T's FIFO Blog #4
With another "swing" under my belt...
And NO...
To all you highly sexually charged peeps out there...
The swing I am referring to is by no means as exciting as the one you are thinking of.
Trust me.
A swing is another "stint" onsite...
another 21 days on, 7 days off.
This time has allowed me to see how many life lessons can be applied to FIFO work.
The hours of wasted time travelling,
The hours spent with no connectivity to the outside world...
And the hours on hours on hours of dirt, dust and big tonka trucks makes you think.
Alot.
Sometimes I may just be staring into nowhere...
Thinking of nothing...
However...
I digress.
Good old Doc JK.
And NO...
To all those thinking I am referencing a true legend - JK of Jamiroquai fame...
I am actually referring to John Kotter - the apparent GURU of all things leadership and life changing. He has researched, studied and analysed things far more than I ever could, has even been the author of a dozen or so best sellers... so the story goes.
I am aware of his 8 step plan...
And NO...
To all those thinking I should be referring to the 12 step AA plan...
That is a whole different blog...
I am referring to his 8 steps to "Change"
If you applied these to FIFO (fly in fly out - for those who haven't quite caught onto that as yet) this is how it works...
Kotter's Step 1 to Change Management:
Establish a sense of Urgency
FIFO translation:
This generally occurs the night before you are due to fly back to site, when your mind is simply consumed of possible ideas that MUST occur IMMEDIATELY to delay or cancel the flight back to site.
Cloud is OK...
Violet storms, floods, hurricanes are better...
The full collapse of Australia's domestic airlines would be the best outcome, and your mind knows this! So in-between a few vino's or possibly G&T's... you start to plot the demise of Richard Branson.
Kotter's Step 2 to Change Management:
Create Group Empowerment
FIFO translation:
Once back onsite days 1-3 are spent getting back into the swing of things with your Team. Generally a fun few days paying out on one another as it has been a full week since you have been able to do that.
However, those that have remained onsite (ie: on a different roster/swing) are generally FAR superior in this.
They have built up tension, anger and emotions.
They are switched on and highly strung.
Retaliation lines are down right gutter level and comebacks lines are laying in the dirt and dust you have been away from.
Rookie error often repeated...
swing after swing,
as you have only been mixing with mainstream society and not mine site com padre's.
Stevie does give them a good run for their money...
mental note... I must start listening to father again.
Kotter's Step 3 to Change Management:
Developing a Vision
FIFO translation:
Day 4 in...
Only 17 days to go.
That's as complex as your visions gets... or needs to be.
Kotter's Step 4 to Change Management:
Communicating the Vision
FIFO translation:
This takes place about a week or a week and half into your swing.
This is when all those smart arse com padre's that pretty much smashed your one liners out of the ball park earlier on, are due to fly out.
Even whilst waiting for the bus at 5:50am in the mornings...
You can tell who is due to fly out.
That slight glint in the half open eyes.
Timely sips of the coffee cup as opposed to guzzling chugs that literally eat away the side of the styrofoam cup, gulp by gulp the cup disintegrating.
And the carefree stride that makes you feel like tripping them over as they step off the bus.
Kotter's Step 5 to Change Management:
Removing obstacles and structures
FIFO translation:
This is your RDO (rostered day off)
This ensures you do not attempt manslaughter on any co workers, the camp kitchen staff or the steroid induced magpies around camp.
This day of non-structured activity is heaven sent.
Whether it be spent trying to get internet connection (which can take all day) or at the local having a counter lunch...it doesn't matter.
It is a step that should never EVER EVER be missed if the world wishes to keep churning out coal (gas, gold, cheese if that tickles your fancy).
Kotter's Step 6 to Change Management:
Generate Short Term Wins
FIFO translation:
These are small token milestones that get you through the remaining 7-10 days.
Like...
Wondering if camp has finally cooked a lasagna.
Which has NEVER occurred.
But a lasagna that you could smell from the 1.2km away (which is where my room is - yes - it's that far) which hasn't been frozen for a week whilst it's been delivered to camp.
Or they have decided to serve you a lovely red wine with your roast and steamed (yet still crunchy - really people - it's not that hard - just steam them for 2min longer god damn it!)
Not a wine that can be drunk in the building NEXT to where you eat your roast...
But actually in a big red wine glass that needs two hands to hold...
At the same table,...
At the same time you eat your roast.
Or they have decided to make site hours 9am - 5pm meaning you don't need to set your alarm until 8am for the remainder of your swing.
Or the gym tomorrow morning will be packed with Hugh Jackman look a likes...
Some may be in suits, whilst others may be in work out gear...
Either way...
It's a win..
Hugh is hot!
Or the gym water fountain actually spurts out Cadbury favourites.
So you can pocket a bit size picnic, caramello and turkish delight before completing your morning workout!
Kotter's Step 7 to Change Management:
Never Let Up
FIFO translation:
Occurs between Day 15-18 and is when you finally have enough angst, delirium and bad hair days behind you that you finally knock Mr I know Everything off his pedestal.
That may only be a for a second of two...
But you know your one liner has just quietly made him stop in his tracks,
Just for split second.
But that second has an impact of many many hours.
That silent second where he is not bellowing across the site office about somebodies mother...
or his love of homo's is as serene as the morning sunrises onsite.
Truly special.
Kotter's Step 8 to Change Management:
Incorporating the Changes
FIFO translation:
Dealing with the very ordinary flight itineraries that generally take you longer to get home than it would if you walked to Hertz rent-a-car and hired a Getz and took the scenic route home.
But by Step 8 you know you've succeeded...
cause you've just made it through another swing and you're headed home.
And NO...
To all you highly sexually charged peeps out there...
The swing I am referring to is by no means as exciting as the one you are thinking of.
Trust me.
A swing is another "stint" onsite...
another 21 days on, 7 days off.
This time has allowed me to see how many life lessons can be applied to FIFO work.
The hours of wasted time travelling,
The hours spent with no connectivity to the outside world...
And the hours on hours on hours of dirt, dust and big tonka trucks makes you think.
Alot.
Sometimes I may just be staring into nowhere...
Thinking of nothing...
However...
I digress.
Good old Doc JK.
And NO...
To all those thinking I am referencing a true legend - JK of Jamiroquai fame...
I am actually referring to John Kotter - the apparent GURU of all things leadership and life changing. He has researched, studied and analysed things far more than I ever could, has even been the author of a dozen or so best sellers... so the story goes.
I am aware of his 8 step plan...
And NO...
To all those thinking I should be referring to the 12 step AA plan...
That is a whole different blog...
I am referring to his 8 steps to "Change"
If you applied these to FIFO (fly in fly out - for those who haven't quite caught onto that as yet) this is how it works...
Kotter's Step 1 to Change Management:
Establish a sense of Urgency
FIFO translation:
This generally occurs the night before you are due to fly back to site, when your mind is simply consumed of possible ideas that MUST occur IMMEDIATELY to delay or cancel the flight back to site.
Cloud is OK...
Violet storms, floods, hurricanes are better...
The full collapse of Australia's domestic airlines would be the best outcome, and your mind knows this! So in-between a few vino's or possibly G&T's... you start to plot the demise of Richard Branson.
Kotter's Step 2 to Change Management:
Create Group Empowerment
FIFO translation:
Once back onsite days 1-3 are spent getting back into the swing of things with your Team. Generally a fun few days paying out on one another as it has been a full week since you have been able to do that.
However, those that have remained onsite (ie: on a different roster/swing) are generally FAR superior in this.
They have built up tension, anger and emotions.
They are switched on and highly strung.
Retaliation lines are down right gutter level and comebacks lines are laying in the dirt and dust you have been away from.
Rookie error often repeated...
swing after swing,
as you have only been mixing with mainstream society and not mine site com padre's.
Stevie does give them a good run for their money...
mental note... I must start listening to father again.
Kotter's Step 3 to Change Management:
Developing a Vision
FIFO translation:
Day 4 in...
Only 17 days to go.
That's as complex as your visions gets... or needs to be.
Kotter's Step 4 to Change Management:
Communicating the Vision
FIFO translation:
This takes place about a week or a week and half into your swing.
This is when all those smart arse com padre's that pretty much smashed your one liners out of the ball park earlier on, are due to fly out.
Even whilst waiting for the bus at 5:50am in the mornings...
You can tell who is due to fly out.
That slight glint in the half open eyes.
Timely sips of the coffee cup as opposed to guzzling chugs that literally eat away the side of the styrofoam cup, gulp by gulp the cup disintegrating.
And the carefree stride that makes you feel like tripping them over as they step off the bus.
Kotter's Step 5 to Change Management:
Removing obstacles and structures
FIFO translation:
This is your RDO (rostered day off)
This ensures you do not attempt manslaughter on any co workers, the camp kitchen staff or the steroid induced magpies around camp.
This day of non-structured activity is heaven sent.
Whether it be spent trying to get internet connection (which can take all day) or at the local having a counter lunch...it doesn't matter.
It is a step that should never EVER EVER be missed if the world wishes to keep churning out coal (gas, gold, cheese if that tickles your fancy).
Kotter's Step 6 to Change Management:
Generate Short Term Wins
FIFO translation:
These are small token milestones that get you through the remaining 7-10 days.
Like...
Wondering if camp has finally cooked a lasagna.
Which has NEVER occurred.
But a lasagna that you could smell from the 1.2km away (which is where my room is - yes - it's that far) which hasn't been frozen for a week whilst it's been delivered to camp.
Or they have decided to serve you a lovely red wine with your roast and steamed (yet still crunchy - really people - it's not that hard - just steam them for 2min longer god damn it!)
Not a wine that can be drunk in the building NEXT to where you eat your roast...
But actually in a big red wine glass that needs two hands to hold...
At the same table,...
At the same time you eat your roast.
Or they have decided to make site hours 9am - 5pm meaning you don't need to set your alarm until 8am for the remainder of your swing.
Or the gym tomorrow morning will be packed with Hugh Jackman look a likes...
Some may be in suits, whilst others may be in work out gear...
Either way...
It's a win..
Hugh is hot!
Or the gym water fountain actually spurts out Cadbury favourites.
So you can pocket a bit size picnic, caramello and turkish delight before completing your morning workout!
Kotter's Step 7 to Change Management:
Never Let Up
FIFO translation:
Occurs between Day 15-18 and is when you finally have enough angst, delirium and bad hair days behind you that you finally knock Mr I know Everything off his pedestal.
That may only be a for a second of two...
But you know your one liner has just quietly made him stop in his tracks,
Just for split second.
But that second has an impact of many many hours.
That silent second where he is not bellowing across the site office about somebodies mother...
or his love of homo's is as serene as the morning sunrises onsite.
Truly special.
Kotter's Step 8 to Change Management:
Incorporating the Changes
FIFO translation:
Dealing with the very ordinary flight itineraries that generally take you longer to get home than it would if you walked to Hertz rent-a-car and hired a Getz and took the scenic route home.
But by Step 8 you know you've succeeded...
cause you've just made it through another swing and you're headed home.
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