The Summer of Recombobulation
by Karen DeTemple
(Reading time: Less than 4 minutes)
Have you heard about the Mitchell airport in Milwaukee? Just past the TSA checkpoints are signs designating a “Recombobulation Area.”
I love this! And not just because it’s a fun word to say.
The idea is to give people a place to get themselves back together after going through security. A place to put back on their belts, shoes, coats, etc., and make sure they have their phone, laptop, and whatever else they brought with them before heading on to their gate.
I am all for the idea of encouraging harried travelers to slow down and make sure they have their act together before going any further.
These days, we could all use a bit of recombobulation in our work lives, too.
Burnout is Still Real
I hear it nearly every day from our nonprofit leader clients: Everything feels brand new and it takes so much longer now to get things done. People are feeling burned out.
There are any number of reasons for this, but three, in particular, stand out:
Not enough staff
It's now a hybrid world
The supply chain is still disrupted
Recombobulation is a Key Skill
All of these things (and more) leave us feeling kicked around and in disarray. So we run faster and work harder.
But that’s not the answer. The answer is recombobulation.
You don’t leave the airport security area (on purpose) with your shoes untied, your belt in your hand, and your phone still in the bin. That might save you a little bit of time at the front end, but you know that over the slightly longer term, it’s only going to cost you (especially if you forget your phone!).
Your work is no different. So, consider the following recombobulation tactics:
Take Breaks
It’s courageous to take time off. But many times, nonprofit leaders feel like they can’t leave.
Recently, a CEO client of mine was about to cancel a one-week vacation in order to work on a grant that had suddenly surfaced. But he was so fragile from overwork that he couldn’t even see straight. I convinced him to take the vacation — he needed to recombobulate so that he could have a clearer mind to write the grant.
By taking breaks in a thoughtful way — setting expectations for your board and staff and establishing roles and responsibilities — you lay the groundwork for others to remain productive while you are away and for you to truly disengage and recharge.
Life is a series of challenges, of ebbs and flows. When we incorporate self-care and boundary-setting into our routine, we are prepared for when the next challenge arrives.
Come Back in a Mindful Way
When you return, you may be eager to swoop in and take the reins. However, if you come in mindfully, you may be pleasantly surprised by how others have stepped up in your absence. You may even see that new, future leaders have emerged.
Please don’t tightly schedule yourself — you’ll just burn out again. You’ve got to delegate, identifying what the board and your leadership team can do. The work will always be there, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you cannot serve others.
Above all, you need to break the cycle of powerlessness and anger and learn to roll with the changes that inevitably arrive.
Take Advantage of the Summer
Summer tends to be a little bit quieter; use this time to consider what could be different. What are you going to keep? Subtract? What are your priorities for fall? What do you want to be nurturing in the months ahead? How do you want to feel? What do you want to experience more of?
If you don’t plan and think, you’ll just be right back on the same treadmill. NOW is the time to recombobulate.