For some it’s a tradition – deep-fried turkey – for others it’s a costly and painful accident. They get burned!
Speaking of pain, did you know Texas wins the dubious title of: most grease and cooking-related accident claims on Thanksgiving Day? According to State Farm Insurance the top five are Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
Yep, more cooking fires occurred in Texas on Thanksgiving Day than any other day with over 30% started in a garage or on the patio. More than $15 million in property damage each year, plus the pain people experience due to burn injuries.
A different type of “burn”
Every day, people get burned – not deep-frying a turkey – but in relationships. They experience pain through some interaction in the workplace, even on their team.
People will be “burned” today when someone …
- Breaks trust showing no vulnerability even though they dropped the ball
- Ineffectively communicates, dismissing the real issues in favor of a personal agenda
- Fakes his or her commitment to the decision, with a nod, but with no intention to follow through
- Shirks personal responsibility for his or her work and accountability to the team
- Fails to focus on team results in favor of personal gain
Beyond such team-based burns, there’s the additional frustration blister raised by unfulfilled expectations.
When burned by someone, sparks fly and friction heats things up.
Another type of grease
Think about what happens when iron gears mesh together. Iron on iron creates friction. The friction between the cogs heats up and wears them down. In time, the powerful gears no longer work and progress is stopped … unless grease is applied.
Gears are a simple way to increase speed or power or to change direction. To keep gears from wearing down, grease must be applied.
Gratitude, the grease for team relationships
Like a gearbox, teams transfer power from one part to another. Friction and tension, the wear and tear of use eliminates the lubrication.
Of course, teams cannot avoid frustration, tension, stress or conflict – that’s life. Whether the friction comes from interacting with others or set backs in life things can heat up. This is where the grease of gratitude is applied.
Said another way, it’s hard to be at odds with and grateful for a teammate at the same time. Gratitude may not prevent the relationship “burn” caused by tension, stress, and conflict, but it can help bring healing.
When you experience friction, see what happens when you focus on the positive aspects and qualities of the other person or situation. Then, move forward with achieving the collective results of the team.
Simple precautions
So if you want to deep-fry a turkey, perhaps for Christmas, avoid a call to 911 by following these safety steps: 1) Place the fryer away from anything combustible. 2) Don’t overfill the fryer; leave room for the turkey. 3) Do not overheat the oil; 350 degrees is the limit. And 4) Completely thaw your turkey before immersing in hot oil.
Grease your relationships
Now, back to those “turkeys” you work with….
Squirt some gratitude grease in your relationship-gearbox. I know we just celebrated Thanksgiving in the USA, but the challenge remains, right?
- Where are you frustrated in life? Where does life not seem fair right now?
Take your journal and complete the following statement. List at least five things.
When it comes to (insert your situation) I’m grateful for ___________
- Who are you frustrated with? What person are you experiencing conflict, tension, or stress with…?
Write your answer to the following…
When I think of (person) I appreciate ______________
Applying the grease of gratitude and appreciation is soothing and liberating. Repeat daily or more often as required.
Here’s to your Next Level,
Steve
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