It definitely wasn't the day I'd planned.
On the first full workday of the new year, I had a list of things to do. I highlighted the three most critical tasks - the things with the greatest potential for impact in my business - that I intended to accomplish.
The day had other plans for me.
Rising early, I saw fresh snow, still falling. In fact, inches had already accumulated overnight. I was delighted! Where I live, significant snowfall is relatively rare. Rather than hunkering down at my desk - easy to do in a teleworking world - I bundled up and declared a snow day.
Minimized disruption
While area schools, government, businesses, and organizations closed facilities due to the snow, people did not shut down. The evening’s hybrid board meeting quickly converted to virtual. We minimized disruption and advanced priorities meaningfully. In fact, we were so productive, we ended it a little early.
Lamented the lack of a true snow day
Still, our board chair – a senior executive in a global banking giant – lamented the lack of a true snow day, the kind when you curl up with a good book, play board games, or watch shows. Throughout the week, I heard many leaders express a similar sentiment. Robust virtual connections and technology make so much of our work easier and more productive. It also costs us spontaneity and robs us of the chance to delight in the unexpected change of routine.
The executives I advise recognize the value of quality downtime for their business and people. I write about it often, too. I’ve noted the value of breaking away and provided tips to avoid the business impact of fatigue. (See my Chief Executive article.) The kind of multi-day breaks that provide quality downtime are typically planned and deliberate.
"Snow day" is different
Unplanned, relatively brief, and rarely arriving at a (so-called) good time, a "snow day" is different. For many, the snow day evokes visions (or memories) of unexpected freedom and fun. It is both timeless and ageless. Case in point: Amazon's sledding holiday ad.
For me, the day was a breath of fresh air, even on the heels of planned downtime at year-end. Sure, I shoveled - a task that needed doing. I also built a snow person, (of whom I am inordinately proud!) Once done, I came inside, poured a cup of cocoa, and smiled. And this article? It basically wrote itself.
Benefit most when the unexpected is left unmanaged
Leaders are required to manage the unexpected. Yet, sometimes, people and outcomes benefit most when the unexpected is left unmanaged. This is especially true when the unexpected event is brief and (of course) not life-threatening; the stakes for your business are much lower. For example, your strategy needs a snow day to:
Test in real-time the effectiveness of myriad “back up” or contingency plans
Highlight things that don’t work well or could be improved
Reveal new customer pain points or jobs your products or services might do
Spark creativity as individual brains noodle on a problem in the background
Expose competitor weak points
Test resilience: how quickly individuals and teams reset and return to the work at hand
Potential to accelerate progress
Any one of these outcomes has the potential to accelerate progress toward objectives. Further, every level of the organization gains visibility on what’s working on the ground (or not) and how it relates to strategy. This active (re-)alignment of strategy and operations is key to making your strategy work and reaching the destination (your vision.)
The next time you want to refresh your team, spark creativity, and inspire simple joy, declare a snow day. Your people – and strategy – will thank you.
Later, as you ponder making your strategy work, take a minute - literally - to watch an episode of Strategy in a Minute™.