Summer Balance

Summer 2023 is upon us! Summer brings all the fun, exciting activities such as family trips, BBQs, outdoor recreation, etc. For us at Interstates and others in our industry, it also brings a hefty workload with compressed project schedules, shutdowns, conferences, and travel. How do we balance a hectic, personal summertime schedule with the amount of work typical of our warmer months?

In Dichotomy of Leadership, Jocko Willink emphasizes the importance of leaning towards decentralized command as a leader to avoid being overwhelmed. This approach involves checking your ego and recognizing that you can't be in charge of everything. By allowing your team to operate with broad guidance and empowering your leaders, you distribute the workload and create opportunities for growth. It's crucial to provide training, build trust, communicate the mission and goals clearly, and establish parameters for decision-making. By doing so, you can step in when necessary but ultimately let your leaders take charge and accomplish their objectives.

A decentralized command can be applied both at home and in the workplace. Maintain open and transparent communication channels. Encourage feedback and create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions, ideas, and concerns. It is important to communicate if you are feeling overwhelmed. By expressing your feelings of being overwhelmed, you allow others to better understand your situation and work with you to find a solution. Spreading the workload allows us to have more fun at work and at home because we aren't so bogged down by the stress of it on our shoulders. Make sure this summer you create a balance between work and personal life to ensure a SAFE and FUN summer.