Spencer Johnson, M.D; has come out with another gem of a book called Peaks and Valleys (Atria Books, 2009). Just as his bestselling Who Moved My Cheese, this time too he uses story telling as the preferred method to get the message across.
In a nutshell, he talks about how one needs to look at the Peaks (good times) and the Valleys (bad times)as a natural order of being human. More importantly, how one manages the good times will determine how long he/she will have to endure the bad times; which will inevitably come. And of course, just like the natural peaks, valleys and plateaus that we find on our physical landscape, there are also Plateaus in our lives, which may not be that bad after all as these plateaus can be used as a time for rest and reflection.
The book centres around a young man who sets off on the proverbial journey to the mountain top (the Peak) to finds answers to life's most intriguing questions. In this case, the question was 'Why was he feeling so down and out in the Valley?' Having reached the Peak, he meets an old man who himself being a very successful business man and having had experienced some pretty dark moments in his life, who seems to have a whole new perspective on Peaks and Valleys and how to navigate both. In their subsequent conversation (in very Aristotelian question & answer type), the young man discovers some truths about how he should change the way he views his ups and downs. He then returns to the Valley and goes back to his work life full off new found confidence and energy. Soon, he makes some good progress at work and in his personal life but along the way, he unwittingly alienates his friends, family and his lady friend due to his over-confidence which bordered on arrogance. In no time, the bad times (Valley) arrived for him at work and in his personal life. After spending some time at the Plateau which gave him some rest, he embarks on his second journey up the to the Peak in the hope of meeting the old man to find answers to why his Peak didn't last long enough and where he went wrong.This time he discovers the secrets to managing the good times in preparation for the bad times. He soon realizes that 'fear' has played an important albeit subversive role in his Peaks and Valleys.
And one of the best phrases I learned from this book is 'truth bumps'...what we commonly refer as 'goose bumps'. We have goose bumps when we are in the presence of great and moving 'truths' or 'truly' beautiful moments or when we are ourselves 'truly' in the present.
Yes! Simple truths...as all truths are!
Now, what can people leaders/managers learn from this? Are you currently downsizing? Planning to? Just downsized and those who survived it have gone to the plateau (not to rest but to switch off!)? Everybody (including your self) feeling uncertain about the future of your career and company? Some of your people working hard while others hardly working? Maybe this is indeed a good time to stop and reflect.
Why are you feeling down and out? Is it because the way you had to ask some of your employees to go? Maybe the whole process of downsizing was not done in accordance to your company values which proudly says "Our people are our greatest asset..." or "We care..." or something lofty like that? Maybe...just maybe...you did not do enough to lessen the pain of those separating. Things that were entirely in your power and not linked to your internal systems and processes. Or maybe, for the last 6 months or so, everything said and done or left unsaid and undone within your organization were on the opposite end of what the organization has made the employees believe all these years of Peak time. Or, could it be that you and your fellow managers have all been very well trained to manage the Peak times but not the Valley times?
Are you one of those affected by the downsizing? Are you feeling despondent and victimized? Do you find your self hearing from others that there are plenty of opportunities out there yet you can't see any? Feeling that the bad times seem to bring nothing but devastation?
You might want to get hold of Spencer Johnson's latest to get some valuable insights. It is a easy flowing reading. I read it in one sitting this morning over some coffee at the Starbucks.
Cheers.
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