You are busier than ever before. Your job demands more, your family has multiple schedules to juggle, and you can't remember the last time you read a book just for the pleasure of reading. Sound familiar? I'm sure you've heard it before, but you need to create a schedule for yourself. When you don't, you're pulled here and there responding to the activities around you, instead of controlling the activities that put demands on your schedule. There are many tools to use for managing your schedule from Stephen Covey, Outlook, a simple calendar grid with your activities blocked out, and many others. There are 2 important keys in any schedule: schedule enough time for the activities you choose to do (this means being realistic about how much time tasks require, delegating some tasks and saying no to other tasks), and stick with it. Which works the best for me? All of them. I have used many different schedulers over the years and find that they all work. The only tough part is to stay disciplined in using them. Are you controlling your time? Or is your time controlling you? I will guarantee that even if you don't quite follow your schedule 100%, you'll be more productive and have more free time than if you don't have any schedule at all.
A few years ago, I found myself in front of a 100 or so scrapbookers wearing a coconut bra and a grass skirt. The "tiki" theme that we had chosen dictated the need for my costume. The fun part was that everyone in the room knew that when I hit the stage in my crazy outfit, someone was going to win a prize! Shouldn't a leader be above dressing silly at a big event? Never! Would it help if I mentioned that I did have a t-shirt on under the coconut bra? And that we all wore Hawaiian shirts the rest of the time? Or that I've worn a Santa hat, light up necklace, blue hair, pink bowling shirt with matching glow-in-the-dark bowling shoes for other events? So why did I go the extra mile? Did I have to wear a coconut bra and a grass skirt to give away prizes? No. But did it add to the excitement and the atmosphere? Yes. It brought a sense of fun to the event and unity among the team. A large event is a huge undertaking. Havi...
Comments
Post a Comment