Sleeping Leadership
If you’re not familiar with the Google culture, one of the things they offer to employees is the opportunity to take “power naps.” There have been some studies that indicate taking a daytime nap can recharge the brain and be very productive for learning.
I’m not sure how many businesses besides Google are going to embrace this concept. I mean, for Pete’s sake, if we can’t get companies to loosen up the dress code, power naps seems pretty far-fetched.
But it does raise some questions about sleep. And the importance of sleep for our well-being.
We currently spend a lot of time talking about our time management, stress management, diet and exercise. What about our sleeping habits? Certainly sleep 
The Huffington Post recently reviewed a book by Tony Schwartz called “The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working“. The premise of the book? The most important factor in our productivity is our ability to renew our personal energy. In this fast-paced, always-on world we operate in, we have to find time to recharge.
The way we recharge? Sleep.
I haven’t read Tony’s book; it sounds very intriguing. I think sleep is a very personal thing. We all have different requirements. But the conversation about sleep made me realize I need to understand my sleep requirements just like my diet, exercise and work preferences.
- How much sleep do I need to be productive?
- What kind of sleep environment works best for me (i.e. pillows, room temperature, etc.)?
- What happens if I don’t get enough sleep or proper rest?
It’s naïve to think that we can live without sleep or just sleep anywhere and still be productive. We might be able to do that for a day or two. Then the impact of not getting proper rest will catch up with us.
Part of being a good manager and leader is knowing ourselves. Assessing how sleep impacts our personal energy and our working relationships should be a part of that equation.
Image courtesy of dphiffer
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