We are all increasingly time poor. Thankfully technology can make us more efficient in how we use our time but is that the answer? I use a combination of devices including a mobile phone, an iPad and a Windows 7 netbook, as a platform for working. My favourite "programs" include Skype, WebEx, Outlook, and Google. I know there are probably more and better programs to help me with my efficiency, but efficiency also has an element of competency, and the longer I stick with these programs, the more competent I become in using them.
I use Skype for most of my calls, Skype to Skype using video is my preferred mode. I use WebEx if I want to share a presentation, and I use Outlook for email, tasks, contacts, and my diary. Google I use to research people and topics. The niceties of life include wireless coverage for all my devices and the ability to send files wirelessly to the printer on the odd occasion I need a hard copy of something.
My emerging program is the use of e-books, I use the iPad and its inbuilt reader, but I have also loaded a Kindle application so I can buy e-books from Amazon. Allegedly my university is moving to e-books shortly which will be great. I like e-books for features like the inbuilt dictionary, searching, and remembering where I am up to.
So my efficiency has been significantly enhanced by technology, but my current focus is more on effectiveness. To be effective you must know with absolute clarity what you want to do (and by default what you don't want to do). Your day to day choices lead to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. My number one priority is my family, number two is my clients, and number three is my study. Like a Venn diagram these circles of influence overlap so I can be even more efficient and effective. To be in the zone I need to choose activities where I impact on all three areas concurrently. Being in a family business helps, as does studying something directly related to my clients needs.
As my efficiency and effectiveness improves further I need to be clear where I invest my energy in the future. I have chosen to remain focused on family, clients and study rather than taking on something new. When the formal study finishes in a couple of years time that will free up around 30 hours a week. I intend to take half of that time and invest it in family and clients, the other 15 hours will go into research and publishing (that helps my clients succeed). That way I keep my Venn diagram balanced and my efficiency and effectiveness get a significant step change upwards. What are your plans for efficiency and effectiveness? I'd love to hear them.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Play to Your Strengths
I've recently needed as part of my PhD studies to assess my "signature strengths" and to work out how best to leverage them. I used two different tests, one from the book "Now Discover Your Strengths" by Buckingham & Clifton, and the other from the book "Authentic Happiness" by Seligman.
There was good consistency in these assessments. The Seligman model proposes six themes, my top three were designated as (1) Wisdom & Knowledge, (2) Transcendence, and (3) Justice. Of these, transcendence needs some explanation. There are seven strengths in the transcendence theme, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, spirituality, forgiveness, humor, and zest.
Have you ever thought about your strengths and how to best leverage them? It is the leverage of the strengths that is the key. Many organisations have a culture of focusing on the negatives regarding their people whereas my view is that we need to play to our strengths. When I hire anyone I want them to be strong in my areas of weakness. My attention to detail is poor and my knowledge of financial matters average. According to Seligman my lowest strength (biggest weakness) is humility, no surprises there.
My argument re my humility issue is that an early career where I was always considered too young for my roles encouraged me to develop a strong ego to withstand the personal attacks and criticisms that I received. My ego was my protector and so now, in my 60's, I find it hard to turn it off. Whilst I would prefer to be more humble it is only a minor inconvenience in my life. My top ranked strength was hope, defined as "you expect the best in the future, and you plan and work in order to achieve it" (Seligman, 2002, p.155). Coupled with my second strength perspective and the third strength curiosity, I am a strategic thinker.
I strongly encourage all the readers to find a credible strengths test, apply it to themselves, and then ponder on how to best leverage the signature strengths. Your strengths are more important than your weaknesses, make sure that you use them wisely and well.
There was good consistency in these assessments. The Seligman model proposes six themes, my top three were designated as (1) Wisdom & Knowledge, (2) Transcendence, and (3) Justice. Of these, transcendence needs some explanation. There are seven strengths in the transcendence theme, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, spirituality, forgiveness, humor, and zest.
Have you ever thought about your strengths and how to best leverage them? It is the leverage of the strengths that is the key. Many organisations have a culture of focusing on the negatives regarding their people whereas my view is that we need to play to our strengths. When I hire anyone I want them to be strong in my areas of weakness. My attention to detail is poor and my knowledge of financial matters average. According to Seligman my lowest strength (biggest weakness) is humility, no surprises there.
My argument re my humility issue is that an early career where I was always considered too young for my roles encouraged me to develop a strong ego to withstand the personal attacks and criticisms that I received. My ego was my protector and so now, in my 60's, I find it hard to turn it off. Whilst I would prefer to be more humble it is only a minor inconvenience in my life. My top ranked strength was hope, defined as "you expect the best in the future, and you plan and work in order to achieve it" (Seligman, 2002, p.155). Coupled with my second strength perspective and the third strength curiosity, I am a strategic thinker.
I strongly encourage all the readers to find a credible strengths test, apply it to themselves, and then ponder on how to best leverage the signature strengths. Your strengths are more important than your weaknesses, make sure that you use them wisely and well.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Key to Success
Working hard, knowing more than most, and even cultivating the right relationships, are often regarded as the keys to success. I have a different view. If I reflect on the things that have gone wrong in my life, the key factor in each incident is of my own doing. I have sabotaged myself from time to time, thankfully less often in recent decades.
I have spent the last week working with three schools in the Ballarat region along with Mindshoppers, Andrew Downard, Shane Bicknell, Julie Mason and Emily Mason. I did sneak back to Melbourne during the middle of the week, but in effect I donated four days of my time to help 18 Year 10 students. In Mindshop we designate this sort of giving as "Value To Others" (VTO). Mindshop has five core values and VTO is the key one.
I find that the more that I give, the higher my self-worth, and the higher my self-worth, the less I sabotage myself, and the less I sabotage myself, the more success I seem to attract. I believe the success opportunities are all around me, so as soon as I feel worthy of receiving them I stop doing silly things that stop them coming (or even send them away).
If I am right, the key to your success is to build your bank balance of giving to others in order to maximise your bank balance of self-worth. My great marriage, terrific kids, and a great business, is due (in part) to me feeling worthy. Thankfully most of the people I live and work with also believe in VTO, and the system works for them. Collectively we deserve everything that happens to us.
This coming week my wife Julie and eight other Mindshop people are working with 8 school groups, this time in Bendigo. This generosity will trigger each person's success. It takes a while for the VTO balance to accumulate so they shouldn't expect the rewards to come in the following week, or even months. It may take years to generate sufficient self-worth. I have been giving for many years so I am reaping the benefit daily.
If you are not getting the rewards you desire, give some thought to the reasons. Is your self-sabotaging behaviour a factor? Do you practice VTO?
I have spent the last week working with three schools in the Ballarat region along with Mindshoppers, Andrew Downard, Shane Bicknell, Julie Mason and Emily Mason. I did sneak back to Melbourne during the middle of the week, but in effect I donated four days of my time to help 18 Year 10 students. In Mindshop we designate this sort of giving as "Value To Others" (VTO). Mindshop has five core values and VTO is the key one.
I find that the more that I give, the higher my self-worth, and the higher my self-worth, the less I sabotage myself, and the less I sabotage myself, the more success I seem to attract. I believe the success opportunities are all around me, so as soon as I feel worthy of receiving them I stop doing silly things that stop them coming (or even send them away).
If I am right, the key to your success is to build your bank balance of giving to others in order to maximise your bank balance of self-worth. My great marriage, terrific kids, and a great business, is due (in part) to me feeling worthy. Thankfully most of the people I live and work with also believe in VTO, and the system works for them. Collectively we deserve everything that happens to us.
This coming week my wife Julie and eight other Mindshop people are working with 8 school groups, this time in Bendigo. This generosity will trigger each person's success. It takes a while for the VTO balance to accumulate so they shouldn't expect the rewards to come in the following week, or even months. It may take years to generate sufficient self-worth. I have been giving for many years so I am reaping the benefit daily.
If you are not getting the rewards you desire, give some thought to the reasons. Is your self-sabotaging behaviour a factor? Do you practice VTO?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Why is it so hard?
We have all weathered the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) without too much damage so why isn't it getting any easier? I was taught as a child that things worth having don't come easy but that doesn't explain it. In my psychology studies I have learned that we need to keep experiencing the same or similar difficulties so that we (eventually) learn but that doesn't help me either. I have come to the realization that it has to be hard to be of value. What do you find hard? Is it running marathons, selling yourself, or perhaps it's paying your bills on time.
My list of things that I find hard include driving around the Sandown race track in less than 1 minute 27 seconds, writing succinctly, and knowing how to get the absolute best out of people. The difference between your list and mine is that I want to do something about my list. Of the 100 odd things that I find hard I have divided them into three groups, things I must do, things I should do, and things I could do. I then toss out the last two groups, life is too short to be perfect so I am only going to focus on things I must do.
That doesn't mean that I'm only going to do the must do things in my life. That doesn't make sense to me. My life is about providing value to others as well as doing what I want. I am happy to invest 75% of my energy doing what other people want me to do but I need to make sure there is some "me" time in the remaining 25%.
My must do list includes studying for my PhD, improving my skills on the race track, and improving my skills and knowledge in communication (just to name three). What would be on your list? How much time do you make each week to work on your things? Do me (and yourself) a favor and make a list of three must do things. Now ask yourself, "what is stopping me working on these three things this week?" Can I suggest that the answer is "probably nothing!"
Launching this blog was one of my actions this week. It took me all of 30 minutes to set it up and type in what I have done so far. I commit to write something here weekly from now on, how much value will reside here will be for you to determine. I think I have some good ideas to share. Just writing them down makes them easier to understand.
Here is my plan, to comment on what I am learning in my PhD, to share any useful experiences from my week, and to encourage others to comment on anything in the blog. I aim to get good at this so be patient with me. Making a start is half the battle and I have done that.
Chris
My list of things that I find hard include driving around the Sandown race track in less than 1 minute 27 seconds, writing succinctly, and knowing how to get the absolute best out of people. The difference between your list and mine is that I want to do something about my list. Of the 100 odd things that I find hard I have divided them into three groups, things I must do, things I should do, and things I could do. I then toss out the last two groups, life is too short to be perfect so I am only going to focus on things I must do.
That doesn't mean that I'm only going to do the must do things in my life. That doesn't make sense to me. My life is about providing value to others as well as doing what I want. I am happy to invest 75% of my energy doing what other people want me to do but I need to make sure there is some "me" time in the remaining 25%.
My must do list includes studying for my PhD, improving my skills on the race track, and improving my skills and knowledge in communication (just to name three). What would be on your list? How much time do you make each week to work on your things? Do me (and yourself) a favor and make a list of three must do things. Now ask yourself, "what is stopping me working on these three things this week?" Can I suggest that the answer is "probably nothing!"
Launching this blog was one of my actions this week. It took me all of 30 minutes to set it up and type in what I have done so far. I commit to write something here weekly from now on, how much value will reside here will be for you to determine. I think I have some good ideas to share. Just writing them down makes them easier to understand.
Here is my plan, to comment on what I am learning in my PhD, to share any useful experiences from my week, and to encourage others to comment on anything in the blog. I aim to get good at this so be patient with me. Making a start is half the battle and I have done that.
Chris
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