This concept came to me once early on in my career when I was reflecting on how much I enjoyed my job and why that was the case. I was at a point where I felt so fortunate being on a team within a division and within a company whereby I truly loved Mondays. Yup. You read that correctly.
I actually would wake up on Monday and be happy about going into work. The people I worked with on my team, the person I reported directly to, those above them and the overall culture of the company truly made me feel so fortunate to be a part of all of it. What was more amazing to me was that on Sundays when the typical Sunday Blues could set in, the “ookies” as I liked to call them, I was free from those feelings. I fully enjoyed my Sundays - and more so - my SUNDAY NIGHTS - in a way that I was fully present and engaged and usually quite happy with those around me AND with myself! Why? Because I knew that on Monday - every Monday - I was walking into a company where my boss and those around me respected me and appreciated who I was at my core. I didn’t have to play a false role or be someone untrue to myself to fit in. I was a welcomed member of their Team. As a result of feeling appreciated I was so motivated to come and bring my best self to work. Therefore on Sunday I was freed up from anxiety and stress such that my mind could relax and think about things that mattered to me. Oftentimes that thinking would naturally be focused on my wife and family and friends. The things most important to me. Things I always wanted to be present for and that was so fulfilling. At other times though, and this is where Viacom benefited from this, my relaxed mind would tap into some mental energy and be thinking of items at work. In a good way. My thoughts would stretch towards items that I needed to solve for - maybe it was solutions we were building for clients or for our employees or overall simply new innovative ways of doing things that would make us more productive. My proven thesis: When I was experiencing a good Sunday Night Factor I was a better father, husband, friend, sibling and son. And for Viacom, when my Sunday Night Factor was healthy, then I was a better leader, thinker, executer and partner. In general - for me it became incredibly clear - a good/great Sunday Night Factor contributes to fueling a better LIFE!
The Sunday Night Factor = The measurement of how effective you are as a leader as evidenced in how those you lead feel about themselves on Sunday night.
As I moved up the ranks in management providing the culture that could provide a GREAT Sunday Night Factor for all of those under my leadership became my mission and measuring stick. Now we all know the reality is work can be very stressful, challenging and at times, overwhelming. Even with a great manager, team and culture there are moments when the anxiety can be all-consuming. I wasn’t naive to this nor did I think that I could provide every employee under my watch with a story-book existence that would allow them to always be perfectly at ease on a Sunday or bubbling and joyful each and every Monday. No. That wasn’t a realistic goal. But what I did demand from myself was to continue to strive to shape our division and culture in a way that people knew what I stood for and that could be summed up this way: Your greatest boss should be the one you see each morning in the mirror. If you’re a person of true character then what you see each day in that mirror is the only person you need to please and live up to. If you are geared that way then bring your complete and full self to work and I’ll provide you with a positive Sunday Night Factor.