1 min readToggle Between Your Modes
by Guy Gage | October 1, 2023 | Business, Leadership
Your Modes
As a professional, you have two very different modes of operation. When you don’t pay attention, you can forget to toggle between your modes.
Production Mode
When we feel the pressure with lots to do and deadlines to meet, we naturally drop into production mode. We engage our automatic habits and routines that we have developed over the years that get things done. And we do them without even thinking about them. One of the habits is to tune out anything that is unnecessary to the work at hand. We have a decreased tolerance for anything that is distracting. This mode is so helpful as we focus on accomplishing the most work in the shortest time.
People Mode
But this mode is only effective when we are working on tasks. There is another mode that is just as important to our success, which is the people mode. The people mode requires a different set of habits. Where production mode focuses on work and emphasizes efficiency, the people mode focuses on individuals and emphasizes connection.
Building interpersonal connections is not efficient. It takes time, so that when we are in pressure situations, we can become impatient because it feels like wasted time.
It is so tempting to apply production efficiency to people connection, even though we know that efficiency with people accomplishes the opposite of what we intend. For instance, we limit eye contact, try to multitask, and give short grunts instead of adequate responses. In addition, we express other subtle micro-messages that we want to conclude the interaction. None of these are helpful.
Choose The Right Mode
When we work under pressure, we would do well to resist the temptation to apply production efficiency to a people interaction. Either pull away from your work and engage the person or suggest a better time so you can remain in production mode.
The more effective we are in toggling between the modes, we remain productive and improve our relationships. Your team needs you, and you are at your best when you remember to toggle between your modes.
Read Related Blogs:
National Accounting Day: Your Story Matters More Than You Realize
National Accounting Day isn’t just an annual celebration of a profession. It’s a celebration of you - the CPA with a story that’s uniquely yours. Somewhere along the way, something sparked your interest in accounting. Maybe it was a love of numbers, a desire for...
Avoid Making Clients Feel Let Down
Client relationships vary depending on the level of trust involved - and trusted relationships have never been more important. With new technologies, changing regulations, and a shifting economy, clients increasingly look to their trusted advisors for insight and...
Ownership Changes Everything
In many CPA firms, “accountability” is treated as the gold standard of performance. But in reality, accountability is reactive because it shows up after something has already gone wrong. Responsibility, on the other hand, is proactive. It’s the difference between...
