Routine tasks are a way of work-life, which are following systems and processes by the books. For some industries, this is a way of life, such as in banking or automotive, there are certain tasks that follow and adhere to strict guidelines which, if not followed, could be catastrophic for their consumers.
But, as humanness occurs, there can be errors in not following some of these rules or procedures through no deliberate fault. Let’s take the example of Gus, who works on engines for a manufacturer; Gus has procedures to follow that need signed off on to ensure the work was done properly. But, one day, Gus wasn’t feeling well and ‘forgot’ to count the bolts put on a part of the engine nor did he get it signed off by supervisor. The error was caught but Gus was reprimanded and put on an improvement plan.
Gus became worried, leading to anxiety and sleeping problems; he worried that he would make another mistake or get fired, and these thoughts occurred on a daily basis.
What would help Gus is to have his own system of checks and balances to ensure that all procedures are followed, as well as having good coping skills to help him stop negative thoughts and get calmer which would go a long way in his success.
Having a system to follow will keep Gus focused and on-task. It also will develop a good habit of being more alert and remembering his needed tasks and actions. This activates the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which brings forth the thoughts we need need at the time we do. Think of it like a big filing cabinet, which sorts and stores our thoughts by importance; when we need them they will come.
That is, unless, the dreaded cortisol affects it; Gus was not feeling well when the incident occurred. Illness affects our ability to function properly; but, if Gus dug down deeper, he might have uncovered that he was worried about getting through the day, needing to work since he did not have any paid time off. The underlying cortisol impacts the executive functions of the brain, of which thinking lies, and essentially shuts it down. Feeling foggy – check; feeling lethargic – check; worry – check.
The solution to develop and sustain better habits is to have a check and balance on required tasks:
- developing a checklist of required tasks
- having a notification as a reminder, such as on your cell phone
- asking help from an outside source, as an added layer
It also includes calming techniques:
- deep breathing
- meditation or yoga
- journaling
- a form of exercise
If Gus were to begin implementing his own check and balance, and consistently use them, it would not take long before he would return to being a good, productive worker while being armed with habits that will lead to continued success.
Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting focuses on workplace happiness and organizational success, using brain-based principles. If you, or your organization, is struggling with workplace culture and engagement, we have a program that will work to turn this around. If you need help gaining clarity on your business or career goals, why not get some help – stop the struggle and call today to get started! !http://cyscoaching.com or barbara@cyscoaching.com.
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