Too Busy Driving... to fill up the tank...

Today, while I can't claim this post, I'd like to share my best friend's thoughts on how our mornings collided today:

Early today my morning routine was interrupted by a phone call from my closest friend’s wife. I missed the call but was able to quickly call her back. When she answered the phone she informed me that Matt had run out of gas a few miles from my house, and asked if I could bring him some gas on my way to work. Without hesitation I accepted this new task and placed it into my morning “to do” list.

First, I called Matt to find out where he was; next I got dressed cause I had just got out of the shower; and then I walked both my dogs. After rushing through these tasks, and skipping my morning cup of coffee, I rushed to the assistance of my friend in need.

My five gallon gas can was empty and my truck was very low on fuel too, so after filling up the gas can and adding an additional 5 gallons to my truck I headed off to find my friend. I found Matt parked in his Jeep next door to Osaka’s. He quickly came to the bed of my truck, grabbed the gas can and started to pour the contents into his tank.

Once we were both back on the road and stopped at a light I sent him a text message that read “Have you ever been too busy driving to fill up with gas..?” I thought I was being funny jesting at his recent situation that left him stranded, and he responded with the typical “LOL”.

Now I am in my office and honestly feel a bit grumpy, not for having changed my schedule around to aid in the assistance of a friend, but because I feel tired. I left the house without eating anything, had no coffee, skipped my devotional, and forgot to bring my apple and orange that have become my staple snacks since I’m trying to lose weight for my wedding. In short, my own personal gas tank is empty. I am guilty of exactly what I had texted Matt. I was too busy driving to fill up my own tank.

As I sit in my office grumpy, hungry and tired, I realize how easy it can be to allow our personal fuel tanks to run dry, and how important it is to be intentional about filling them up. So, as I am being deliberate in filling my personal tank through a quick devotional I found online while drinking a cup of coffee and eating a sausage and egg English muffin from Founders, I found myself asking, “Am I filling up the tanks of the people on my team or am I just driving them without consideration to the fuel that is needed to make them perform?” Even Highways have a rest stop to help you mentally recharge so you don’t run off the road. Where is my rest stop at work? Some days are so busy that I just wish I would see a sign “Rest Stop in 15 Minutes”

One of the things I do when planning a long road trip is to plan where I will be stopping to fill the tank, and where am I going to stay the night so I am recharged for the next day. I feel we must take this same approach as we manage our teams. We need to plan to drive long, plan to fill up, but also plan to rest and recharge. I’m not saying give the whole department or office a day off, but I am saying that as managers we need to intentionally plan to refuel and recharge the team, give them the proverbial tune up through training, celebrating victories and sharing about challenging situations and ways to overcome similar ones.

Deliberately scheduling this time is like sticking a sign post in the middle of the work day that says REST STOP Next Exit. Employees that know they are going to get this chance to share, celebrate and train will be able to work through the rough times knowing they will get a chance to rest up, tune up and fill up.

Happy Motoring!!! - Chuck Ford