Maximize Your Time - Concentration

Do you have a project that requires intense concentration and creativity?

Do you find yourself having trouble thinking and accomplishing your most important projects?

You’re not alone!

Did you know that when we’ve been interrupted, it takes 15-25 minutes to remember where you left off and return to a deep level of concentration.

Apparently we’re interrupted approximately every 10 minutes. So how are we ever to reach that maximum level of thinking?!

Tip #1: Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. If your job and life allow, forward your phone to voicemail, turn off your cell phone then check messages on your own terms. Turn off your email and IM for an hour or two. Put a note on your office door or cubicle entry to please not disturb until a specified time.

Tip #2: Create a project plan. Break the project down, on paper, into smaller chunks. This can be a simple outline of the steps and sub-steps.

Having this outline often makes the project feel much more manageable instead of overwhelming. Track your progress on the outline by using a highlighter to illuminate tasks completed (and this gives you an easy visual of your progress!). When it’s time to work on or report on the project, you can look at this ‘project plan’ and easily identify where you are and what’s next, instead spending time trying to remember these details. This can also help prevent things ‘falling through the cracks’.

Gwyneth Anne

Maximize Your Time - Theories

So often I hear people in all walks of life struggling to accomplish everything they want to achieve. This month we’ll be focusing on time management.

Do you read magazine and newspaper articles on time management and wonder which theory is best?

Let’s take a look at a few easy to use methods.

Method 1: When working from a ‘to-do’ list, start with the task you enjoy least and work towards the one you enjoy the most. If you have a tendency to put off tasks you don’t enjoy, this may be a good approach for you. By doing what you like the least, you will have built in ‘reward’ system, as the next item will be better than the previous, and you’ll have more enjoyable tasks to look forward to.

Method 2: Start with the easy tasks first. Find yourself overwhelmed by your list? Feel like you aren’t making progress? If you choose to complete the ‘quick and easy’ tasks first, you will increase your sense of accomplishment and build momentum as you move towards the more complex or time consuming ones.

Method 3: Identify which tasks you prefer doing at a certain time. For example, when do you feel most inspired to exercise? First thing in the morning? Lunch time? On the way home from work to unwind and shift gears from work to family? When do you have the least amount of energy? This is a good time for plowing through mundane tasks which don’t require much effort. When do you have the most energy? Perhaps this is the optimum time for diving into your complex projects.

Action:

This week pick a day to try each theory. Which do you feel most drawn to? Make a note on your calendar for Friday to identify which theory was most effective for you, and how you will implement it to increase your results.

~ Gwyneth Anne~

Maximize Your Time - Efficiency

Do you find yourself wondering where the morning (or day) went and realizing that you didn’t accomplish your most important task?

Here are some tips for maximizing your focus, efficiency and results at work:

Tip 1: Break your day in to chunks of time. Many clients discover chunking their time makes a big difference in their ability to accomplish the important tasks. We can easily get pulled into checking emails, answering the phone, etc. only to realize that an hour or more has past.

Try allowing 50 minutes per hour for solid, intense concentration on a project, then 10 minutes to check for urgent emails and voicemail. Every
3-4 hours, allot 30 minutes for returning calls and emails which require more attention.

Tip 2: Set time limits. To quote Wikipedia: “Parkinson’s Law states that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Limited to 15 minutes? You’ll focus intently to complete the task. Have an hour?

You’ll tend take a more leisurely pace to complete this same task.

Tip 3: Develop a list of things you can achieve in 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes. Have 5 minutes before needing to run off to a meeting? Look at your list to see what you can do. Perhaps catch up on filing. Fifteen minutes? Make that call or respond to a few emails.

Thirty minutes?

Check in with an employee. How is s/he coming along with the project you delegated? If you have an hour, this is perfect for diving into a project.

Action: Experiment with these ideas. What are 2 changes you’ll implement to be more efficient?

Please share your results! (Send your results to: nyman@consultant.com)

~ Gwyneth Anne~

Removing Obstacles – Labels

All of us have labels of sorts. Sometimes we label ourselves, other times we acquire them along life’s journey. Some we hold proudly, others not so proudly. Some are playful, others painful. Labels carry with them limitations, recognized or not. Labels restrict your ability to think expansively and be creative. Can you identify with any of the following labels?

• Control Freak
• Neat Freak
• Obsessive
• Lazy
• Worry-Wart
• Perfectionist
• Fatty (Moose, Heifer, Big Girl)
• Stupid
• Forgetful
• Trouble-Maker
• Stress-Ball
• Workaholic
• Sweet-heart
• Comedian (Sarcastic)
• Argumentative
• Nerd
• Procrastinator
• Thoughtful
• Care Taker (Nurturer)

Do you identify with any? Any others? Once you recognize your labels, it will be important to identify the pain and limiting beliefs around each. Many times, labels serve you because they provide an excuse for not stepping into the life you’re capable of living. Holding labels like “sweetheart” can prevent you from holding boundaries or saying no when necessary. In essence, labels give you permission to not be your best self, authentic or most courageous self.

By now you’re beginning to see how labels function as obstacles. Labels may fill a need for a time, but in the end labels are stumbling blocks and prohibit forward movement. What are doing or not doing as a result of hiding behind labels? For example, “I can’t relax with my family because I’m a stress bomb,” or “I’m just a jock, not smart enough to get a graduate degree”. Your labels give you permission to cower from life, and deny your potential.

The truth is, you are far more powerful than you can possibly imaginable. Let go of labels, life and excellence is waiting for you on the other side. Go claim it.

Shawn

Communication Style Assessment

Now that fall is in full swing, it’s time for you to go back to school! Well, not really, but I do have some tests for you to take. Before you panic, let me assure you, these tests are both easy and fun. And the best news: there are no wrong answers!

I am referring to career assessments. These assessments can help you:

• Identify your greatest strengths and talents
• Understand your personal communication style, and
• Clarify your career interests

Having a solid understanding of your skills, work style and professional interests allows you to steer your career in the most fulfilling direction. This month, I will share four recommended assessments to assist you on this journey. Each assessment is available online, and several are free of charge.

The first assessment I recommend is “The Platinum Rule.” This communication style assessment can be taken online at: http://www.platinumrule.com

The Platinum Rule helps you understand your communication style, and the styles of others around you, so you can effectively communicate and build rapport with anyone.

I also recommend the book: The Platinum Rule: Discover the Four Basic Business Personalities and How They Can Lead You to Success. It provides instructions on how to identify and adapt to each communication style.

If you’d like assistance applying your Platinum Rule results to your everyday work life and real-time communication challenges - shoot me an email and we can schedule a time to chat. Next week, I’ll feature a free online personality assessment.

Maret McCoy