Saunter, It's Monday

It's Monday morning.  For most of us, this is the first day of the work week.  Sometimes it requires more time to pull it together on a Monday, than say a Wednesday.

Who has had this experience? Hands up.

Yep, pretty much everybody.

So do you do the It's-Monday-&-I-Have-Not-Pulled-It-Together thing ? Scurry into work, fly past the receptionist, blow by Sam in Finance because he still has an unresolved issue with the dental carrier, and....close the office door?

Or do you think:  
I'm going to leave my office and show my workplace I've pulled it together; I'll show them I'm a positive guy; I have a list of employees I have not seen for awhile and I'll drop by and see how things are going; I'll ask them how work is going; Or see what kind of progress they are making on this huge project that half of next year's budget is riding on.....Oh, the employees are so going to appreciate me for doing this.

But wait a minute, it's Monday.  And even though I'm pulling myself together, their heads are still basking in the sun, fighting with their spouses or thinking about taking a day off to play with their I-Pads.  Truly the last thing the employees need is HR walking around the office "checking up" on them. 

But I'm not "checking up" on them.  They've got it all wrong.  What I'm doing today is part of what is called the "walking around by managing" technique or it's part of the 360 degree program, or it's part of the Blah-Blah-Blah-Newest-Management-Technique-That's-On-Top-Of-The-NYT-Bestseller-Book-List. 

Right. Again, it's Monday. The employees don't care about your lists, your techniques or your painted smile.

So stop being a human resource person this morning.  Be a human.  Get off your chair, grab your coffee cup and saunter.

Yes, I said saunter. Just wander about.  I'm sure you will find others that are sauntering.  Chat with them.  Don't know what to chat about?  Well since you're both sauntering, try chatting about sauntering.  Can't find anyone sauntering about? Stop by someone's office or cube.  If you are in true sauntering mode, it will be recognized.  Maybe you'll be welcomed.  If not, move on and find someone else. Chances are you'll find someone sauntering while sitting still.

So here we are at Monday.  You can either sequester yourself, pound employees over the head with all of your HR-knows-best techniques, or you can let yourself saunter.  Which will it be?