Personal productivity is going to come down to just a few things on a consistent and sustainable level:
How much energy do you have to apply?How much focus do you have to give?
Of course, it's easy for me to say...the author of this blog, and speaker to hundreds of people a week. "But, Jason, how do we get the energy we need, and utilize the focus we have?" That's a question that I hear often, and I like to remind people that it's not an accident.
Productivity - which I define simply as: Doing what I said I would do, in the time that I promised - doesn't just "happen." There is a lot that has to be in place for us to experience more productive days...more often.
I like to remind people (myself, really) that I need to start and end the day "right." What do you need to get your head clear and clean at the end of the day? What do you need to have done in the early part of the day to set yourself up for more success?
There is an activity we recommend all of our coaching clients go through (and sustain in the weeks following our work together) which we call, "I am at my best when..."
Every now and then (about once a month), I like to write a new list in my journal. I use that list for the next little while as a daily check in against my own productivity practices.
Off to the right of this post I've placed a digital picture of my own last list. I'm working with this inventory through until the middle of December. My goal is to achieve a 70%-plus self-rating...I'd like to do these things at least 70% of the days between now and then.
I keep it really easy...after I make the list, I review it for the first 4-5 days regularly. Then, from there I made it a part of my weekly debrief. That is, I stop once a week, and simply review the list of what it is I need to DO to BE at my best.
Notice, each one of those things is at least 5-% believable, and 100% in my own self-control (at least subjectively...).
The fact of the matter is: I can generally achieve EACH of the items off the list on a daily basis!
QUESTION: When are YOU at your best?
Generally at my best in the mornings, but there are other factors to consider.
Your "I am at my best when..." exercise sounds very interesting and worth trying.
Posted by: Mark Dykeman | November 14, 2008 at 12:02 PM