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Quickstart - Improve Your Time Management & Get Better Results
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Quickstart
Grow a Profitable Consultancy and Still Have Time for a Life
In this issue
Note from Beverley - Thanks
One Step Further - Better Time Control, Improved Results
Personal Reflections - New People New Perspectives
Note from Beverley
A big thank you to all those that sent me notes of congratulation on my new contract win and for sharing with me your successes too. I feel we need to take more time to focus on success and relish the moments. We work hard; sometimes we struggle and so we deserve those little "yes!!" moments when things go well. So what can you pat yourself on the back for - big or small, it's amazing how it can change your mood.
Have a good week.
Beverley
bev@onestepfurther.co.uk
www.onestepfurther.co.uk
+44 (0) 1344 625713
One Step Further
Time management training was one of the most common requests I was asked for when I worked in the corporate world. Time management books, seminars and workshops are out there in their thousands and yet it remains an Achilles heel for so many people.
One of the reasons many people don't do what they know is that change is hard and the consequences of their behaviour are not acknowledged as severe enough to want to change.
If you have time control challenges, have you thought lately about the real impact and consequence of on what and how you spend your time? Have you really thought about what you are doing and the result that is giving you - or not? After all, you choose how to spend your time and on what - yes you do!
Here are some consequences of poor time control (or it could be called poor self control!)
* You feel out of control - consequence - you feel overwhelmed and unable to focus.
* You don't make progress - consequence - you feel frustrated and stuck.
* You have no direction - consequence - prioritisation becomes increasingly difficult.
* You underachieve - consequence - the to do list grows and your morale falls.
* You get more frustrated - consequence - nothing is completed, as you would like.
* You get into reactive mode - consequence - your time appears to be controlled by everyone and everything else.
* You find it difficult to communicate your focus and priorities - consequence - your relationship with others falters
"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." Andy Warhol
So what one thing can you do this week, which leaves you feeling more in control of on what and how you spend your time?
Are you worth it? - You know you are.
Personal Reflections
Some days and weeks I feel as though I have achieved nothing - nothing that is in tangible terms as in writing a letter, sending off a few emails, delivering a coaching session or running a workshop. Then last week I realised that even things, which don't appear to be "doing work", are a valuable factor in my business and more importantly give me new and different perspectives on a whole range of topics.
I took the time to attend 2 differing events last week
On Tuesday I was invited by Jim Wade to attend an Open Space event as part of the Business Improvement Network. The basic premise is, invite a group of people who have some common interest - in this case quality - and create an environment where they discuss what they want, pose and debate problems and questions and thereby solving problems, widening their knowledge and meeting new people. It seemed at first as though it was unstructured, slow moving and I wasn't sure who would start to make a move but the formula worked, good discussions were generated and I met some interesting people. It is also a really different way of getting people to take accountability for their own outcomes and the value they gain.
My Learning - give people the time and space to talk about what they want and they relish that time and gain more than from being herded!
On Thursday I was invited to attend a workshop run by Andrew Hoon and Richard Johnston at Career Fit (This is a temporary home for their web presence). They specialise in guiding those who are serious about exploring radical employment options, not just for the next job but across the full span of their working lives. Now before you ask - no I am not looking for a career change or a job.
The aim of the workshop was to trial their approach, look at how they could differentiate their proposition and give some of the modules a "trial run" to a few people who are looking for a career changes. What is interesting about Career Fit's proposition is the idea that your career is for life your job isn't (my words not theirs!) in other words, it's not just about CV writing and interview skills although it is partly about that. Andrew and Richard's philosophy is based upon keeping your own personal skills, knowledge and network at a level that enables you to progress across and to whatever career path you so choose when youa re ready - not just when a stimulus for change occurs.
I hope to be working with them to develop their practice and their brand proposition.
My Learning - looking at any business idea and seeing how it can be brought to market with a differentiated proposition is exciting and what motivates me to do what I do.
For me making and taking the time to try new things, speak and mix with different people triggers not only new perspectives and new ideas but also keeps my juices flowing and makes me realise doing the same old stuff in the same old way will never be for me. Learning is fun isn't it?
What about you?
Best Regards
Bev
bev@onestepfurther.co.uk
www.onestepfurther.co.uk |
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