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.
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