Keeping Yourself Entertained

Recently, I told my 11 year old son not to be threatened by silence.  His reply was appropriate for his age: "Silence is boring."  To sit and be alone with your thoughts didn't sound like entertainment to him.  And, I get it - why be bored if you don't have to be...  So, he talked on.

The last thing I want to be is bored.  And, frankly, I've never met a leader who cherished such a season.  Boredom, though, doesn't come from idleness for a leader.  Rather, it typically comes in the midst of busyness.  Becoming disinterested begins with routines that aren't challenging.  When leaders reach targets and crest certain climbs in their spheres of leadership, reinventing the journey is critical to staying engaged.  The people we lead cannot afford a "checked-out" leader; nor do they deserve a leader who is only in it for the short-term.  And, the answer to boredom is not necessarily aborting the process to do something completely different.  Leadership longevity and effectiveness can be cultivated as the leader keeps himself/herself entertained.  Here are some ways I've practically tackled boredom in my own journey:

Meet new people for lunch or coffee.  The people we don't know or haven't connected with could possibly hold the idea that spurs invention.

Read daily to stretch your mind and preferences.  Books, articles, blogs - information is always critical to moving forward.

Carve out creative thinking time.  We need time to be left alone with our thoughts - to journal our feelings, new ideas and strategies that otherwise wouldn't come without thinking time.

Take on new and challenging tasks.  A new venture may in fact be the ingredient to getting a fresh perspective and renewed energy in our calling.

Engage in a hobby that is disconnected from work.  Doing something we enjoy on a regular basis out of the routine of leading is always an appropriate diversion. 

Celebrate wins with yourself and your team.  Throwing a party, taking a creative outing together, experiencing fine dining - whatever you can to do to celebrate how far you've come and what you've achieved along the way, no matter how small, is worth the brief pause in the journey.

Step away from routines occasionally.  Attending a conference or going on a family trip goes a long way in clearing your head and sharpening your focus.

Boredom doesn't have to be a normal part of leader's life.  Consider these ideas and others you come across and choose to stay personally entertained, enthusiastic and consequently, more effective along the way.

So, what steps do you need to take to get reengaged?