At some point, we have all come under the power of the “boom.” It could happen late at night during an infomercial, or it could happen during a sporting event. It even happens during popular cooking shows. Boom! A pause. An emphasis. You attention is grasped. A statement or declaration is made, and the world moves on. What if we harnessed the power of “boom” in areas outside of entertainment and communication, and used the “boom” to Make Work Better? Here’s how:
Oh, boom. See what I did there?
Harness the Power
Skill in using the boom is a powerful tool. Sometimes, the boom is so powerful that you do not even recognize its pending release until it already happens. You slack off at your work for years and boom, you are laid off or you are replaced by advancing technology. On the other side, the boom can interrupt an otherwise ordinary statement or routine with a force that is desired and dramatic. This powerful tool can be used to break up ordinary (or bad) work habits and the routine of mediocrity that often makes work so miserable for so many people.
For example, say you have this bad habit of showing up to work a few minutes late and your boss is such a loser that he does not even notice. You fall into the habit of basically showing up whenever you please because you are basically not being held accountable for anything. Obviously, the whole situation is bad. Although it is hard to break the habit and feeling that nobody cares, you come to realize that you need to change. Boom. A revelation. Then action. And you hold yourself accountable and show up to work, and work diligently even though nobody seems to notice (sidebar: someone always notices).
The boom has more than just the power to break bad routines, of course. Maybe there is a barrier standing between you and your goal (fear?). Boom. Its gone, and you can move forward towards success. Maybe you are lacking in a skill. Boom. You apply yourself and obtain mastery of a skill that makes you even more valuable than before.
The key to harnessing the power of the boom? Understanding where it can — and needs to — be applied.
Add More Boom
If you are struggling to Make Work Better, I hope you take the opportunity to add more boom to your work. Why? It causes you to stop. To reflect on what happened (or what is happening) and take notice — followed by action. I challenge you to stop reading this, stand where you are and declare it. Boom. I can. Boom. I will. And then, make work better.
Then let the rest of us know how it went. Boom. Your turn.
