| link"> | | | | We must choose to spend time by ourselves. |
| When things were getting a little harried, Mom said | | | | And all of these choices come before the choice |
| it best . . . "I think we need a little quiet time." | | | | for quiet — they are required prerequisites. |
| Mom's advice is true for leaders (and all | | | | Think about it, how much time do you spend in |
| professionals) too - now more than ever. | | | | quiet each day? While I haven't done a formal |
| I often say that our world is very different than | | | | survey, I'll bet for the typical person, it is time |
| it once was. And when I do people often shake | | | | measured in minutes — not even closely |
| their heads knowingly — I suppose that | | | | approaching an hour. |
| statement conjures a variety of ideas based on | | | | Ways to Use Our Quiet |
| how old they are and from what vantage point | | | | Once you’ve made the choice to turn off |
| they compare today with the past. | | | | the TV or radio, to take the earphones out of |
| As our world continues to change, I believe there | | | | your ears, or to (gasp!) not fill that last open hour |
| are some things getting lost that need to be | | | | on your calendar with one more meeting, |
| re-found. The good news is many of these things | | | | you’ve got to choose how to use your |
| can be re-discovered, and we have that power | | | | quiet time. |
| completely in our hands. | | | | Rather than prescribing a specific thing you should |
| One thing we are losing is quiet. | | | | do with that time, let me suggest a smorgasbord |
| We don't make room for quiet in our lives. When | | | | of ideas for you to consider. As you read the |
| we are in the car, the radio is on. When we are | | | | menu, pick the one or two you feel most drawn |
| walking or riding a bike or mowing our lawns or | | | | to, and start with those. |
| waiting for an airplane (add your own favorite | | | | Do stretching exercises. |
| activity here), we are listening to an iPod or | | | | Clear your mind. |
| something similar. When we are at home, or in | | | | Review your goals and your progress towards |
| many public places, the television is on. When we | | | | them. |
| are working, the sound is turned up on our | | | | Visualize reaching your biggest goal. |
| computers so we can hear the funny email, | | | | Think about your day — reflect on the |
| podcast, audio message from the CEO, or radio | | | | happenings and the lessons that can be learned. |
| program on the Web. | | | | Mentally preview tomorrow — planning and |
| These are all intentional activities and none of | | | | visualizing great success. |
| them include the ambient noise of traffic, other | | | | Review material from a book or training session. |
| people and so much more. | | | | Meditate. |
| And while we have all this noise around us, | | | | Pray. |
| instinctively we know that quiet is a good thing. | | | | Practice deep breathing. |
| We value the pause when a speaker gives us a | | | | Think of creative solutions to a challenge or |
| chance to soak in his or her points. We enjoy the | | | | problem you are facing. |
| brief respite of quiet from a noisy conference. | | | | Count your blessings. |
| We enjoy a retreat to a quiet park or forest. | | | | Recall pleasant memories. |
| While we know quiet is valuable and useful, we | | | | In school our teachers said Shhh when |
| don’t always take advantage of that | | | | they wanted us to be quiet and pay attention. I |
| knowledge — we don’t choose quiet | | | | encourage you to tell yourself Shhh |
| often enough. | | | | — to make time for quiet, to give yourself |
| However, in order for us to choose quiet, we | | | | a chance to focus, to connect and to reflect. |
| must first choose some other things. We must | | | | It’s time for me to be quiet and to give |
| choose to slow down. We must choose to stop | | | | you a chance to do the same. |
| multi-tasking. We must choose to be introspective. | | | | |