Managing The “Weeds” In Your Day
From Jones Loflin ‐ The Speaker With TWO Last Names
In my training programs related to performance improvement or getting better results I use the analogy of growing something. In order to grow the right results we have to create an environment where our best actions are encouraged to grow and produce more desirable results.
Unfortunately, creating such an environment also invites something else to grow - weeds! Weeds are simply defined as a plant out of place, and many times the "weeds" on our day are items that need out attention - but not at the particular place in our day they pop up.
I you are experiencing an outbreak of weeds as you are cultivating better results, here are some suggestions to insure that the weeds don't choke out the results you are most hungry for:
Determine the source of the weed seeds. Are you providing incomplete information to co-workers or others that causes them to have to interrupt you several times a day via visit, call or email? Have you given clear guidelines about when you should / should not be interrupted? Are you taking care of the loose ends on all projects or tasks?
Pull the weeds early. In an apple orchard, you would never plant your best trees and then come back at the end of the season to harvest the apples. You check on the environment around the trees to insure that it is working in their favor. In the same way, take some time daily or at least weekly to recall the weeds that popped up in your schedule and how to prevent them from stealing precious resources next week.
Maybe you like seeing the weeds grow. Weeds are just easier to germinate and grow than other plans. In the same way, it's easier to take out on a less critical task than to do the work to make a more important one successful. Are you letting convenience, you to look more favorably upon the weeds?
Move the weeds. Look at moving your less critical tasks away from the prime time in your schedule. For example, I try to minimize any administrative type, tasks, during the morning hours of my day. After about 3 PM when my mental energy is dissipating, I'll turn to these tasks.
Establish a groundcover around your most important plans. Weeds need sunlight to grow. If you are in the middle of an intense project or task or can not be interrupted, move to a different location. Arrive on the office early before others or stay later. Communicate to your co-worker that you need to focus time and ask them to help to "cover" for you so you can stay on track.
You are growing something every day. What grows and
how it grows is up to you.
- From Getting the Blue Ribbon
© 2012 Jones Loflin
No comments:
Post a Comment