Most of us have heard of interval training – especially at this time of year when gyms are filled with people who seek to lose the extra pounds amassed during the Christmas season. Wikipedia defines interval training as repetitions of high-speed/intensity work followed by periods of rest or low activity. Interval training is not just for people who wish to get fit or lose weight – but also for organizations who wish to progress or eliminate inefficiencies.
Oftentimes organizations intuitively adopt interval training approaches to development. It is as though people need to catch their breath between “high intensity” periods of change in order to whet desired results. The period of rest or low activity most often occurs between getting on the plank and taking the plunge; or more specifically, between the development work and the implementation.
An interesting true story was shared recently demonstrating that continuous long term high intensity change can be quite counterproductive. A Senior Official of a prison department made a public commitment to move inmates to a new prison on a specific date. Although the construction was not completed he stood by his promise and relocated the inmates to their new abode. Unfortunately, the Correctional Officers could not tell the difference between the hammering of construction and the hammering of inmates pounding a hole. Guess what happened next….
Photo: Taking the Plunge - Scuba Diving in Cancun 2007
Oftentimes organizations intuitively adopt interval training approaches to development. It is as though people need to catch their breath between “high intensity” periods of change in order to whet desired results. The period of rest or low activity most often occurs between getting on the plank and taking the plunge; or more specifically, between the development work and the implementation.
An interesting true story was shared recently demonstrating that continuous long term high intensity change can be quite counterproductive. A Senior Official of a prison department made a public commitment to move inmates to a new prison on a specific date. Although the construction was not completed he stood by his promise and relocated the inmates to their new abode. Unfortunately, the Correctional Officers could not tell the difference between the hammering of construction and the hammering of inmates pounding a hole. Guess what happened next….
Photo: Taking the Plunge - Scuba Diving in Cancun 2007
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