20 things we should do but still don’t!
When I started this blog, this was the title, but I realised it would get too long and maybe boring! So I have changed it to become an on-going challenge instead, but of course the list of 20 still exists and can be drawn on at will!
The idea is that we all have some great knowledge and skills and if asked by an eager mentee, would readily share them, but do we ourselves use them regularly? Maybe this is all about me and my world, but probably not as the Inadvertent Saboteur – Discovered by Laurence Coen is in all of us, messing good things up with unwanted interference. Such as not doing the things we know will make a huge difference, if only we did them!
So here goes, here is a short list of 5 things which I know to be really helpful and make me and others more effective and efficient, just do these and forget the challenge if you like.
- Organise with the end in mind – when you place something down like a set of keys, your phone etc, think about where you will find them and put them there. Since you thought about the location carefully, it is very easy to recall it. The same principle works for filing on the PC, where will I find this, versus, where did the system place it (logical though it is it is not normally our logic!)
- Review your day – We can learn so much if we just take a few moments, in a peaceful space and maybe with pen and paper (this may be me as I get older) – WWW.EBI – Ask yourself these questions: ‘What Went Well’? And what would be ‘Even Better If?’
- Be ‘Mindful’ – this is a technique which is getting great press and many a training course, but in simplest terms is about stopping… focussing on one thing – a spot on the floor perhaps and then just noticing all that is around you, but while giving 100% attention to the spot on the floor. This is extremely calming and allows your brain to catch its breath, to clarify and refocus on the truly important things versus the myriad of trivial things buzzing around us all the time
- Write a timed agenda – for the day and or for the meeting. Decide how long each item should reasonable take, a tighter timeline is sometimes better than a generous one as it often motivates us to focus even better. Meetings run on timed agenda’s are much more productive and people are much keener to attend if they know the chair is working this idea. It is fine to decide to extend if it really is necessary, but make sure something else gives room perhaps and after the event, review why your estimates needed changing, just for future accuracy.
- Give and receive feedback – honest feedback will help everyone, it lets us know what is working – through praise, or what is not, through criticism. It gets the issue off our mind where it often causes unwanted stress and sets a tone of openness and integrity which once a regular habit, becomes a positive feature to your style. It is equally important to receive feedback, and if it isn’t delivered well, ask questions to get a clear example of what was said or done and the impact it had, so that you can put in place a change or reinforcement as you so choose. It is a gift after all, but not always something we can use, however thank the giver as it will encourage more.
Why not write your list, and act on one each day/week and notice the results.
I would love to build a long list of the best tips, as I have taken the best of 20 here, so please let me know.
So, that is my list and I find myself doing these more often each day, as I challenge myself to live by my own advice