Exercising ‘Rotated Neglect’

11/22/2023

Exercising ‘Rotated Neglect’

You have multiple roles and goals, and you can do it all - just not all at once.
Denise Morrison, Business Executive

In 1978, soon-to-be Exchange Press co-founders Bonnie and Roger Neugebauer sent out a flyer that asked:

“What has 14 hands? Two for slashing budgets, two for writing proposals, two for making fluffernutters, two for repairing Big Wheels, two for changing diapers, and four for fending off bureaucrats.”

If you are a director of a preschool or child care program, you likely know the answer is you! Knowing you face a never-ending array of competing demands, Iris Chin Ponte and Debbie LeeKeenan share six ‘survival’ principles for directors in their book, From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program:

Manage your time . . . and appreciate its returns

Learn to let go

Exercise ‘rotated neglect’

Make time for self-care

Be a life-long learner

Network

Be an intentional decision maker

Exercising ‘rotated neglect’ is the one that caught my eye. Chin Ponte and LeeKeenan explain:

“It is your responsibility to keep all the aspects of your job in focus while recognizing that you can’t do everything at once. As a director, Debbie frequently found it helpful to practice rotated neglect—putting some tasks on the back burner while dedicating time and attention to others, making sure to switch these out occasionally. As long as the same project is not being repeatedly neglected each day, each week, each month, you can find some balance and get things accomplished. Set small, short-term goals within the scope of larger, long-term undertakings. Identify what can be done today and what will be done another day.”

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