Set yourself up to focus on your Most Important Things

Sometime today, someone or something is going to distract you. Instead of wishing things were different, or hoping for the best, set yourself up for success.

Yes, set yourself up to focus on your Most Important Things!

Have you set a goal to get more things done today? Are you hoping that you’ll be more productive today, and maybe even get home in time to have dinner with the family, or return to the hotel in time to get a workout in before dinner? Step back and reflect on the environment you work in and ask yourself, “Is this work-space designed to help me focus on the work I have to do?”

Maybe you work in a section of the office with low-walled cubicles. Maybe you have a door you can close. Maybe you’re going to be traveling - planes, trains and automobiles with a late check-in at a hotel. If you’re going to be productive, you must recognize the impact that your environment has on you getting the right things done. Or, even getting anything done!

It All Starts With Your Focus
Every time you are distracted, the energy and momentum you had moving a project forward is halted, and you need to start over. Too many times, you need to gather new strength to pick up where you left off, and you may waste valuable minutes trying to figure out exactly where that was.

According to a study published in 2007*, the maximum time a desktop computer user spends in one application before switching to another is 4 minutes, with the average being a switch every 60 seconds. If you’re trying to get something done, and you’re switching windows, looking for the mouse cursor, and getting distracted by the incoming input, it’s going to be much harder to get things done.

What To Do About It
Identify one piece of work that deserves about 45 minutes of focused attention. Then, go to a place where you can be alone for that time. It can be a different office or conference room in your office building, or even the coffee shop around the corner (or across town). By getting away from your desk, you will not be available for phone calls or to check your emails.

(NOTE: If 45 minutes is “unimaginable,” as it surely will be for some people reading this, start with a smaller block of time. Over the next week, implement this technique 3 times, at 15 minutes each. See what happens.)

I recommend that you let your co-workers and team members know that you will not be available during this short time, because you will be focusing on a particular project.

Before starting a work session, think of the people that might interrupt you and interrupt them first. Use the time before your focus period to contact them and ask for anything they may need from you. You can also mention that you will be unavailable during the next 45 minutes because you will focus on a specific piece of work that you need to get done.

They will understand and over time, they will respect this focus time and avoid interrupting you. There are several benefits to this kind of workflow (and time) management:

  • You implement a “Focus to Finish” mindset. Sit down, work on one thing until it’s done, and then move on to another project.
  • You let your coworkers know that at some points during each day you need - and the entire team/department/company can benefit from - extended periods of focus time while you’re at work.
  • You (may) cut down the amount of time you do this “non-interrupted” work after hours, on the commute home, or during the weekend.
  • You train yourself to stay on task for longer than the maximum (4 minutes) and beyond the average (60 seconds) you’ve grown accustomed to.

Nothing works, until you work it. And, you won’t know if there’s a benefit to extending the amount of time you find yourself working on one, significant, high-priority project, until you try. Open your calendar, schedule a 15 or 45-minute block of time, and work on something important.

Disruption and Recovery of Computing Tasks: Field Study, Analysis, and Directions

What’s the anticipated outcome?

Today, according to an article I read recently in the Wall Street Journal, there will be 11,000,000 (that’s ELEVEN MILLION) meetings in the United States of America.

I ask ya, what’s the purpose of scheduling a meeting? Of attending a meeting? Of leading a meeting? Of following up with a meeting?

One proposal could be: To create something. To produce something. To identify a “there” where we are not, and discuss/idea-ate/brainswarm ways to get there.

Is that being “creative” or is that being “productive”? Ha, I think I got ya, didn’t I?

Via email, I got this question from a reader lately. He wrote, “Are ‘corporate’ clients really all that creative?”

Look back at that statistic I wrote at the beginning of this post. 11 million meetings…a day. And, ostensibly, the point of each meeting is to come up with, share, or decide on ideas of what to do next. Right?

Between you and I, when I read that question I just kinda shook my head. “He doesn’t get it,” I thought.

You see, in my mind creativity is relative. The output of effort - whether that was “creative” or not - is in the eye of the beholder. And, the literal definition of the term may actually be different from what one may “mean” when she asks the question…

Let’s go to the Dictionary built in to my MacBook Pro:

  • Creative: relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas
  • And, how about “Wiktionary”: Tending to create things, or having the ability to create
  • As for Merriam-Webster: having or showing an ability to make new things or think of new ideas
  • Then there’s dictionary.reference.com: having the quality or power of creating

Please read that question again: “Are ‘corporate’ clients really all that creative?”

Ok, now you know we have to do? (You saw this coming, right?) We need to define what one could mean when she says “Corporate.” Ready?

  • MacBook Pro: of or relating to a corporation, especially a large company or group
    (corporation: a company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity)
  • Wiktionary: Of or relating to a corporation
    (corporation: A group of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members)
  • Merriam-Webster: involving or associated with a corporation
    (corporation: a large business or organization that under the law has the rights and duties of an individual and follows a specific purpose)
  • dictionary.reference.com: pertaining to a united group, as of persons

But, the discussion shouldn’t end there…

Next, we need to decide what we (each one of us, individually) considers to be “a corporate.”

Is the federal government a corporate?

Is your local public high school a corporate?

Is Apple computer a corporate.

What about the family in town who owns and manages two restaurants and a deli. Are they a corporate?

Creativity and Productivity…Are they connected?

Personally, I love how email works. You see, I can be sitting here and just like that I’ll get an email from a friend (thanks Brian!) with an awesome question like:

“How do creativity and productivity relate to one another?”

Ok, so I’m going to be very transparent with you: They’re tied together like the strands of wire that create the cables that suspend the Golden Gate Bridge.

That’s how they’re related…

Now, I can almost see you from there. You just rolled your eyes. You’re thinking something like, “But Jason, I want to be free to create. Being productive - even just thinking about being productive - pulls me out of my creative space.

In the book, “Your Best Just Got Better,” I wrote:

We use words and phrases to let others know what we think about creativity, possibility, goals, even our own performance preferences and methods.

Consider even a casual conversation like this one:

Friend 1: “Hey, how are ya?” Friend 2: “Not bad. How are you?” Friend 1: “Busy. Seems like I’m always behind. Too much to do, you know?”

Friend 2: “Oh, wow, I know. I’m completely stressed, too. In fact, just last week I had to . . .” Try to be creative, without being productive.

And, try to be productive, without being creative.

I think what we’re facing isn’t a defining issue; I believe we’re facing a meaning issue…

Let me share a story… Just last week, Jodi and I were DEEP in a discussion (ok, it was on the verge of an argument) about a single aspect of our business that was causing us stress. (If you really want to test the value and strength of your relationship with your partner, start a business together. It’s awesome!)

We were facing a deadline, and we needed to “be productive” quickly. So, what did we do? We talked “about” producing; we didn’t try to produce. Did you catch the subtle difference? We gave ourselves benefit of thinking before doing. We stood in front of my office white board and filled it with ideas, possible avenues, and a brainswarming process of idea generation.

Then what did I do? I sat at my desk, and I organized that thinking. Again, I wasn’t doing…I was dancing in the space between “Productivity” and “Creativity.” Do you give yourself that gift? I call it, “Put it where I’ll find it again.”

It took about 30 minutes. I loaded up my “Evernote” notebooks and stacks with all kinds of tasks, projects, outcomes, areas of focus, and then…

And then we returned to the table where the discussion began. (It WAS about 3 hours later…) There, in about 15 minutes we uncovered a solution to the part of a project that was driving us crazy. It was a SIMPLE solution, so simple in fact that had we just focused on “being creative” or “being productive,” I don’t think we would have found it.

You see, for me the SOLE purpose of “Being Creative” is NOT to actually produce anything.

Production, productivity, producing something is actually pretty easy.

To me, thinking is one of the most critical components of creativity. I’ve got to let myself have the time, the space, and even the tools to THINK and then I can be a bit more creative. When I’m overwhelmed by the unfinished, in motion, disorganized “stuff” all around, I simply can’t do that.

And, when it comes to producing, I need to stop - one a week or once a month at the minimum - and think…create…dream…wonder.

  • Creativity: the use of the imagination or original ideas
  • Create: cause (something) to happen as a result of one’s actions
  • Productivity: the state or quality of producing something
  • Producing: cause (a particular result or situation) to happen or come into existence

The best thing I ever did, and I suggest you do this too, is to study what the meaning behind those words is to me…

What do YOU want to create…and, what do you want to produce?

Is there a connection between appreciation of (or participation in) the arts to creativity in the workplace?

When it comes to being innovative and creative (two very different terms, I know), there are things you can to do to set yourself up to win…whatever a win would look, sound and feel like to you.

Steve Jobs wrote, “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because the didn’t really do it, they just saw something.

I think THAT is what we’re talkin’ about with the question:

Is there a connection between appreciation of (or participation in) the arts to creativity in the workplace?

Let’s take those 5 words, one at a time:

  • appreciation: the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something
  • participation: the action of taking part in something
  • “the” arts: works produced by human creative skill and imagination
  • creativity: the use of the imagination or original ideas
  • workplace: a place where people work, such as an office or factory

 

As you can imagine, there are multiple layers to this question being asked about creativity. Let’s - for a moment - take the judgement out of it. (That is, at least, how I read it. Something like, “Kids these days…” “the systems…” “there just isn’t enough…”) Instead of the relative and wildly different opinion of what “art” is, and whether or not people are appreciating it, instead continue reading what Steve Jobs wrote:

“…they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people.”

Pausing to reflect on whether or not someone leans toward creativity, or is part of a workplace that creates the environment for people to work and tap into their own creativity, you may find yourself wondering - as I have - something like:

“Am I setting myself up to have experiences? Am I setting myself up to THINK about the experiences I have had?”

If you were to ask the question along the lines of: “Is there a connection between the amount of time people think about their own life and experience and the creativity they could bring to their work?” well, then, I’d say undoubtedly YES.

I’m too far removed to believe the “the arts” need to be “appreciated” or even “participated in” for us to tap in to our creative nature.

I do - however - trust that if you DON’T pause, regularly, to think about what you think about…Well, the chance of you having a new idea is just not that high.

3 Ways Leaders Build Trust

People work better with people they trust.

Effective leaders know that there’s a lot to be gained (and learned) from listening, but they don’t always have the time to “go there.” Three questions make it easier to build trust at work.

1. What do they need?

When meeting with someone, it’s easy to fall back on traditional “negotiation skills” as you seek the end goal. On your way to the meeting consider their needs, and where they are coming from. This is a way to build rapport without really having to “do” anything.

2. How can I notice them? 

Most of the people you interact with are starving for positive attention. Specifically, they want to be noticed for the contribution they make, for the good work they do. Notice what people are doing and catch them doing something right. Acknowledge them with a specific example of how their work is helping the company.

3. What “worry” is on its way?

During an especially difficult part of a hike I was on last year (the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, 52-mile/2-day Grand Canyon event) one hiker was struggling. He did not stop talking about hard it was. So, I asked him to tell me what he could imagine his kids (ages 9 and 13) would be doing in a decade. He refocused his energy! For 2 hours, he thought and talked, hiking through the difficult uphill section of the climb.

Effective leaders notice when the people around them could use a little support, need to be noticed, and are challenged by what’s right in front of them. It’s your job as their trusted leader to make it easier for people to do their best work.

Practice asking these three questions, and see how it improves your interactions this week.

FBR: “SPeak Performance,” by Jim Walz

What a week to re-read this book on human performance and team dynamics. It’s been “on the list” for me to write this bit of a review, so here you are…

It’s gonna help you to know the “lens” that Jim looks through the world with; he came up with the term: Metaformation, which he writes means, “…developing, mining, and applying metaphors to motivate leaders…”

How about this for a way to start things off? “All the world’s a stage…” and life is a performance; on the job, at home, and you out and about in your community…you’re constantly “on stage,” making a brand out of yourself. When people think about you - when YOU think about you - what do they think of? Jim gets you thinking about this; and, at the end of EVERY chapter, he gives you some discussion questions to get you out of your head, and in to action. (I HIGHLY recommend you answer the questions he gives ya!)

 

…to continue reading this FBR, click here

When You Find It, Hold On To It (#Momentum)

Can you imagine where you’ll be in 12 months?

Look, I know it’s a long time to think about now that I’m “in my mid-40’s,” it’s dawning on me that time IS going faster and faster. My grandpa was right…again.

Surprise. Tragedy. Opportunity. Work. And life…

These are the things that get in the way of us achieving (and living) #Momentum.

But, you knew that.

What I have learned over the past few years (ok, some of these took me a lot longer than just a decade!):

I can’t do it all.
I can’t do it all now.
I can’t do it all by myself.
Tell me…what do you think, when you see those three bullet points?

One of the things we talk about often in the Get Momentum 1:1 coaching calls is all the places that we can apply the “Concept Of Momentum” to achieve more, to worry less, and to experience a better life. This approach will affect an incredibly networked environment, yo’ll e able to see just how all of this comes together as you think about the next 8,760 hours (*that’s 365 days…) and how it ALL will change, if ever so slightly.

Take out a piece of paper, set a timer for 15 minutes and think about how things will be in 12 months for:

You.
Your family.
Your community.
Your co-workers and clients.
Wondering what to write?

Keep it easy, keep it real.

Just come up with 2 hopes, 3 dreams, 4 expectations, and 5 worries that each of those “bullet points” will have over the next year. If you ONLY did that, I can all but guarentee that you’d have a laser-like focus on what needs to get your attention today; and, what you most likely will need to ignore going forward *(at least for a little while, as you tidy up some of the “messes” that need your attention).

I know I hid the power of what I just wrote, so let me turn it in to TWO questions for you…

1) are you absolutely clear that what your focusing on now will make a difference?

2) do you have the “outside counsel” you need to identify what to ignore this year?

Let’s just assume that what you’re doing with your life is important; it is, right? You’re going to have to “steward” your resources carefully. By resources I’m talkin’ (at the minimum) your:

  • Time
  • Energy
  • Focus
  • Money
  • Community

What’s easy? To sit down, and make a list of what needs to be done. You can do that in a daydream. Alternatively, what is much more difficult difficult? To understand the absolute responsibility that “Choice” affords those who have it…

The Value of Choice

Choice may actually be your MOST valuable asset; the ability to choose to do “This” and “Not do That.”

If you have the ability to choose what to focus on next, you have one of the gretest powers on earth.

I dare you to clarify: “What are you trying to finish?” I mean in absolute terms, “What is the thing you want to get done?” Now, where are you along the contiuum of progress on/with that thing?

We use the word #Momentum every day in our Get Momentum coaching program. (Makes sense, doesn’t it?)

We define momentum as:

  1. The impetus for action,
  2. the coaching to continue through the tough times,
  3. and the community that will celebrate with you
  4. as you move from milestone to milestone, making the world a better place as you figure out what it is you can do to “Make Things Better.”

That’s it, 4 steps. Take one out, and you’re going to start wasting. You’ll lose time, get distraced, feel frustrated, and quite frankly the universe will stack itself against you.

Do yourself a favor, for 24 hours make a conscious and VERY deliberate decision about will get done next. Focus, and then refocus, on the thing you know will make the difference by the end of this week, this month, this year.

12 months from now - those 8,760 hours will have gone by, whether you want them to slow down or speed up - you will be where you are based on what you focus on next…and then next after that, and then next after that…

For as long as you’ve been alive, and for the forseeable future as I can see it, there WILL be TOO MUCH to do. That “increasing mound of ambition” needs to be studied, sliced, diced, unpack, and reshaped in to a plan that you’re proud of, you’re a part of, and you’re willing to hold yourself accountable to see through to the next goal line.

We need you…

We need you to make real, concerted, valuable, meaningful progress. And, when I say we I mean all of us.

Even the people you haven’t met yet that will be better off because you have the time, the energy, the focus and you’re making the maximum use of the (*limited) resources you have to make thigns as good as you can make them.

Momentum is your tool to identifying, definining, working on, and actualizing your ambition.

 

How to say “Good Job” - a social experiment

Chances are, you know someone who has earned a promotion recently. In fact, I dare you to find out. Post a tweet, check Facebook, make a few phone calls, email a friend from college…Or, simply sign in to your LinkedIn account.

In this short video, I show you how I do it; how I recognize those who’ve earned a promotion, and I offer to take them and their friends out for a coffee (or tea). I’ve been running this social experiment for a few months now, and am in awe at the response…

So, if you’ve earned a promotion, let me know (click the “Contact” menu option above). And, when you find out someone you know has earned a promotion, connect them to say congratulations…

Make Every Meeting Count

It’s the first Wednesday of 2015, and I’m heading to a “calendared event,” call it a meeting if you will…

And, I’m writing specifically to invite you to join Get Momentum today.

Can I tell you why?

Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that there are 11 million meetings held every day in America. How many of those did you attend or lead?

Have you ever stopped to ask, “What does a successful meeting look like?”

Do you have big decisions to make this year? This month?

Are the meetings you attend as effective and efficient as possible?

This month, leaders like you are becoming more effective Meeting Managers.

Get Momentum members worldwide are learning the secrets of more successful meetings.

Click here to download the ENTIRE Get Momentum Leadership Coaching curriculum.

 

There are FOUR areas leaders need to focus on to become excellent meeting managers. This month, we cover how to:

Prepare for an effective meeting

Lead an effective meeting

Attend an effective meeting

and Follow Up effectively

 

Imagine if your meetings were more efficient and effective.

Join Get Momentum today and you can attend tomorrow’s 45-minute Master Class titled:

“Plan, Lead and Attend Better Meetings.”

I know that meetings have a bad reputation. Think about it, everyone loves to complain about meetings. But here’s the thing…meetings aren’t going away anytime soon.

 

And Get Momentum members I’ve talked to say they spend 20-30 hours a week planning and attending meetings. If your schedule is anything like this, you know how consuming and important it is.

Having more efficient, effective and productive meetings could save you 20% of the time you’re currently spending. That equals 4-6 hours that you could get back into your life.

During tomorrow’s Online Global Webinar “Master Class,” Get Momentum members will learn:

1. How “Decision Fatigue” negatively affects your ability to lead effectively.

2. At least 3 of the 5 skills effective managers know about running meetings.

3. The impact that “Checklists” - and examples - have on meeting management.

 

AND, studying the month-long Momentum Module this month, you’ll learn how to effectively plan and prepare for a meeting, keep the meeting on track, manage any problems that arise, and properly follow up afterwards.

There is plenty of time to sign up as a member so you can be on the live Master Class that’s happening this Thursday, January 8th. We present the Master Class as a webinar twice each day, once early in the day, and once in the evening…we RECORD the Master Class so you can watch it later when you have time.

 

Basic monthly Get Momentum Membership is just $99/month. I know you’ll get more than 10X the value you pay to be a part of it.

Click here to join…

Need some space and quiet…

First of all, right now there are just a few spaces open to attend the upcoming Get Momentum Leadership Retreat. We start on February 5th. Click here to join.

Secondly, I’m here to share an activity you can “do” today that is guaranteed to provide you with about 30 minutes more “focus time” starting 7 days from today. Ready?

Pick something you need to work on today, where you need some peace and quiet, and the ability to focus 100%.

Now, IF you can actually do that work today (you may only be able to IDENTIFY it today, then you’ll work on it tomorrow) what you’ll want to do is this 5-step formula:

  1. Open/Unpack the material(s) you’ll need to do that work.
  2. Open a web browser to http://www.e.ggtimer.com
  3. Set the timer for “approximately” how much time you have until you need to be somewhere.
  4. Work on that “work” until the appointed time (the countdown timer at http://www.e.ggtimer.com will stop and beep)
  5. (AND this is the most important) Debrief that work session. About how many times were you interrupted? About how many times did you interrupt yourself? Did you have everything you needed do that work.

Now, don’t worry about changing ANYthing for the first 5-7 days. But, you need to experiment with that 5-step model AS MANY TIMES as possible. Then, if you do this with intention and work in an environment that rewards focused and deliberate action, starting a week from today I guarantee you’ll have 30-45 minutes a day more “Focus Time.”

Ready?

Getting Things Done … easier than you thought

Getting Things Done.

The name of a book, by David Allen, and a seminar I facilitated more than 350 times in the early part of this century. You know, it’s actually pretty easy to get things done. What you want to make sure of, however, is that all those “things” you’re working on are moving the mission - your mission - forward.

So, here are the best three steps I know of how to Get Things Done. Partial-Practice these three steps for a week, and see what results you achieve.

(Attend the Get Momentum Leadership Retreat, and you’ll put your ability to Get Things Done faster, more efficiently, more effectively, and with less conscious effort than you ever thought possible. Click here and attend a 3.5 day Professional Development conference valued at close to $25,000.)

  • Step 1: Interrupt each other less…With more. Starting right now, write the name of someone you’re meeting with later today/this week on a blank piece of paper. RIGHT NOW, identify 3 questions you need to ask them. Then, by the time you meet them, I want you to capture AT LEAST 10 other things you COULD talk/think together about with the rest of this quarter in mind. Your goal, write things down more, interrupt them less, meet often about the MITs (Most Important Things).
  • Step 2: Automate. Anything. This week, I want you to think about the work you do to organize, update, handle the “small, little details” of life. Then, call, email, ask, figure out how to automate at least some of it. (We’ll spend time doing this at the Leadership Retreat. Last year I automated two things, effectively saving approximately 45 hours of time in 12 months.)
  • Step 3: Ask. For. Help. It’s that important. Identify a project you want done, an activity you want to engage in, a task you need handled sooner than later, and go through your mental/physical Rolodex and ask yourself, “Who do I know who can do this just as good, if not better, than I can?”

Look, if you’re going to Get More Done, you’re going to have to offload some of it. You’re going to have to free yourself up from the stuff that’s keeping you busy NOW, so you can get to the cool stuff THEN.