Are you in a position to help someone “see an unclear future?” If so, this article in HBR could be one you print out and study… here’s an excerpt:
If Your Future Is Blurry, Focus on the Good Work Employees Are Doing Now
These are uncertain times. As a leader, the people around you are watching you. Today, be sure to pause as you walk by a window or mirror. Catch your reflection...THAT is what they see!
Maybe their job duties are changing, or it might not be 100% clear how each person on the team contributes to the overall strategic vision what what you’re getting after.
If people show up to work every day to a to-do list that never ends, to a job that always needs to be done better, with a goal that “may or may not be theirs,” it can be uncomfortable...even disheartening.
Help the people you lead, but focusing on ONE thing: Doing their job to the best of their ability. Double-down on that approach by finding ways to acknowledge them for their commitment, not just their output. [For more on that, see the work by Carol Dweck on “Mindset;” start with her TED Talk.]
Though people may not know what their future holds, they do know what their responsibilities are. And, you’ll offer them opportunities to train up, to learn, to perform, and to succeed.
Here are THREE things you can do today:
1. Share the DIRECTION you’re going in with your team, even if the destination is blurry.
2. Cultivate an atmosphere of open communication, which can create emotional steadiness.
3. Share new information - as you can - about what’s going on.
Oh, and remember to reflect on AND use the work by researcher/storyteller Brené Brown: Lead from your heart, be vulnerable, and expect the best from people. Let them know they can be honest about their emotions, and be honest about yours as well.
The people around you are watching you, remember to let them see you as a calm and focused leader... and avoid unhelpful stress-driven responses.
Ideas from “Managing When the Future Is Unclear”
3 People to Share Dreams With Today
When you think about the future, what comes to mind? Do you start with work and go to life? Do you start with family and then go to career?
Can you imagine your work/life a year from now?
Can you "image-in" experiences you hope are on the way and (perhaps) even plausible surprises that could show up? This is NOT "wishful" thinking. It's your chance to direct your thoughts and energy toward what will change your future.
There's a secret to getting (more of) what you want from your life and your work.
It's not a secret because it's hard to learn or because no one wants you to know it. It is a secret because you just haven't heard it put this way before. If you want your life to be different, there's just one thing you need to do:
Organize Your Contacts
In just a moment, I'll coach you to arrange the group of 10-25 people you talk with the most into three distinct categories.
(If you just can't wait, and want to see the video, just click here.)
No one person is enough for you to build a future that's bigger and better than the present. Look around, there are people you spend time with today that you didn't know 5 years ago. Your life looks what it looks like today BECAUSE OF the people you spend more (or less) time with.
Your network (in person, online AND in print) is there to inform, influence and support you as you engage in the actions required to make progress on your goals big and small. The people you spend time with, the communities you're a part of on the Internet and the books you read and magazines you subscribe to will all come together for you if...
...IF you know where you're heading!
To get you started, open your notebook and do some visionary writing. Here are my favorite THREE prompts that I use in my coaching with executives, leaders and managers worldwide...
60 months from today...
Open to a blank page of your notebook, set a timer for 15 minutes (here), and respond to this prompt by writing 500-700 words:
"Over the next 5 years, in my roles as _______, ________, and _______ I want to be known for ..."
I challenge you to go year-by-year as you do this:
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
Think about your work, your life, your community, your family and - of course - your age.
Write, and Write, and WRITE some more!
52 weeks from today...
For this next exercise, I suggest you use 12-24 note cards (the 3X5 ones you used in college!). One note card for every 2-4 weeks over the next year. (Oh, this one might take a. little longer. Set a timer for 30 minutes, and make sure you have your CALENDAR handy!)
When I do this, I line up the 24 cards in order of the next year. Then, I "challenge" myself to write down AT LEAST 3 bullet points (ideas, projects, goals, ideas, etc) on EVERY card.
Here's the prompt you can use:
What do I ALREADY know is on the way that I'd like to spend ENOUGH time thinking about, working toward or managing with grace and ease?
Over the next 48 hours...
No matter what day you're reading this (or watching the video at the bottom of this post), you're going to be doing something, somewhere, spending time with SOMEone within a couple of days.
Here's your challenge (in just 3 steps):
- Open your calendar and review your time hour-by-hour over the next two days.
- Make a list of EVERYONE you know you're going to talk or meet with.
- Next to their name, write down ONE thing you could discuss.
As you're getting ready to take on your next project or step toward a promotion or begin making a work / life change, think about how you can think in those terms. Once you've done the thinking about TIME, now it's time to think about PEOPLE.
THREE kinds of people to share dreams with today
1. The Realist
As you'll see in the video below, my friends who are realists are there to find the holes in my theories and to test my resolve. I go to them when I need a project edited, or if I want to know what OTHER realists (who I haven't worked with or met yet) might think about my crazy idea.
The question they ask, “And...do you think you can really do that?”
2. The Visionary
I smile as I write this, "My visionaries are the people who can easily "add a zero" to my thinking. If I tell them I'd like to write a 1,500 word article, they ask me if it could be a 15,000 word booklet. If I share a goal to speak at a conference with 50 people, they challenge me to apply to speak at one with 500. If I plan to enroll another 100 members into the GET MOMENTUM Leadership Academy...you get it.
The question they ask, “And...Have you thought about...?”
3. The Accountability Buddy
Have you ever told someone you'd meet them at the gym? Have you ever asked someone to edit a paper or slide deck you are building? Have you invited someone to enroll in a course or program (like GET MOMENTUM!) with you? If so, you intuitively understand the value of having someone to hold you accountable.
The question they ask, “And... what are you going to do next about that?”
Think about it: The next 60 months are going to go by in a flash. Not convinced? Write down the year 2013 and ask yourself, "How fast have the past 5 years gone?" In order to get to where you're going, find the three kinds of people to share your dreams with and you'll go further. Ready?
A VIDEO
More than 100 College Seniors heard about the three kinds of people to share their goals with. If you know of someone who could benefit from thinking this way, please do share this with them!
As you watch that video, leave a comment with YOUR ah-ha or I'm gonna. I'll check those comments from time to time and add any coaching I can!
Everyone is gonna eat.
Here's my big 'ol opinion:
Sometime between 11am and 2pm everybody you work with is going to leave the desk for a meal. Whether they go to a fridge and get the lunch they brought or they leave the office for 30-60 minutes...
For the next 6 months or so, make it your goal is to lunch with someone once every two weeks. You see, what you're doing 60 months from now - where you work, how much money you have in your savings account, what vacations you take, restaurants you eat in, movies you see, books you ready...just about EVERYthing will in some part be influenced by who you talk with more (or less!).
GET STARTED
Open your calendar and review the past 2 months. Identify the lunches you met a coworker, a mentor or a friend. For each lunch (aka: person), answer the following questions:
- What did we talk about?
- What did I complain about?
- What ideas did we discuss?
- What did I learn? (About them, about myself...etc)
Notice ALL those questions start with WHAT. You can easily make notes of these answers in your journal, just make sure that over the NEXT few months you continue to review ALL your journal entries looking for patterns, plusses and minuses.
Want to change what you have?
Change what you talk about!
NEXT STEPS
Once you’ve done that work, Re-view your calendar for the NEXT 2 months.
Identify 4 days (a day every two weeks) you could meet someone for a mid-day meal.
Next, build a list of 5-10 people you COULD invite to lunch. (Not everyone will be able to meet on this time-table).
THEN, for each person on that list (maybe on separate pages in your notebook, or even a set of Note Cards!) start collecting:
- Some questions you’d like to ask them.
- Advice you’re willing to hear from them.
- An idea you’d like to ask for help thinking through some more.
- A story you’d like them to tell you.
The good news...everyone's gonna eat! Just make sure that you're not ALWAYS eating alone!
Hey, for a deeper-dive into building meaningful relationships, here's a great blog post on "The Network and My Future."
Enjoy!
Why You Need These 2 Lists
"But I thought you meant..."
Have you heard someone say that lately? Or, have you said it to someone you work or live with? Talking about your goals - out loud, and with the right people - is a sure way to save time, relieve stress and be more productive. You might even save some money as well!
Look around your office, review your calendar and double-check your to-do list sometime today. Make TWO lists in your notebook:
- one list of projects you're managing, and
- one list of ideas you're still thinking about (but haven't committed to doing or decided not to do...yet).
WHAT TO WRITE ON EACH LIST
The list of projects includes events you're participating in, client or vendor agreements you're managing and matters you're involved in. For many people, this list will be 25-100 items long. There's no "right number" of projects you have going on; the most important thing, though, is that you know what they are.
The list of "things to think about" includes the back-burner projects or "might-get-to-ideas" that you are not working on in the next 12 months. Again, there isn't a right number here; but, many of the clients I coach have made lists of more than 200 items! The number isn't important, but I will tell you what is CRITICAL if you're going to succeed at work and at home:
CHECKING IN WITH YOUR TEAM
You've got to be on the exact same page with your colleagues at work about what you are and are NOT working on. And it may be even more important do this at home. For example, what house project are you NOT going to take on? What vacation are you NOT going to plan? What youth program are you NOT going to send the kids to? Once you know what you're NOT going to do -for now, not forever - you get to double down with your resources (time, energy, focus and money) on what you said yes to.
You also create clarity.
When you are - or someone you work with is - confused about which priority is a higher priority, and which "less-important" task can wait until later, the entire workflow system is compromised. Whether you are a leader in a large organization or manager in a small one, you must have these kinds of goal-setting conversations regularly.
DON’T DROP THE BALL
Most likely you've experienced the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of having to work overtime, or (what could be worse!) you had to ask for an extension at the last minute. You pay a significant price when you over commit or under deliver. Whether you mean to or not, when something doesn't get done, trust is damaged. Then you spend extra time, money and effort to rebuild the relationship.
At work, this can jeopardize relationships with team members or clients. At home, you may have to retrace your steps, rebuild a relationship and reestablish trust with those you live with and love.
TRY THIS
Right now, ask yourself this question (and, considering brainstorming your answers in your notebook):
"Where is there ambiguity and unclear direction?"
If you ask yourself this question and really listen to the answer, SOMEthing valuable will show up.
MANAGING PROJECTS
Years ago, I hired a small company to build a new website for our new company. We were a few weeks into a 6-month project, and I had this sense that something was off. That weekend, I talked with my partner, and on Monday morning I sent an email with the subject line:
"Let's talk about both kinds of goals"
The 30-minute conversation that week went smoothly. We made a list of the projects to manage, and ANOTHER list of possible things to discuss at later phases of the project (6 and 12 months after publishing the site).
Looking back, I figure that meeting saved me dozens of hours, and probably a few thousand dollars of "scope-creep" and "project changes" over the next few months. By framing the meeting in a way that would help us all see what needed to be done, we experienced less pressure and more productivity than before. Oh, and the best part of it? We wound up finishing in just five months!
That wasn't the first time I'd had this kind of conversation. And, I often meet with my clients, my vendors and even my wife to talk about the types of goals we manage. In fact, I'd been practicing talking about types of goals for almost two decades.
BUILD YOUR LIST
If you'd like to explore the differences - both in life and at work - journal your responses to questions like: "What am I working on? What am I working toward? What am I working for?" These questions help identify which goals you’re managing and ideas you’re considering.
A project is something you've committed to; it's something you'll submit, finalize, sign-off or move on from something. Projects have deadlines. It might be a report you'll present at the end of the month, or it could be a new line of business you'll launch next year. Either way, at some point you'll be done with it, and get to check it off your list!
Your second list is a full of ideas that you’re managing, which is equally important to the project list. Your innovations come from giving yourself the freedom to think without committing to every through that passes through your mind! Separating these ideas from actual projects keeps you focused and clear.
START TODAY
Go! Open your journal and identify the two kinds of goals you can set starting today. And, remember to ask for help along the way!
Do you want things to be any different?
Do you have an executive coach?
19 years ago, I hired someone to help me. 12 years ago, I took everything I’d learned, and started to serve leaders as a “voice of reason” and someone who “looks at things differently!"
I talked with one of my clients 1:1 today, and after the call I sent an email…
I took out some of the details, and left the rest for you!
Hi ______,
Remember, there are three kinds of work:
- Catching up - uh oh
- Keeping up - stamina
- Getting Ahead - oh, the glory!
That last one can push on you two ways:
- Handle what is in my control
- Recognize what is out of our control
Here’s a little of my thinking...
You want to organize your Email Inbox. And to-do list. And meeting schedule. And calendar.
You crave a sense of control; you want to believe that what you WANT to do and what you HAVE to do can get done.
A long to-do list isn’t the problem.
Nor is email. Or too many meetings. Or a calendar out of control.
The problem is this:
The way you used to work doesn’t work anymore.
Brute force, sheer will, working after hours or on the weekend won’t help.
You’re going to have to change the way you work; how you THINK about how you work must change.
I was there too. I understand.
I got the call one evening - it was after 6pm, dark outside, and I was still at work - and Jodi asked, “Are you coming home for dinner?”
I hemmed and hawed; I made up an excuse about having SO MUCH to do and I suggested she go ahead and eat dinner without me.
It was Saturday night... and I wasn’t near done with all the work I’d had to do.
And so began my journey of becoming more productive.
- A class? I took it.
- A book? I read it.
- A notebook? I bought it.
I interviewed HUNDREDS of people asking the same question:
How do you manage your SELF so you have time to do everything?
And, it took me a few years to discover the secret…there are just a FUNDAMENTALS to managing myself, my time and my productivity.
Not just one; but not 100 either. (Good news!)
The plan I provide is simple to follow, and easy to implement.
Your success depends on deciding to put yourself first and keep your word.
Let’s start with your morning… the first 60 minutes of each day. Here are the three things you’ll have to do:
1. Wake up when you say you will, and review your THREE kinds of work for the day.
If you set your alarm for 6am, get up at 6. Not 6:30. Not 6:15. No Snooze. If you’re going to snooze, then set the alarm for 6:08, ok? Next, sit down at your desk or at a table with a glass of lemon water or coffee (doesn’t matter to me) and review your list. Look at your calendar. Yes, even check your email. Look for these three kinds of work. (Don’t DO any of them, just review it all.)
a. Catching up: What is the work that’s overdue that you need to DO or DELEGATE?
b. Keeping up: What meetings are scheduled? What discussions do you need to continue? What planning needs to be reviewed?
c. Getting ahead: Look at your calendar 30-90 days out and ask, “What will we wish we’d started thinking about sooner?” Whatever the answer, add a next step to your to-do list. Delegate some research. Send an email. Make a phone call and leave a message. Do something(s) today that move you ahead.
2. Commit. Tell someone on your team - via text, email or face to face - what your 3 PRIORITIES are for the day.
If you’re going to WIN, you need to let them know what you’re thinking about that THIRD kind of work: Getting Ahead. Clearly identify what you’re going to work on that is IN YOUR CONTROL and discuss or bookmark what’s OUT of your control. Too often, people get “hung-up” and don’t plan far enough into the future because they wave their arm and say, “It’s all unknown.” As a leader AND manager, your job is to identify and handle the 10%-20% that is IN your control and control it.
3. Set up to win. Organize your nutrition, transition and completion plans for the next 10 or so hours.
The energy and focus you have RIGHT NOW is based on the past 2-5 hours of movement…rest…nutrition. The more you set up yourself for those three, the better you’ll be at getting the important work done.
But, that’s a topic for another session...
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Recent Posts
- If Your Future Is Blurry, Focus on the Good Work
- BOOK REVIEW: Leadership From 30,000
- UPDATED Blog
- 3 People to Share Dreams With Today
- Everyone is gonna eat.
- Of Course You Don’t Have Enough Time
- Just 3 Things
- Why You Need These 2 Lists
- The Debate: Journey and Destination (like Peanut Butter and Jelly - or Chocolate!)
- Do you want things to be any different?