This week I had a Mialisia designer reach out and express the need
for some guidance on time management. I could imagine her frustration and
predicament.
She, like many women, balance so many roles each day and often
find that there simply is not enough time in the day to accomplish all that she
wants to. This stirred my mind and I quickly thought of one of the best time
management gurus in the world, the late Stephen R Covey. Check out this video and be thinking about how it applies to you:
SO.....when you plan your week/day/month, you must prioritize the big rocks first and then fill in the spots, (if available) with the pebbles. Don't allow the urgent things in the moment take precedence over those things that matter most.
I will cap off this time management post with a tie in from
trying to have a paradigm shift in our thinking of how we execute our life.
Covey refers to an “Execution Gap”. The first few minutes is humorous and I
know that every dad out there who has ever coached his kid’s soccer team can
relate to this clip. I also know that every mom watching on the sideline is
guilty of a few uncontrollable giggles as they watch their suave and successful
businessman husband completely fall apart. Sure he can manage 500 employees at
the firm….but can he be effective on the soccer field with a bunch of 7 year
olds?
Whether in your personal life or your career…do you ever
feel like you are often running around in all directions? Sure your heart is in
the right place but there just seems to be more chaos than results. Did you know:
- Only 15% of employees could identify their company's most important goals. Either there are too many, or they change too often, not clearly defined, etc.
- Does your front line know what the goals are? Do you?
- How do you take great strategies and goals and translate them into an action plan where things actually get done at work…or more important…within the walls of your own home.
- Only 19% of the employees researched say they feel passionate about the company’s top goals. They are not involved which = no ownership = no commitment
- We can become so distracted by urgent things that they neglect the most important things
- Goals will never be met until the goals are clear and each person knows what their specific part is. 51% say they don’t understand what they are supposed to do.
Imagine if everyone on the team was spending their time on
effective things.
The challenge this week is to think about your big and small rocks and decide now how you will better prioritize and just trying to get it all done.
