421 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: occur during the meeting, like devote a certain number of 422 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: minutes to an opener or you know a certain number 423 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: of minutes at the end to recap. What should we 424 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: make sure we have in the meeting itself? What I 425 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: like to do is start with a little bit of connection. 426 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: I don't call it an icebreaker, it seems to be 427 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: a bad word, but some connection, some way to build 428 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: try built psychological safety with your team and that really 429 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: depends on is this a brand new team that or 430 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: is this, you know, your weekly direct reports meeting, So 431 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: it really depends on that. And then another component at 432 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: the end of every meeting is to go over the 433 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: action items that were decided upon, the who, the what, 434 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,439 Speaker 1: the when of the action items and any decisions that 435 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: were made and make sure those are communicated. So those 436 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: are some basics that I like to do at every meeting. Excellent, Well, 437 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: how about giving us a few out of the box openers, 438 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: I mean, and so we won't call them icebreakers since 439 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: we're not supposed to use that word for some reason. 440 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: But you know, I see most people just say, like, 441 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: how is your weekend? And that's obviously one thing you 442 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 1: can do, but what are some other things you could 443 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: do to start a meeting? So the principles that I 444 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: have for these type of connection exercises are to make 445 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: them easy. Self disclosing may mean that people have a 446 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: wide rate. They can go deep or go light. Make 447 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: it interesting and also non competitive, so you know, you 448 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: don't want to ask, oh, what was the best vacation 449 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: you've ever been on, because that's that's a hard one 450 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: in mind, was better than yours? Ha? Ha, exactly have 451 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: to think about it. But so here are some of 452 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: three of my go to So the first one is 453 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: what's your hometown? And it could be the hometown, and 454 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,360 Speaker 1: I make that broad as well. It could be where 455 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: are you from? Or you know, where were you born? 456 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: So it doesn't have you know, people can self disclose 457 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: however they want to do that, but you can get 458 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: a lot of rich information about where someone is from. 459 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: Something about their name, So I asked them, tell me 460 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: about your first name, your last name, your nickname, do 461 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: you like your name, does your name mean anything? And 462 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: you can get a lot of interesting things about people's ethnicities, 463 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: their backgrounds, what you know. It's just really interesting. And 464 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: then another one, I what is the favorite holiday tradition? 465 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: So that's another one where you can get some usually people. 466 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: It puts a smile on someone's face when they think 467 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: about something that they enjoy, and also you can learn 468 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: a lot about their background. Yeah, and I love those 469 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: that you can disclose as much as you want, like 470 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: you don't have to share your deepest, darkest secret, although 471 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 1: if you want to. It's that kind of group. I mean, 472 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: I guess you really could, but probably not. For the 473 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 1: Tuesday morning status meeting. So I mean, one of the 474 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: questions we get from listeners a lot is like, okay, 475 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: we can run good meetings ourselves, hopefully many of our 476 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: listeners do. But if you are not personally running the meeting, 477 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: is there anything you can do, either beforehand or during 478 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: to improve the process if it's maybe not going as 479 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: well as you might hope? Yes. If I'm invited to 480 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: a meeting, I ask for the agenda in advance, and 481 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: I ask you should I say, hey, I see we 482 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: have a meeting. I want to make sure I'm prepared. 483 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: Is there an agenda? So that's my polite way of saying, 484 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: where's the agenda? What do we give me the agenda? 485 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: So that's one way I prepare. I'll so check if 486 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,199 Speaker 1: everyone who is supposed to be there has responded. So 487 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: I at least in our calendars we can see if 488 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: the right people in the room, and if the right 489 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: people are not in the room, I suggest that we 490 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: postpone or you know, have a different time. I offer 491 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: to record action items. So I offer to say, hey, 492 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: do you mind if I record the action items? You 493 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: know that helps some people if you offer to be 494 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 1: the scribe, and then I help the facilitator by objecting 495 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: to tangents. So this is helpful for me when I'm 496 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: running a meeting and someone says, wait a minute, we're 497 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: off topic, So I could say, you know it applied way, 498 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: you know what, that's a good point. Can we have 499 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: another meeting with this, or can we do this offline? 500 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: Or I'd be happy to talk to you later, but 501 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: I think we're running out of time, So just have 502 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 1: your go to phrases in a polite way to help 503 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: out the facilitator. Those are great ideas. Do you have 504 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: particular mean You've been in so many meetings and saying 505 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: so many yourself, do you have particular meeting pet peeves 506 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: things that you see happen poorly in many meetings. Yes, 507 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: people ask for input without any context or preparation. People 508 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: say what do you think we should do about that? 509 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:18,239 Speaker 1: And people are just deer in headlights, and especially some 510 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: people don't mind thinking on their feed and they process 511 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: out loud, and some people really need some time to reflect, 512 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: and it's just really not thoughtful if you don't allow 513 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: people the time to process and come to a meeting 514 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 1: without preparation. Everyone needs context, background to formulate their thoughts. 515 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 1: If you want them to really participate and contribute. The 516 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: thing that drives me crazy is no participation. So when 517 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 1: people just run through their slides and like that could 518 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: have been an email, record it for me, send it 519 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: to me in a video and I can watch it 520 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: at two times speed. If there's no participation. I tried 521 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: about as much as possible. Yeah, it's like you were 522 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: invited here to a theater show as opposed to an 523 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: actual meeting. So are there any differences? I mean, over 524 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,880 Speaker 1: the past year and a half, I mean, so many 525 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: people have had new experiences with virtual meetings that many 526 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: people just didn't do before. I mean, you had the 527 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 1: occasional conference call, but it wasn't sort of the normal 528 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: mode of interacting. Are there any key differences between virtual 529 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: meetings and in person meetings that we should keep in 530 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: mind and that might help us have better virtual meetings 531 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: going forward. The one thing I would highlight is this 532 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: silent Yes, people don't say anything. People are assuming that 533 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 1: they're agreeing with what is being said, So that is 534 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: very misleading. So one of the things that I do 535 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: to make sure that people are participating and that I 536 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 1: get their input is it's called the gradients of agreement scale, 537 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 1: and so I put this at the bottom of my agenda. 538 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: It's at one through eight scale, and I will put 539 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: the proposal in the chat. For example, we propose that 540 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: we have a four hour retreat on August ninth, and 541 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,239 Speaker 1: so the scale means one. They will hardly endorse it 542 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: to they agree with a minor point of contention. Three 543 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: support with reservations four of stained, five more discussion or 544 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: time needed, six don't like, but we'll support seven serious 545 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: disagreement in eight veto. So that way everyone in the meeting, 546 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: I'll put that proposal August ninth, department retreat, and then 547 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: I wait for everyone in the meeting to give me 548 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: their little vote. It's very quick, it's very easy. But 549 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: then you can quickly see if there was any kind 550 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: of reservation and then that will be brought up instead 551 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: of just saying, okay, we August ninth, we all agree, right, Okay, 552 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,719 Speaker 1: let's go on to the next thing. So the silent 553 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: yes is very tricky, and you need to make sure 554 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: that you make sure you are getting everyone's input. Awesome, Well, 555 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: those are great tips. We really appreciate it. Can you 556 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: tell listeners where they can find you if they're looking 557 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: for more information about you and about good meetings in general. Yes, 558 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: you can find me at LinkedIn Helena Weissduman and send 559 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: me a message and I would love to talk more 560 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: about meetings. Awesome, Thanks Helena, Thank care. Well that was great. 561 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: Now we're back with the question part. This question comes 562 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 1: from a listener who has a two and a half 563 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: year old and just found out she is pregnant with 564 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 1: her second baby yay. She says with her first, she 565 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: was in the middle of residency and did not take 566 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: very good care of herself, didn't exercise and so forth, 567 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: and as a result, she believes that delivery and recovery 568 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: were perhaps tougher than they could have been. She has 569 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: since started taking better care of herself, exercising more regularly. 570 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: She says she doesn't run as much or as long 571 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: as the two of you, but about four weeks ago 572 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: and during her pregnancy, was able to do two to 573 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: three miles at a nine thirty to ten minute mile 574 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: per pace, and is inspired to try to keep this 575 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: up during pregnancy. She says, but oh my goodness, the 576 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: morning sickness and fatigue are so much worse for me 577 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: this time around. I do not remember it being like 578 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: this last time, though, who knows. I've been able to 579 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 1: do some walks, yoga, and a few low impact peloton 580 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: bike rides, but when I tried to run, I couldn't 581 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 1: sustain my former pace and it did not feel good. 582 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: I was prepared for things to be harder or slower, 583 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 1: but not this early in my pregnancy. So I have 584 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: two questions. One is do you have advice or experience 585 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: about this issue? Should I push through it will get better, 586 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: wait until closer to the second trimester, or will she 587 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: have lost all her fitness by then or except that 588 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: I'm already going to have to just convert back to walking, running, 589 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: very slow running. And the second question is any gear 590 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: for running while pregnant? So, Sarah, what do you have 591 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: for us? Yeah? I felt pretty passionately about this. You're 592 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: that's like a lot that's like fast, Like that's fast 593 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: for me now, I mean, or like a good pace 594 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: for me now. And I think there is absolutely no 595 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: value in pushing yourself past comfort during pregnancy. I don't 596 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: see why unless you're an Olympic athlete didn't have a 597 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: coach that's like telling you to do that. And even 598 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: then I would like question it. I mean, you should 599 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: do what feels good, because our bodies, thankfully are smart 600 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: and they probably you know, tell us what is good 601 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: for us, especially during a time like pregnancy. There are 602 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: physiologic changes that happened very early in pregnancy, so people 603 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: think about like being weighed down by the baby, but 604 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: actually there's changes in how your chemoglobin, you know, carries 605 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: oxygen and all sorts of things that happen very very 606 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 1: quickly that would explain changes that you might be feeling 607 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 1: while you're working out. And I think that you know, 608 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned like do I just have to resort to 609 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: run walking. I think run walking is wonderful. I don't 610 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 1: think there's any like negative connotation to doing that during 611 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 1: pregnancy or any other time. I do feel like I'm 612 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 1: reaching a phase in my life where I'm like really 613 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: rethinking goals around exercise, and I kind of even questioned 614 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: some of my prior goals when I was younger. Yes, 615 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: it was fun to train for racists sometimes, but at 616 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 1: the same time, sometimes I think there's a little too 617 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: much focused and too much stress, because the whole point 618 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: is to stay healthy, stay active, stay fit, enjoy it, 619 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 1: move our bodies, and I think there is no time 620 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: to embrace that more than during pregnancy, So do what 621 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: feels good, take breaks when you need to. And in 622 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: terms of gear, I don't even know if this is 623 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: still a thing, but I really loved the Junobras by Brooks. 624 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: They had like these vulcro straps and everything felt very 625 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 1: locked in tight, and so they were my favorite during pregnancy, 626 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: as well as some really cheap like yoga pant type 627 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 1: shorts from Old Navy that were maternity that had a 628 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: band that folded over, so nothing fancy, but all of 629 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: that worked pretty well for me. Yeah, I would say that, 630 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: you know, the first trimester is often a lot tougher 631 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: from an exercising perspective than the second, though I would 632 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: say that many people do find that some light exercise 633 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: helps with the feelings of fatigue and morning sickness. So 634 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: your mileage may vary, but you might try to get 635 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: a few little light run walks in and see if 636 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: you feel better afterwards, because that can motivate you to 637 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: continue the second time. Yes, ter probably will be better. 638 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: You will probably feel a little less fatigued, you will 639 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: feel less nauseous, I hope for your sake, and so 640 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: you might be able to kick it up a notch 641 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: during that time, and then at some point when you 642 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: get into the third trimester, you'll start feeling more weighed 643 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: down by the baby, that sense of being just huge 644 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: and having random aches and pains that make it harder. 645 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, a run walk can still work. I mean, 646 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: I did, in fact run every day with my running 647 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: streak during my pregnancy with Henry, but by the end 648 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: it was very, very slow. I'm not sure that somebody 649 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: looking at it would consider it much of a run 650 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: at all. It was nowhere near that nine thirty to 651 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: ten minute mile pace. But it didn't have to be. 652 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 1: It was just about feeling like I was still able 653 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: to move my body, still able to get that energy boost, 654 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: that mood boost that comes from exercise, which is really 655 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: what it's all about, taking care of your body, taking 656 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: care of your baby by exercising and doing something that's 657 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: healthy for you. It doesn't need to be about pushing 658 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: at all, because the good news is after you get 659 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: that baby out of you and a couple weeks later, 660 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: you will probably be able to start gearing back up again, 661 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: especially if you have been maintaining some sort of exercise 662 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: during pregnancy. It will come back. You will have great 663 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: times in the future. We've all just watched the Olympics 664 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: for Alison Felix, as you know, hugs her two year 665 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,719 Speaker 1: old after setting world records. You probably won't do that, 666 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 1: but if she can come and set a world record 667 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: after having a baby, it certainly shows that having a 668 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: baby does not end your fitness forever. So take heart 669 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 1: from that and get back out there afterwards and go 670 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 1: run your marathon. Then all right, well, this has been 671 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 1: best of both worlds. We've been talking work tips. We 672 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: had a quick interview with Helena Weiss Duman about how 673 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: to have great meetings. We will be back next week 674 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: with more on making work in life fit together. Thanks 675 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: for listening. You can find me Sarah at the shoebox 676 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: dot com or at the Underscore Shoebox on its, and 677 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: you can find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 678 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 1: This has been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please 679 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: join us next time for more on making work and 680 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: life work together.