by Sze-Yen Chee
I sat down to write about the traits of the Snake and what they teach us about thriving in a corporate setting. Then I read it back and realised it was starting to sound preachy and repetitive.
There is already SO MUCH superficial advice online. It was becoming the usual rat-race advice: pick up courses, attend training sessions, increase productivity (but make time for leisure), plan better, speak up more, network more, and the list goes on.
So instead, I want to focus on ONE practical reminder. One item that is doable and impactful.
Back to our friend the snake. Intelligent, agile, and with the amazing ability to shed its skin and transform itself into a whole new snake. It can also move really quickly despite its reputation as slow-moving.
But its most superior trait is a strategic mindset (cunning, if you like) encased in a calm exterior, meaning all its moves are intentional.
The One Thing: Block An Hour To Think
The one thing you can do that would productively help you develop a strategic mindset is to block out one hour of your work week to reflect and plan.
While we are pulled and pushed, directed and sometimes pummelled by corporate tasks, we forget that brain space helps us work better. The fact is that we execute tasks more effectively when we have time to think.
Decide which day of the week is best for you, and use that time to write, journal, draw or mind map your thoughts.
It’s about capturing all the thoughts, ideas and to-do tasks which are flying about and filling up valuable space in your short-term memory.
This underrated task helps you:
- Make decisions
- Reduce stress
- Process emotions
- Execute tasks more effectively
- Plan actions and strategise approaches
- Critically analyse possible outcomes
As you ramp up to accelerate your career, there is so much that is required of you.
Step back for some mindspace. Make time to think. Don’t subscribe to the myth of busy-ness. Be intentional.
Here’s to your Career!
Yen
