Add Ten Items to your To-Do List. . .and Save Time

It may seem incongruent to suggest that by adding things to your to-do list that you can actually save time.    Learning from my own personal experience, if one adds theses things to the accomplishment list, you will, in fact, save time, save energy and will be more successful.

#1.  I will thank someone on my team.    The work the team dedicates to the job should not be taken for granted;   neither should it be assumed that they believe their compensation is an ample example of gratitude.    Thanking someone for a job well done is accelerant for the continued accomplishment of good work.

#2.  I will thank someone outside of my team.   Be it a vendor, a peer or even a supervisor - the above principles apply.

#3.  I will find an item on my list that is very low priority and/or no longer matters and cross it off.   The wonderful thing about this is now you get to cross two things off your list.  Instant time savings!

#4.  I will actively reach out and establish an additional professional relationship.   Pays off big time. . .double pay-off if the individual you connect with is someone you really would rather not converse with.   You're making bridges and crossing them.

#5.  I will simply listen intently to at least one individual.   Sometimes we get so busy disseminating information and giving instructions that we forget to get intel - which is the very act of listening.  

#6.  For at least one of my e-mails, in lieu of sending it, I will get up from my desk and go have a conversation.  E-mails are great for disseminating information, not so good at forming relationships.  Go have a face to face and save some time.

#7.  I will go for a walk at lunch.  Go to Starbucks.  Head to the lobby.   Take a short swing through a store or a museum.   Clear your head.  You will be more efficient afterward.

#8.  I will find one report and/or meeting (bonus for both) and eliminate it.    What was once relevant is not always relevant.   Clean house - eliminate that which you do not need.

#9 and #10.    Repeat #1 and #2. 

Like it?   Share it!

My book, Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders, is available for e-readers, tablets and PCs from Amazon Kindle for 2.99.   Put it on your list, buy it and save even more time!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095KPA6A/ref=r_soa_w_d

Bouncing Back from Criticism

Criticism can be a soul-crashing experience.

Gaby Diaz didn't let that happen.

Gaby, a tap dancer from Miami, auditioned for the current season of "So You Think You Can Dance.". She danced her heart out, only to be told by the judges that they weren't a fan of her performance, which I believe they labeled "machine gun tapping."

The vast majority of contestants would call that the end of the story.   Not Gaby.    She took the criticism to heart, choreographed a new solo and traveled several states to audition. . .again.

This time the judges loved it!   She took the best part of the criticism and combined it with incomparable spirit and not only made it to the next round, but made it to the top 20 and is currently one of the top 8.

Because there isn't a need to belabor a great performance, I'll cut this short and encourage you to watch the clip below.  Please look for two things.   Listen to how Gaby describes the judges criticism (matter of factly) and how encouraging the once critical judges become (note the power in encouragement).

Enjoy.  And dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5B25OqFYIc

My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for purchase on Amazon Kindle.

Challenging Those Things that Make Us "Good" People

At our core, most of us are satisfied with ourselves.   We are successful in our careers and personal lives.   Along with that satisfaction often comes the assumption, over time, that every element that comprises our professional and personal lives is probably integral to our success.  For instance:

• "Part of the reason I'm successful is that I start every morning with a three mile run."
• "I make it a rule to never to leave work until I have everything on my list accomplished."
• "I never answer e-mails until 4 p.m."
• "I don't talk to friends while at work."

It is absolutely true that there are tactics that make us successful;  it is equally true that not everything that we do contributes to our success.   So, every once in awhile, it's a good idea to step back and challenge the assumptions about our elements of success.    That, my friends, can be a frightening thing to do - because we are challenging the very composition of what we believe permits us to exist happily and successfully.

Nonetheless, to be really good, we need to step back and assess.    What if we run two miles and did yoga?   What if we stretched ourselves to four miles?    What if we changed up the way we created our to-do list.    What if we answered e-mails three times a day in shorter time blocks?

Understand that none of this is prescriptive - it is suggestive:  we should examine the components of our lives, decide to shake it up and try for something better.

Think of it as a test. . .if it doesn't work, you can always go back to the tried and true - but if a new idea creates something better, then you've been courageous. . .and you'll be happier.

Like it?  Share it!

My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for 2.99 on Amazon Kindle.

How to Turn Dread Into a Good Thing

Dreading the meeting that I had scheduled; but the meeting had to happen.   There was too much bad history, too much crap mucking it up - would have much preferred to stay at home in bed with the covers snugly pulled up to my eyes.

Then, for some reason (miracles must happen), I changed my mind about the meeting.   I decided that maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.      There could be merit in the other views presented.  I might be able to mend a fence vs trying to fend off an attack.  I changed my approach to the meeting from negative to positive with an eye to the idea that the meeting could actually be beneficial.

Guess what?  It was.

Most of us, when facing an undesirable situation, desperately want the other parties involved to change. . .or go away. . .or die!  Truth is, the best way we can get others to change; is to change ourselves.

Why does that work?   Because we have changed the dynamic.    People are going to react to us differently when we change up the way we react to them.   If we anticipate they are going to be miserable human beings - they most certainly will fulfill that expectation.    If, however, we set the stage for a strong, positive interaction. . .seldom will we be disappointed.

The good news/bad news is that we have to swallow some pride to change.   By changing to a more positive outlook, however, we are taking the higher road  Minimally that means that we have put our best foot forward to "make it work."   Maximally it means a better use of our time, an enhancement to our reputation and most important, a positive use of our energy.

Like it?   Share it!

My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for 2.99 on Amazon Kindle.