#davesdailychallenge (34): Setting Matters Part 1. In a multiple part series I want to begin the discussion of setting. Part 1 of this series strictly focuses on the individual’s or team’s workspace. I’ll loosely define setting, for the purposes of this discussion, as the physical or digital space which you occupy. In business, too often we cram people in to gray-walled cubicles and expect them to consistently be at their best. A rare few organizations have discovered that the financial investment to create the appropriate setting for peak human performance has a substantial ROI. This is not only more true than ever, it is consistently growing in importance as two very important things occur. First, the younger generation of professionals, generally labeled “millennials”, have different expectations of work environments. Second, and intimately related to the first, is whether we want it to or not, the line between our personal and professional lives is growing ever blurred. With the near complete adoption of modern technology into our lives we are reachable at all times. We are “always on” and many of us find it very difficult, especially in American culture, to unplug from the intensity of modern life. If you have a setting where your team members can not stay connected with their personal lives throughout the day you will find a growing dissatisfaction within your workplace. Some organizations seek to provide the best possible engagement for their people in order to set them up for success. Setting is a very powerful tool in that pursuit. This applies to the startup, the government agency, the Silicon Valley tech firm, and the sports franchise equally. Setting plays a huge role in our happiness and happy people produce.