Do or do not, there is no try (Yoda)

I recently came across one of those people – you know the type – the one who constantly says, I’m going to...

Infuriating, aren’t they?

I’m going to resign, I’m going to spend more time with my kids, I’m going to get fit, I’m going to...

I think there are a couple of things going on here:
1. The ‘need’ to do whatever it is just isn’t strong enough
2. It might be the wrong goal or maybe the goal is too big

The biggie for a lot of people right now is ‘I’m going to work less hours and stop taking work home with me’. Did you know that Work Your Proper Hours Day (24 Feb 2012) is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. So if that’s not an incentive to review the hours you spend either at work, or on work (or both), then I don’t know what is!

What can we do about it?

It may sound simplistic, but you need to review your work priorities – are you doing things that are unnecessary, can be done by others, or can wait? Are you doing things because they are ‘easy’, or maybe you just enjoy doing them?

Check back with your overall objectives, and the business objectives for your department and your company. If what you’re spending your time on is not contributing to those objectives, why are you doing it?

It’s probably time to have a conversation with your line manager.

If you’d like some pointers to help you prepare for that conversation, get in touch with us. Liz Kentish The FM Coach

Are you and your manager on the same page?

Managing our time can be difficult if we are not entirely sure of our priorities. Here's a quick activity that may throw up some surprising (and thought-provoking) results.

List the major areas of your job responsibilities (the ten most important tasks)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Now predict how many of those ten tasks or areas your manager would list if he or she were asked to do so.

Is there a difference between what you listed and you think your manager would list?

Why do you think that is?

Before your next one to one session with your line manager, ask them to complete the list too, with what they believe are the ten major areas of your role. You can then discuss this exercise together and see where your areas of difference are, and agree a plan to adjust priorities so you are both working to the same agenda.

Liz Kentish The FM Coach runs a one-day programme on Making Effective Use of Your Time. To find out more, please get in touch coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk or call us on 01778 561326