Rule #5-Beware the circle
I remember when the thought hit me—my wife and I were walking around EPCOT Center’s World Showcase. We’d been walking for some amount of time when I looked up and realized we were almost halfway around the lagoon.
You might know the World Showcase—it’s my favorite part of Disney World—11 different countries are featured in a 1.3-mile loop around a lagoon. It’s a fantastic display of culture, one I was so wrapped up in, that I didn’t realize how far we’d walked.
The World Showcase is set up in a circle, with no definite turns, or corners. Without such reference points, it’s easy to lose track of everything, time stands still, you lose track of the days, and you spend money without thinking about it; it’s part of the magic of Disney, and I’m certain, it’s intentional. They’ve removed all reference points, so when you’re in the middle of your vacation, you become lost and immersed in their world.
As we walked and this concept built in my mind, I began to think about how it impacts our work lives. When we hosted the Ryder Cup in 2016, we were working in a circle. For a month or more, every day was the same. We worked from sunup to sundown with no real reference to anything besides the golf course. Like Disney World, we were completely lost and immersed in our prep for the Ryder Cup; I remember well, literally not knowing what day it was. About 10 days before the event, we all went to a Twins game. I recall driving home thinking something was weird; I realized it was still light out and it had been weeks since I’d driven home in the daylight.
The entire experience was amazing and no one wanted it to end, but like a Disney vacation, it did end, and when it was over, we all realized we were exhausted.
The circle is powerful and dangerous. In the right situations, preparing for a big tournament, or on a Disney vacation, it creates an immersive setting, that enhances the experience. However, too much of a good thing is often dangerous and constantly working without reference points is a certain path to burnout.
Over the years I’ve heard colleagues say things like: “A weekend is just another day.” I’ve never believed that to be true, because even if that was true for those of us in leadership roles, it’s not true for our employees. Weekends are reference points or changes in direction. A chance for you and your team to catch a little breather, do something different, and not continually walk around in a circle.
When the time comes, the circle concept can be powerful. It can help you and your team build camaraderie and achieve incredible results over a short period. But be careful. Managing this way tips the scales in favor of burnout very quickly.