Back To Back Rehab
What seemed like a minor physical issue that would work itself out I now realize is going to require more systemic change if I am to consistently enjoy playing pain-free golf. So I am returning to “rehab mode” for the first time since I herniated my L5/S1 disc in the Fall of 2009.
Most of my golf this season has involved some sort of back discomfort - so much so that I have lost trust in my body. This has resulted in me moderating my normal exercise routine out of a sense of feeling fragile. The current working theory is that my back muscles have been overcompensating for weakness/immobility in my hip, glute, hamstring and psoas muscles. So the pain is manifesting in my lower back, but like any good EOS Implementer, I know that the back issue is more a symptom than the root cause of the pain.
It dawned on me this week that this is a classic case of “Hitting The Ceiling.” In EOS sessions, I regularly teach leadership teams about this concept. Every business hits performance plateaus from time to time. Growth sometimes exposes a new limiting factor. Other times the world changes, and the old way of doing things no longer works. Both businesses and human bodies are complex systems, and it’s critical to understand when a system has hit the ceiling.
In the organizational context, there are five fundamental leadership abilities that can help us to break through the ceiling. The first is to simplify. In business, processes accumulate and overlap, new people join the team - these things add complexity to the business. Occasionally you need to look at it all with fresh eyes and simplify what’s being done. In the case of my back, the simplest thing to do is to stop playing golf for a while, and devote daily time to performing a range of movements that should help make my body more functional.
The second leadership ability is to delegate. Sometimes as leaders we let too many tasks and responsibilities accumulate on our desks. Doling some out to others is a great way to free up our bandwidth. This allows us to deploy our unique abilities to their highest and best use - and gives our teammates more opportunities to learn and grow. With my malfunctioning body, delegation looks more like consultation. Clearly my own personal knowledge base has been lacking here - so I’m tapping into the knowledge of a trusted friend who owns a gym, and my chiropractor to help me draft some new movement rituals and properly implement them.
The third leadership ability is to predict. In business, the better we are at predicting revenue, or detecting a customer issue, the more proactive we can be to get out ahead of problems (or pounce on opportunities). With my body, I used to have near-certainty that if I performed my training ritual a certain number of times each week, my body would be able to do anything that I asked of it. Since this prediction has become far less reliable, it’s time to update the rituals to meet the moment.
The fourth leadership ability is to systemize. In business, you create systems and processes that your team honors as they produce products or services. This creates consistent outcomes, manages costs, ensures timely delivery, increases customer satisfaction, etc. As it relates to this latest physical challenge, once I determine the new mobility rituals that return me to full function, I will have to systematically honor them - setting time aside on my calendar and doing them consistently.
The fifth and final leadership ability is to refine structure. In the business context, this means to regularly review your Accountability Chart, to ensure that it still reflects your current reality - and to look for ways it could be revised to enhance how your team does its work. Currently my “back recovery team” is made up of three people: me, my trainer and my chiropractor. Hopefully I don’t need to get more people involved. My ultimate goal is to be robust and pain-free without anyone else explicitly involved in problem-solving mode.
This challenge has prompted me to set a personal goal: I want to play two rounds of golf in one day next year, walking both rounds. Distance-wise, this is akin to running a half marathon. I am optimistic that this is within reach.
Sunday Supper
Kale Salad w/ Apples & Cheddar
Cucumber Salad w/ Lime Peanut Dressing
Grilled Branzini w/ Fennel, Lemon & Shallot
Sunday Music
Charlie Puth at the NPR Tiny Desk
Japanese Rare Groove, Jazz, Funk, City Pop DJ Mix
Goose covers Bob Seger’s Hollywood Nights
Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them.
Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,