First off, let me say "thank you" for choosing to attend our program, one of our Workplace Performance series courses. As you know, it's my dream to work with clients to build futures that are beyond sustainable...We build business futures that are restorative...Click here... Our coaching, mentoring and advising programs are all presented with a goal in mind: Make things easier.
I find that people who learn and practice some of the Productivity Through Technology tips we have researched and written about usually wind up saving anywhere from 30-90 minutes each week. As I said in the presentation, saving time is the easy part...The challenge:
Using that time to our advantage!
I speak from experience when I acknowledge the temptation to be more "effective and efficient" at work, and then filling up that saved time with, well...more work. So, be careful. In fact, it might be worth it to watch this short video:
My brother and I spent a LOT of time with our Atari and Nintendo systems as kids. I'll be honest, I really stopped video-gaming just as I left high school (Tetris was all the craze, if you're wondering when THAT was!). So, to see a video like this brings back memories of Kaboom, Frogger, Space Invaders, Pac Man...to me, the classics.
Limit: (noun) a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass
Unlimited: (adjective) not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent
Between a walk around town and while at coffee today here in the Bahamas, I started conversations with the owners of two bakery/coffee shops and 3 staff members. In short bursts of conversation, we talked about the economy, tourism, education and "the why of it all."
As we left the cafe where we talked, read and enjoyed coffee for a couple of hours, the last conversation was all about limits...One of the staff said, "My friends in university tell me that if I study __________, I probably won't find a job because people aren't hiring ___________'s anymore."
If someone were following their heart, interest and passion, what would YOU suggest they do to create a career out of it?
(I'd love to hear from folks who study Seth Godin, Phil Gerbyshak, Chris Brogan and Gary Vaynerchuk...Thoughts???)
So, the first time I met Gay, he and his wife were the commencement speakers at USM (where I earned my MA in psychology). I remember thinking about how neat it was that they shared the stage together. I've read his books (Conscious Golf, Conscious Breathing, and my fav: Conscious Loving) and on recommendation I picked up The Big Leap (thanks to superstar author and mentor, Pete Savage - The Wealthy Freelancer).
He said, "Ya gotta read the chapter titled, "Einstein Time." So, I've got a 5 hour flight, and I'm already looking forward to it!
Oh, quote from page 37: "Dismantling the foundation of the problem..." I love this stuff! (Report to come soon!)
Thank you for attending the Mastering Workplace Performance seminar, in Woodloch, Pennsylvania. It is always an honor to work with people interested in making their best...better! Below, please see some reminders I'd encourage you to consider post-seminar:
1) Practice on the small things, to perform on the big ones! I'm a big believer in a Japanese concept called "Kaizen." In its essence, Kaizen means continual (and often small) improvement in processes, systems and management. In our Mastering Workplace Performance sessions, we have "just enough" time to share some of the basic principles of workflow management and professional productivity. Leaving those presentations, it's up to each individual to decide which (if any) changes they're going to begin experimenting with to make changes to their behaviors, routines and workflow systems.
Remember, I talked about experimenting in "fives." Five days, five weeks, five months, five years...and, I have examples of all three. Just email me if you'd like to hear about them! (For more information on the 5-day experiment, click here.)
2) Journal. Every. Day. I absolutely trust in the power of writing things down. I'm working with a group of clients right now in our Mastering Workplace Performance Online program and we're doing an "Assignment" that is a 5-day experiment on journaling. At the end of each day, simply write one or two lines of what happened that day...Try it out for a week and see what happens!
3) Build your learning library. Start by visiting the Books We Recommend website. Of course, you don't need to buy ALL the books there (unless, of course, you want to build your library this week!). Instead, look through some of them, read some reviews, and decide which the first few books should be. If you want, give me a call, 805.640.6401, and we'll discuss "where-are-you-and-where-are-you-going" topics to identify the first 2-3 books to start with. I mentioned a few books during the session on 2010-10/14 that I'd like to remind you of:
- Don't Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor - The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino - The One Minute Manager, by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
Of course, if you're going to pick up some books on such topics of leadership, marketing, innovation or mentoring, I'd start with a quick YouTube search for the popular authors out there talking about these topics. A FAVORITE site of mine is www.TED.com. See some samples below...
Leadership: Sir Richard Branson
Marketing: Seth Godin
Innovation: Sergey Brin and Larry Page
Mentoring: James Cameron
4) Make your best, better...by knowing what it takes to be your best. Yes, that exercise in the seminar where we fill in the page, "I am at my best when..." is one that I continue to advise leaders to bring back to their teams and their companies. I have heard of people using that one activity to radically shift the overall energy of their organization by simply "getting on the same page" as far as the things that are going to go a LONG way in making things better. IF enhancing your productivity is something that you want to do "more of," then consider stopping long enough each day to ensure you have what you need TO enhance your productivity.
Ask yourself whether what you are doing, and what you have done up to know, is setting you up to have a "good day." As subjective as that is, it's important to know what would make for a good day, what would make for an effective, efficient, productive day. Then, use that knowledge to your advantage. Want a reminder of the "I'm at my best when..." activity? Click here...
5) Reach out to share some of the ideas you got from the seminar. We all learn more when we teach something. Think about what happens when someone joins your team; the first few weeks (or months) you spend time, energy and focus teaching them what they need to know. Development Managers, you learn things the deepest...you learn it when you learn it, and you deepen the learning when you teach it! Lack of time is one of the favorite complaints people have to explain their day-to-day productivity (or, lack thereof). Instead of focusing on the one resource we really have the least control over, turn instead to the other ones that you CAN control:
Systems/Tools: Learning something about your mobile phone, your computer desktop or laptop, even your digital camera that will help you get more done...faster. If you want a GREAT system to get you going on the right track, click here, and get all you can from my friend Allyson.
Focus: By experimenting with different ways you can drive, maintain, change and lose your focus, you'll set yourself up for a much more effective day. In the Afternoon portion of our seminar on November 14th, I talked about the place and importance of Agendas. This is one "focus" tool that can save up to 30 minutes each day. Oh, and remember that question I asked you to ask at the end of each phone meeting: "What, in about a week, will you wish we had talked about sooner?"
Energy: Our mental and physical energy dictate how much focus we have (or don't have). If we're tired, stressed out or hungry, we will be less productive. If we're alert, engaged and well-fed, we can give more of ourselves to any giving task or project. I would say of all the things we talked about during the seminar, many of them have their root in identifying our energy boosters (completion, delegation, engagement, teamwork, etc) and using those to our greatest advantage...
Our The Womack Company newsletter went out today; the topic: Practice on the small things so you can perform on the big ones. In my email inbox this morning was one of the "reviews" I get each day with links to "cool-stuff-I-probably-need-to-at-least-know-about." Here's one:
As I sat and watched the video for 5 and a half minutes, i reflected on the seeming dissonance between this overall want (at least the want I get from clients) to "save time, work more efficiently, have more time at the end of the day to do what I want..." and a general apprehension toward just how much the digital world, cyberspace and technology take over (take control).
I remember the first time I used a "self-checkout" service in a store. Looking around, I realized that an entirely new experience was possible! No more "cranky clerks." I know, I know, it's not the most positive way to look at the world; however, I am continually surprised by the different levels (positive AND negative) of customer service which exist out there.
Of course, as I see this video, MY thoughts turn to the learning/leadership/learnership models that could exist following the "Internet of Things." If you've been reading this blog for a while now, you know I'm a huge fan of Wayne Hodgins. I met him in the year 2000, and have followed his stuff ever since. His entire methodology - when I met him - was: What are the basics of what we're doing, and how can we do those more effectively. Good stuff!
Now that I'm deep into the writing of the next book (email me, please, to get on the pre-release list!) I'm fascinated by what it's going to look like when we get it out there! As such, I'm getting all kinds of ideas from the people I know and who are helping me along the way. Let's hear it for mentors and friends who have our success and best interests in mind!
I received a note from a colleague in New York City (thank you Sara) after we had lunch one day, pointing me in this direction...
In February, 2010, Jodi and I presented three workshops in Venice, Italy for an organization named Generali. We were speakers during their "Leonardo Alumni Event," where over 100 people were invited to learn about professional development through deepening networks and relationships. This is an area of focus in both my advising and mentoring, and Jodi's newer company, No More Nylons.
During that conference, we met Kristin Engvig, founder of W.I.N., and heard her speak about her vision for W.I.N.: to ‘bring a more feminine, global and sustainable vision to work, communities and life’. The moment we found out about the
THEN, the most incredible thing happened: Jodi decided she wanted to present a workshop based on her experience as an entrepreneur and community leader. Over the past 20 months, her Women's Business Social events have grown and grown; last month she had over 200 people attending her "get together and chat" event, here in Ojai, CA.
As a delegate and participating "male," I was one of a handful of men attending the conference. As such, I walked around with an interest and focus on seeing two very distinct things:
The Problems
The Solutions
As with any conference leveraging such interest as gender equality, leadership traits and future-thinking, I was astounded by the focus I felt coming from different people throughout the conference. For example, one speaker was Senator the Honourable Marlene Malahoo Forte from Jamaica. She spoke on the future of an island economy, and how the leadership there is focusing on education and rural, local, economic development to move into the 21st century.
One of the stories she told was that of the "purpose" of an airport: You arrive. You leave. In my notes from her presentation, I have a meandering line moving up the page with breaks in the line and arrows at each break; 5 arrows total. Looking back, I realize that all that goes into our "US" is the experiences we have arriving, leaving, arriving, leaving...
A comment she made that I wrote down in BIG letters in my Moleskine journal is: "If you need skills and you know what they are: Go get them!" I can remember still the smile on her face as she gave an audience of 700 people this advice. It was a good thing that she spoke on day one of the conference; I spent the next 3 days identifying skills to improve/enhance/learn.
Walking away from W.I.N. 2010, I'm as interested as ever in the "Leadership Quotient. (Quotient: a degree or amount ofaspecifiedquality or characteristic)
Realizing the need to share stories of hope, generosity, and achievement, I'm as committed as ever to my motto: "Just Show Up." I hope you are too.
I've always been a collaborator. Here, in the FT, I read an article outlining ways and reasons to work together.
I see clients every day need to meet with people near and far - not just in actual distance, but in divisional units within the organization. Last week, I was working to bridge conversations between research, human resources, talent development and the C suite.
At some point, I'd love to sit with Dean Glen Hubbard (Columbia) and talk about how important it is to "connect the dots." Just yesterday, I got to share a stage at Westmont College with Professor Joe Bruzzese. Together, we were able to deliver more to the students...
