I love a little book by Steve Donahue written in 2004, Shifting Sands. In this book, Donahue deals with the difficulties of change and compares going through them to crossing a desert. Having done this very thing a few years ago, I can certainly relate to the intense emotions, times of fear, anxiety of not knowing where the road leads, and particularly the humbling process that comes when everything in your life is thrown into chaos due to an unexpected season of complete change. If you are in the midst of what I just described, I suggest you pick up a copy of the book and devour it as I did. I guarantee you it will help you as it did me.
One of the many things which I gleaned from the wisdom of the book is the concept of “oasis.” Donahue makes the statement, “It takes four times as long to recover from burnout as it does to prevent it.” Anyone who has worked with me knows that I have a tremendously high work ethic. I am happiest when I am in the middle of a highly complex project in which I am challenged to bring order from chaos, and when I have multiple similar projects as such happening simultaneously. I never consider myself busy because I thrive when I am slammed with activity, and even in my down time, I am still always in motion! However, when I do stop, I stop completely. Even though my time off the grid is filled with leisure activity, I am able to entirely put aside my professional pursuits and be “off” in the truest sense of the word.
Donahue calls this “stopping at the oasis.” He strongly warns of the danger of continuing to trudge through the desert without ever taking some time to stop at an oasis to refuel, reconnect, and refresh, even, and especially when, you don’t think you need it. He states, “Stop at every oasis” because this may be the last oasis available for a long time. He further explains that when you don’t think you need it, the way to find out is to look for what is dry. He states, “A desert is defined by its lack of water. Notice what is dry, what is missing in your life. Use that as a guide to what kind of oasis you need.”
I find that I need a couple of kinds of oasis. First, because my work is filled with people, I often need an oasis of solitude and an environment where I don’t have to talk to anyone unless I want to. Also, because my work is so very active and it often takes me away from my family, I need time to reconnect with them. Sometimes the oasis I seek is extended time, such as a family vacation, but sometimes, it’s as short as my “yard therapy” in the backyard some mornings. Either way, when I’m at my oasis, I’m fully there – which is also why I won’t have another blog post for a couple of weeks!
You know that I always encourage you as a leader to work hard, keep striving, and keep challenging your people to rise to new heights, but I want to also encourage you to take Donahue’s advice: when you see an oasis, stop and take a breath. You’ll be a better leader as you move on.
Lead well.