Every leader I talk with, coach or train tell me the same thing. They all tell me they have lots to do – more than they did six months or a year ago, with no end in sight.
I could write a post about the factors that lead that to be true, but that isn’t this post.
I could write about the difference between perception and reality – are they really busier or do they just feel that way? That post wouldn’t be very interesting, and the people it might most help might remain in denial anyway.
The reality is that people are busy. They have full plates. They are balancing home and work life. They have competing priorities.
This conversation came up in final hour of the Leadership Training Camp Workshop I was leading yesterday. People were searching for solutions. One person hopefully asked me for a good time management book recommendation. When I suggested one, she said, disappointedly, “Oh, I already have that one.”
It is time to stop searching.
The answer is Now. Get going. Start now. Do something now.
Yes, I know time management is a tougher and bigger question than can be answered with one word, but we all have to start somewhere. My suggestion is you start with these few questions, applied regularly, starting right now.
What are my highest priorities overall?
What must be done today?
How can I finish this task right now?
What is the best use of my time right now?
What is the most important thing I could do now?
You’ve heard these questions before. This may seem like common sense. But when was the last time you asked them, and listened to and acted on your answers?
Write these questions down (right now).
Review them or discipline yourself to ask them several times each day.
Ask, answer, and act.
Starting now.
This week’s Resource Recommendation: Bury My Heart at Conference Room B: The Unbeatable Impact of Truly Committed Managersby Stan Slap.
This is fast becoming one of the most talked about business books of the year, and for some very good reasons.
It discusses in a new way a very important topic – what are the underlying keys to management and leadership success.
It outlines different success factors than many other books do.
It comes from a pragmatic and real-life perspective.
It talks about things that often are overlooked and undersold – things like values and commitment.
It provides a framework and action steps for you to use what you are learning.
Bury My Heart at Conference Room B is a book that illuminates a process developed by Stan and his organization to help individual leaders draw out their core values and build greater commitment to organizational success. The book does a great job of using examples from their sessions and provides exercises for you to use personally – all honed from their work with 10,000 managers.
Because it deals with values and commitment, this book may challenge you. But it may also make you hopeful, joyful and see a new way to integrate who you are with what you do.
The book shows you how to do it, gives examples of many others who have done it, and proves why that is important personally and professionally.
This is not a book to buy because it is the cool next read. This is a book to read, reflect on and use.
One final note: I have arranged for a chance for you to win a copy of the book – at least one person from our list will win!. Use this link to learn more about what’s going on and to get your name in the hat.
Learn more about the book at www.BuryMyHeart.com and download a complimentary PDF resource: Tough Times, Tougher Teams while you are there!
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