Play & Book Excerpts
The Reset Mindset
(Amplify Publishing)
© Penny Zenker
You’ve probably noticed by now that I’ve often used the phrase “take and make” Reset Moments. There is an intentionality behind these actions as both proactive and reactive. The hardest part about taking Reset Moments is recognizing when to take them. What situations call for them?
It’s like the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” You are so involved in the details that you may have lost perspective on the big picture of the situation. Much like building any new skill, it begins with awareness. You start to hone your noticing skills. At first, you might recognize it after the fact. The more you encounter and acknowledge these moments, the better you become at recognizing them when they appear. Over time, spotting Reset Moments becomes second nature.
You will see more opportunities to make more Reset Moments as part of your regular processes, meetings, and conversations. There’s an advantage to being proactive in seeking them out before there is a desperate need for them. You can catch issues before they evolve into full blown problems. You can identify trends and pivot to avoid a decline.
Proactive and visionary leaders don’t wait for market changes, employee upheaval, or competitive pressure. They seek feedback early and often. They challenge assumptions. They listen for what’s working and not working and remove obstacles that stand in their team’s way. They help their people focus on what matters most and challenge their creativity to continually reinvent.
In this case, the motivating factor isn’t fear or correcting what went wrong. Rather, the motivation is to create value, improve performance, gain a competitive advantage, generate innovations, enhance personal growth, and prevent adverse outcomes.
And here’s the best news of all. You already know how to make Reset Moments!
They can be proactive (make) and reactive (take). The easiest way to understand the difference is this:
In sports, time-outs are typically used when things aren’t going your way. You need to slow the other team’s momentum, stop the clock, or take a moment to consider an alternate play or strategy. And just like a check-in, the time-out creates the space you need to take a step back, gain perspective, and realign to your goals, values, and objectives.
You probably already make Reset Moments in your personal life too. They may be formalized, like meditation or devotions. They may be more casual; simply the act of drinking your coffee or reading the newspaper in the morning. They could be taking your dogs for a walk or maintaining family dinner all together at the table. These are all highly recognizable and accessible Reset Moments. Most professions already have various check-ins and time-outs built into their processes, too. You just have to learn to recognize them for what they are. Here are some examples:
It’s like the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” You are so involved in the details that you may have lost perspective on the big picture of the situation. Much like building any new skill, it begins with awareness. You start to hone your noticing skills. At first, you might recognize it after the fact. The more you encounter and acknowledge these moments, the better you become at recognizing them when they appear. Over time, spotting Reset Moments becomes second nature.
You will see more opportunities to make more Reset Moments as part of your regular processes, meetings, and conversations. There’s an advantage to being proactive in seeking them out before there is a desperate need for them. You can catch issues before they evolve into full blown problems. You can identify trends and pivot to avoid a decline.
Proactive and visionary leaders don’t wait for market changes, employee upheaval, or competitive pressure. They seek feedback early and often. They challenge assumptions. They listen for what’s working and not working and remove obstacles that stand in their team’s way. They help their people focus on what matters most and challenge their creativity to continually reinvent.
In this case, the motivating factor isn’t fear or correcting what went wrong. Rather, the motivation is to create value, improve performance, gain a competitive advantage, generate innovations, enhance personal growth, and prevent adverse outcomes.
And here’s the best news of all. You already know how to make Reset Moments!
They can be proactive (make) and reactive (take). The easiest way to understand the difference is this:
- Proactively making a Reset Moment is intentionally planning a check-in—scheduled meetings, policies and procedures, and any planned or recurring activity that creates the space to step back, gain perspective, and realign.
- Reactively taking a Reset Moment is signaling for a time-out, like in sports.
In sports, time-outs are typically used when things aren’t going your way. You need to slow the other team’s momentum, stop the clock, or take a moment to consider an alternate play or strategy. And just like a check-in, the time-out creates the space you need to take a step back, gain perspective, and realign to your goals, values, and objectives.
You probably already make Reset Moments in your personal life too. They may be formalized, like meditation or devotions. They may be more casual; simply the act of drinking your coffee or reading the newspaper in the morning. They could be taking your dogs for a walk or maintaining family dinner all together at the table. These are all highly recognizable and accessible Reset Moments. Most professions already have various check-ins and time-outs built into their processes, too. You just have to learn to recognize them for what they are. Here are some examples:
- In Law . . . Lawyers can request a continuance, which is a delay in proceedings so they can gather more evidence and better prepare their case. There’s also a specific phase in litigation called discovery, where both parties have the opportunity to obtain evidence from each other. It’s an intentional and essential space before trial for everyone involved to gather relevant information.
- In Medicine . . . Before undergoing major procedures, patients often seek a second opinion. Getting a fresh set of eyes on their diagnosis can result in reassessment of treatment. Also, before medical research is published, it must undergo rigorous peer review by other experts in the field. This Reset Moment ensures the quality and accuracy of findings.
- In Business . . . Before launching a product or service, companies conduct market research to gather data on potential success and make any necessary adjustments. Companies launching new initiatives or products will also often start with a pilot program in a controlled environment or specific region before investing in a full-scale rollout.
- In Engineering and Construction . . . Engineers will engage in feasibility studies before embarking on major projects, to make sure the plans are viable. During construction, it’s also vital to do regular safety audits to ensure all systems and processes are working safely and effectively.
- In Finance . . . Audits are vital in finance as well, so that a company knows its financial statements are accurate and compliant. Before mergers, acquisitions, or other major investments, it’s also vital for a company to do their due diligence and conduct a thorough appraisal to establish assets, liabilities, and commercial potential.
- In Research and Academia . . . Just like in medicine, before publishing in a journal, a researcher’s findings and methodology must undergo rigorous peer review by other experts in the field. And what is a sabbatical if not an extended Reset Moment? A chance for a professor to take a semester or year away from teaching duties to focus on research or improving their skills?
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Penny Zenker (a.k.a. The Focusologist) is an international speaker, business strategy coach, and one of America’s leading experts in the psychology of productivity to eliminate distraction, perfectionism, and self-sabotage to maximize results in every area of your life and business.
By the time she was 31, Penny founded, developed, and sold her first multimillion-dollar business in Zurich, Switzerland. Her first book, The Productivity Zone, was an instant Amazon bestseller, and her TEDx talk, “The Energy of Thought,” has gained international attention and impact with more than one million views. Her engaging, inspiring, and interactive work teaches people to think and act more strategically and has been featured on NBC News, Forbes.com, ESPN, and Wharton Business Radio, among others. |
Penny Zenker
Photo Courtesy: Penny Zenker |
