The word “let” has been on my mind since hearing it last week in 6:00 a.m. yoga class. Our instructor said: “let it feel good.” What struck me next was a self-reflective series of questions. Do I let things happen or do I contribute to things happening? Do I let things feel good or create hesitation about things feeling good, being unbelievable? Do I let life unfold or do I work hard to control, guide, govern, guard, and create?
A balance of letting and working hard seems reasonable. Without a mindset for letting things happen, surprises don’t arrive; synchronicity goes unrecognized; and innovation may not occur. While letting things unfold or happen without my direct involvement, new clients have arrived, human networks have grown, and life-long friends have been made.
Consider how workplaces are evolving on the “let” front. Six months ago, many companies did not let employees work from home. Now, many employees are still required to work from home. In the future, a balance of working in offices and being let or allowed to work one or more days from home will likely be normal business.
Because I am a word-oriented person, I’ll provide definition. LET is a verb with several meanings: allow (do not prevent or forbid); it can be used in a command to create various expressions (Let me go! Let it go!).
What an organization allows may or may not cover all eventualities. What a company prevents or forbids may not be all inclusive. Why? Because on any given day it is impossible to imagine what tomorrow might bring. It is impossible to envision what a happy customer might do. It is impossible to predict what an upset employee or spouse/partner/friend of an employee might do.
Take time to review what your company lets you and your team do; what it expects you to do; and what it forbids you from doing. Ensure clarity for yourself and your team members. Lacking clarity decisions can be made that result in being fired or people being injured. Pursue clarity rather than “letting the chips fall where they may.”
In England, “let” exists as a noun, meaning a timeframe in which a room is rented. For example, “I’ve taken a six month let on the flat (apartment).”
The same word can mean different things. Use words that a defined as providing the meaning you intend. Choose words that others will understand. Ask for clarification when a meaning is not clear.
What can you LET this week?
What does your company current LET? How can the act of letting be better implemented?
Workplace: Managing the moments of our day-to-day business lives takes work. Together, let’s explore what issues and activities affect us every day (or some days) that we go to work. – Jana