Living to Lead

by Dave Ferguson

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Boost Your Days with These 10 Tips

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We all need a productivity boost now and then. We each want to be productive for very personal reasons – to accomplish more, to make more money, to get done earlier, to make more time for our personal lives, to accomplish our goals. Try these five tips, and I’ll give you five more next week.

#10: Take care of your most important things first. Your most important things for the day – the things you most need to accomplish that day – should take priority over everything else. However, we all know that fires come up throughout the day, interruptions through phone calls, email, and people dropping by, new demands that will push the best-laid plans aside. If you put off the most important things until later in the day, you will end up not doing them much of the time.

# 9: Wake up early. Decide what you’d like to accomplish each morning, and build your morning routine around that. Like to exercise? Put that in there. Healthy breakfast? Go for it. Check email? Fine. The mornings are a fresh start, peaceful and free of ringing phones and constant email notifications.  Get the tough stuff done early, and the rest of the day will be a piece of cake!

# 8: Reading what’s important. Think about all the information you receive (email, blogs, newsletters, mailing lists, magazines, newspapers and more) and edit through it. You can drastically reduce the time you spend reading by doing this. Remove yourself from anything that isn’t adding value. Now, after this process, you should be left with less to read.  I hope you find my blog of value.  Editing and cranking through the information you receive can free up a lot of time for more important things — like achieving your goals.

# 7: De-clutter your workspace; work on one thing at a time. The reason for de-cluttering your work space is simply to remove all extra distractions on your desk and on your computer. If you have a clean, simplified workspace, you can better focus on the task at hand. Now, with distractions minimized, focus on the task at hand. Don’t check email, don’t work on five projects at once, don’t check the stats on your blog, and don’t check your phone every five minutes. Work on that one task, and work on it with concentrated focus until you are done. Then celebrate your achievement!

# 6: Get to work early. Need I say any more?

Time for YOUR Check-Up

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If you care about your health, most likely you see your physician for a check-up at least once per year. As your coach (well, at least through my writings), I’d like to complete a goal check-up with you today. If you are like most leaders, you set some sort of goals for your business and team, either late last year or in January of this year. Unfortunately, if you are like most, you also haven’t paid attention to those goals much. Stuff gets in the way, you struggle with priority blocking, etc. I don’t write this to insult you or to make you feel bad. I write this because I care about you as a leader and the health of the business you lead. I also know that sometimes “stuff” gets in the way of progress.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Did you set too many and too lofty of goals? Yes, it’s possible to set too lofty and too many goals for yourself! Some goals can take months and even years to achieve. If you have too many of these, you will probably stretch yourself too thin. Ideally, you should only have a few big lofty goals at one time. You need to ensure you have the time and energy to work on them, so don’t overdo it. A good suggestion is a few killer goals and a half-dozen small goals.

2. Did you write the goals down?  I am amazed at the number of people I ask to show me their goals, and they can’t produce anything. Usually, they tell me the goals are in their head and that they don’t need to write them down. I usually answer with some statistics that show it’s much more effective to write your goals down. Folks, write them down…on paper, in your journal, on a white board, or on your bathroom mirror….just get them down somewhere other than in your head.

3. Did you personalize your goals?  Why do you want to accomplish the goal? How will you feel when you achieve the goal? What will it mean for you and the team you lead to achieve the goal? If you don’t have clear answers to these questions, chances are you don’t want to achieve the goal badly enough. You won’t be able to sustain the drive to achieve the goal. You need to be clear about the significance of your goals…crystal clear!

4. Are you looking at your goals every day?  We humans can be forgetful, can’t we? If you don’t physically write down and keep your goals in a place you can see them everyday, chances are you’ll forget about them. “Out of sight, out of mind.” I give my clients a neat little planner they can carry in their pocket or purse. They can carry them with them wherever they go.

5. Are you adjusting your goals when necessary?  Things change, people get off track, and sometimes people set goals way above their abilities. If you are checking in on your goals often enough, you can adjust and change them where necessary. It also gives you a chance to review your effort and plan. Are you really attacking the goals like you planned?

6. Are you keeping the goals to yourself? If so, why?  Are you scared to share your goals out of fear, failure and humiliation? How many times did Thomas Edison fail before he got the light bulb working? Once you have written down your goals, I highly recommend you publicize them. Yes, announce them to everyone you know; family, friends, enemies, co-workers, etc. It may make you feel a bit uncomfortable, but you know what I say about that. “To change you have to get uncomfortable”.

7. Are you using a support network?  While they are your goals, you don’t have to be out there on an island. This is where a good coach can really assist you. Accountability and follow-up is imperative in the goal process.

If you have gotten off-track or fallen into any of the pitfalls I mentioned, it’s up to you to put yourself in the position to make sure you still achieve your goals this year. Don’t fall victim to these seven common mistakes. If you’re reading this column, chances are you are not common.

Achieve More as a Leader

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Are you getting the results you had hoped to achieve? Are you hitting your goals? More importantly, is your team hitting its goals? Either you are moving forward along the right path or you have lost direction along the way. Even if you are hitting your goals, there is always another mountain to climb, right? I mean, you’re a successful leader, and you are looking to make other leaders successful, too, right? If you’re looking for more achievement on a consistent basis, I believe you can achieve just that with a few simple changes.

1. Set goals
Your mind is good at finding solutions. You can help yourself a lot by doing a good job of planning and prioritizing your objectives. The simplest way to do this is to write down your goals and include deadlines for each of them. Read them once a day, and discuss them with your team at least once a week.

2. Be organized
Yes, I’m going to talk about making lists and time-blocking. You need something to guide your day, right? I have found that I do much better by making and reviewing my lists at night. Before I go to bed each night, along with packing my clothes for the gym, and making sure my briefcase is packed, I make a list with all the things I want to accomplish the next day. I also keep a pad and pen on my nightstand, in case I get an idea during the night.

3. Maintain the Right Attitude
People who are happy and successful usually have a positive attitude. That’s what allows them to move forward with confidence. This is a state of mind, not an act. Minor issues or challenges don’t bother them because they have a belief system that things will work out well in the end. They also keep the big picture in mind, so minor challenges are just that…minor.

4. Peer-Up
It is no secret that you will often achieve about as much as the people with whom you spend the most time. If you want to be successful, spend time as frequently as you can with people who are more successful than you. Successful people look at many things differently than those who are less successful. Integrating some of these ideas into your own thinking will likely bring you more successes of your own. Secondly, you’ll be exposed to new opportunities. High-achieving people frequently have all kinds of projects going on. You never know when they might need a helping hand. You may also get to connect with their peer group, who are likely to be very successful as well.

5. Help Others
Offering your services and being helpful to others will attract like-minded people into your life. It shows that you are someone who cares and wants to be significant in the lives of others. Doors and opportunities will open for you, but your best reward is in knowing that you are capable of making a difference in the life of someone else.

6. Make time for fun
You should never find yourself so busy or so focused on your journey to success that you sacrifice those you love to it or for it! Make and schedule time to do the things you love to do, with those you love to be with.

These 6 simple ideas can bring you much success, if you choose to use them. You know, being successful is really no more challenging than being unsuccessful. Both require specific actions and attitudes applied consistently over a period of time.

Enjoy the ride!

 

Leading to Win

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In today’s crazy and often unpredictable economy, it’s easy for us as leaders to lose track of what is most important to our business. We too often get caught up in the day-to-day clutter and distractions (email, voicemail, cell phones, etc.) that must be re-directed, re-focused, and re-oriented continually. Our employees are no exception. As a leader, you need to share your focus and vision for your business with your employees. If you ignore this critical focus, the possibility of wasting energy, time, talent and resources on trivial matters will keep them from attaining the company’s vision and its mission-critical priorities.

You probably have heard it said that managers do things right and leaders do the right things. The first statement speaks to efficiency and the latter refers to effectiveness. It is easy to be busy but hard to work on the right things. You as a leader should focus on doing the right things – those things that matter most to the success of your department or organization. In short, to be effective, you must drive the focus of the organization. You must channel your time, talent, energy and resources into making an earnest effort to focus on the key priorities and goals of your organization.

Keep your focus by constantly asking yourself,
“What’s important now?”
(something I call WIN).

As you formulate goals, strategies, and action plans, I strongly suggest you focus your team’s attention and concentration on these six primary areas:

1. Satisfying your customers/clients. Your team should know clearly that you expect a culture whereby your team falls in love with its customers and their wants/needs. You are in business to attract, delight, and retain customers in a profitable manner…period.

2. Becoming outcome driven; expecting results, not excuses. Develop a corporate climate that expects achievement and not just activity. Be a leader who admires thinking and planning. Be a leader who demands effectiveness and rewards it more than efficiency. It is critical you understand that one of the most important jobs you have is establishing a performance and a goal-oriented environment; then hold employees accountable to it.

3. Learning and continuous improvement. If your people and systems aren’t improving, your company won’t improve! You must champion an investment and dedication to employee learning. Commit to your employees that you want them to continually learn and improve what they do and how they do it. I’m amazed today at the number of companies that have stopped investing in the continuing education and training of their employees. Crazy!!

4. Maintaining and driving profits. Lead an offensive, not defensive strategy for success. Don’t forget profits! Remember both top line and bottom line growth. Replace high-maintenance/low revenue customers with low-maintenance/high revenue customers. Watch all your margins and try to improve them where you can. Now is not the time to reduce your value.

5. Letting them know you are in it for the long run. Don’t be short-term oriented. Make sure everyone knows you’re in it for the long run. If you have a short-term business mentality, you can’t expect employees to think the other way. Business is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself and you will cross the line ahead of the pack.

6. Having fun! Finally, focus on making your business fun. Celebrate progress and reward your employees for superior results. Make coming to work a meaningful event. If you can master this one, you’ll reduce one of the biggest expenses associated with leading a business…turnover.

If you incorporate these six critical tactics into your business plan and continually focus on “What’s Important Now”, you will consistently WIN!

Speaking of fun, check out this video regarding our upcoming event.
THIS will be a fun event, I guarantee it!

http://animoto.com/play/HCiIX94TyBAbguzxK7e9TQ

Equip Your Leadership with Effective Organization Skills

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As a leader, it’s important to have a well-organized approach to your work and your personal life. Taking time to organize at work and at home will help ensure you have the energy and focus you need to lead effectively. Here are some action-items YOU can take to ensure you are effectively managing all the demands on your time.

• Your time: Let’s start with your calendar. Take some time to review everything that currently requires your time. Cancel all unnecessary appointments and prioritize the rest. Delegate the clutter (tasks you don’t need to complete personally). I recommend you use a time blocking system, whereby you block out time for certain activities and make no exceptions during those times. I work with clients through this process often and the results are great. A good rule to follow: If the tasks don’t point towards your personal or business vision, why complete them?

• Your physical space: To maximize daily productivity, it’s important that your workspace be organized. This includes your paper files, mail inbox, bookshelves, storage, and anything else in your physical workspace. Place the items you need to complete daily activities within reaching distance of your desk. Take some time to purge paper files you don’t need to keep for legal or documentation reasons. Sort through mail, magazines, and other documents. You might even benefit from re-arranging your office so things flow better. This is something I personally struggle with and recently worked to get under control.

• Your Computer: After your physical space is arranged, it’s time to clean up your electronic life. This means your e-mail, your computer desktop, electronic documents, and even your contact list. How you choose to store your electronic files is up to you, but it’s important that your electronic space is organized in a way that’s easy to use.

• Your Mobile Devices: Whether you’re a Blackberry fanatic or an iPhone lover, chances are, you have some type of portable communication device strapped to you at all times. So, take some time to organize all the files, contacts, and applications on your mobile device. Don’t bog down your portable device with a bunch of photos and large files you rarely use. Also, take the time to update your phone message, and clean out your voice mailbox.

• Your habits: We are all one big habit! Take an organizational approach to your habits, both good and bad ones. Whether or not you realize it, all your habits have a big impact on your work and your personal life. When coaching clients, one-on-one, we work on these a lot. Making you more effective is always the goal. If there are bad habits you’d like to break, examine them one at a time, and create a plan for how you’re going to tackle each one. If there are good habits you want to cement, take the same approach. Then, equip yourself with the tools and accountability partner (like a coach). Adopt the habits you need to have a more fulfilled, balanced life. Everything else, get rid of.

• Your personal life: Yes, we look at this, too! Set aside some time to examine your personal time. How effective are you? Find someone objective (like a coach) to help you with this. Make sure your schedule also allows ample time for family, friends, community involvement, and hobbies.

• Your priorities: Once you have taken the time to organize all the above areas, consider how your priorities align with how you spend your time, at work and at home. Ask yourself the difficult questions. Realize that your life is made up of a limited amount of time. Each activity you invest time into requires a certain opportunity cost. What are the low priority items costing you?

In today’s world, the lines between work and home are getting increasingly blurry. I’m happy to tell you that YOU can regain control of your time by taking these steps. Going through this process will not only give you peace of mind in uncertain times, it also will equip you with the clarity and focus your work and your team deserve. Take a good, hard look at your priorities, and reorganize your time as needed to create and experience the best possible life. What are you waiting for? Get started today and have a great week!

 

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