MANAGEMENT / PLANNING
varies according to what kind of interruption or distraction is being experienced by your workers .
One major problem is inattention , or what I call Mental Leakage . As I wrote in my book , “ We are not masters of our own minds . We daydream . When what we ’ re doing doesn ’ t engage us tightly enough , our mind wanders to more attractive subjects – our next holiday , the coming weekend , what ’ s for lunch . We worry . Will that big contract come through ? What will the X-rays show ? Are the kids getting a good education ? Will I make it to the hardware store before closing ?”
When that happens to me while I am writing an article , that ’ s not good – I waste time , fritter away mental energy , and irritate my waiting editors . But when it happens to a construction worker , life and limb is at stake . He walks in front of a dangerous machine . Fails to balance a load properly . Pours the wrong concoction . Forgets a crucial safety step .
I teach six of my own tried and true methods for stemming Mental Leakage – a mental “ Checklist ” that help focus the mind and keep it focused which I call The Mental Hygiene Process . If I managed a
construction crew , I would adapt those methods to the workers ’ needs .
One quick example : One of my techniques is called Visualizing the Ideal Self . You picture yourself victorious in a challenging situation when the odds are against you . A defense lawyer might visualize the client ’ s gratitude on hearing “ not guilty .” A salesperson might visualize herself being applauded by her teammates in the next sales meeting . It could be as simple as an accountant visualizing showing up at his kid ’ s ballgame on time because he finished his work swiftly . The pleasure rush the brain
8 October 2015