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Time IS on your side! Own your schedule; don’t let it own you!

Do you start your day reaching for your phone from bed and scrolling through emails before your feet hit the ground? So many of us do! Resist, don’t let your email hijack your day before it even starts.

At one stage in my career, I allowed my email to run my life. Colleagues, accustomed to receiving responses from me between 5:00-7am and 11pm-1: 30 am, viewed me as an effective, firefighter. Too bad I wasn’t a firefighter! I have worked in environments where senior management established email response as a competitive sport — volley, volley, volley — the one who lets the ball drop, or fails to respond immediately, loses.   My email performance, determined by my superiors based upon availability and response time was not good enough; the expectation  of response time was immediate  -24/7. I still clearly recall arriving to the office at 7am for a 7:30am meeting, and my colleague asking in a condescending tone ‘Did you not read my email already? I sent it to you at 6:30am’.

If you want your team members to come to work energized and ready to perform – they need sleep. Avoid pursuing the game of volley by sending emails at all times of the night and simply schedule your responses to go at a reasonable time, just prior to start of regular business hours, the next day.

If you are responding to client emails at 2 am, and their requests are not urgent — which they are not unless you are emergency personnel — you are establishing a working relationship designed to deliver sub-optimal performance by limiting your sleep. You have to establish your reasonable working hours from the onset.

Leaders need to walk the talk and role-model best practices for productivity and performance. And the easiest way to start is by regaining your control over your email. I guarantee you, your productivity will increase substantially in one week by at least by 25 percent if you take control of your schedule by starting with email. Think of the additional time you will have to focus and concentrate on what you know are the most important actions for you, rather than what is most important to someone else’s agenda.

After your morning routine of getting ready for the day, resist looking at your email or social media feed for the first hour. You will get more out of your day if you are in action mode rather than reaction mode. By that I mean, think and strategize first on what projects you are working on of high gain (your top 20 percent that will give you the most professional and personal return on your time investment) and simply START.

By taking 50-minute, uninterrupted sprints on a prioritized task, you can make considerable traction and move forward quickly on attaining your goal. Use the next 50-minutes to think about people you have to connect with during the day in person, by phone or email. These connections again are the most important in moving you towards the completion of your top priorities. Thirdly, review any due responses (requests that you have delegated for completion) that have been pre-scheduled; you can email a check-in if what you need is not in your inbox.

Research shows that short periods of uninterrupted concentration and clear focus lead to optimum performance.  I strongly encourage you to schedule at least three sprint runs of 40-50 minutes each to focus on your top three projects daily. The key is that you know your optimal focus time, schedule it and resist all distractions during this time.

Between lesser-priority projects or meetings, try to insert a ten minute “break time” to do something completely different. Stand and read, go and get a glass of water, do a brief stretch, walk around the block — step away from your computer and stand up; – use the ten minutes as a transition period for your brain and alleviate eye-strain, and it will help you remain energized and enable you to concentrate and focus more intently when you start again.

Email volleyball, marathon days of consecutive meeting after meeting, answering calls in the midst of meeting or walking to an elevator all sabotage your peak performance. Take back your time and you will advance your performance to the next level.

To schedule a free 30-minute coaching consultation with Jenny to work on your scheduling challenges, or learn more about 90-day High-Performance Coaching please click on the email below.

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Reflection Time: Imperative for Sustained High Performance

High-performers are conscious of all areas in their life from their professional performance to their health and fitness. By evaluating all areas, rather than solely concentrating on the daily grind, life is simply more satisfying and performance is higher over the long run. I encourage you to evaluate yourself on a weekly basis in the following categories on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest level of satisfaction):

  • Personal productivity and performance
  • Leadership impact
  • Overall work satisfaction
  • Physical health and fitness
  • Relationships, and
  • Peace of mind and emotional stability

This exercise takes less than five minutes, identifies your gaps whereby you could improve, and enables you to think about what changes you could make to raise the bar. The consistent, weekly check-in keeps you on track to attain your overriding personal and professional goals.

Your personal rankings will provide you with a baseline and help you define an area of concentration that you would like to improve for the upcoming week.  This is not a one-off exercise, it is something that you need to schedule as a quick overview on a weekly basis and take action to optimize categories before they deteriorate. This will help you maintain focus and a high-performance mindset.

If you are not feeling that your personal productivity and performance is where it should be, then it is time to review your habits and schedule. Review your annual plan, quarterly goals, weekly tasks list and evaluate what needs to shift, be updated or simply deleted as it is not working. Be flexible and kind to yourself. Look at the facts around your performance and productivity deficits and implement realistic changes that can help you move to a higher level. High-performance maintenance and longevity requires thought, planning and flexibility in that you have to be prepared to change practices if they are not working. And last, but most importantly, it requires commitment to your goals and to yourself, because you are worth it.

During certain periods in our professional lives, it may feel that work requires near 100% of our attention and we tend to forget or diminish the importance of other areas. Fitness and health are areas that, personally, I must admit I did not prioritize for years until I received a huge wake-up call — a near heart-attack, at work, in front of my staff.

I thought there was plenty of time in the future to concentrate on my health and fitness, my focus was solely on my career and raising my two children. This wake-up call forced me to realize the importance of health — without it, I have no professional career and am unable to care for my children. Suddenly this goal ascended the list to a top priority. Fitness is essential to high-performance, by improving your energy levels, improving your lifestyle and health, ensuring simple measures like increased fluid (water — not coffee or wine!) intake, daily exercise and sleep, you will have significantly more energy every day. Even if you are the CEO of the company, you can find 30 minutes in your day to dedicate to your own fitness and health. Again, you are worth it!

How many individuals do you know who have been through a divorce? Suffered a health scare? Have rocky relationships with their children or family members? Are seen as combative at work or not easy to get along with?  And how many have lost passion for innovation and creativity?

Every area in your life can be improved with prioritization, attention and action; all can be turned around with focus and motivation to do so. The consistency of attention in each of the categories of personal productivity and performance, leadership impact, overall work satisfaction, physical health and fitness, relationships, and peace of mind and emotional stability is essential to maintaining your high-performance.

To schedule a free 30-minute coaching consultation to discuss your baselines with Jenny, or learn more about 90-day High-Performance Coaching  packages available, please click on the button below.

 

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6 Characteristics of High-Performers

High-performing leaders inspire. Can you name/list a few? Think big like…Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, Hillary Clinton, Romeo Dallaire, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Hatfield, Penny Wong…

Think of at least three high-performing leaders that you have come across in your professional career. List the top-of-mind characteristics that they demonstrated, that impressed and inspired you.

From the characteristics that you listed were any of the following characteristics of high performers also demonstrated?

  1. Switched on – wired and ready to ‘GO’: High-performers seek the next challenge with energy and are on top of current and new developments in their field, even anticipating what may come next. They generate and demonstrate positivity, and exude great enthusiasm and excitement.
  2. Open and interested: High performers encourage and embrace new ideas from others. They passionately learn how work could be done more effectively and efficiently. And they are recognized for their stakeholder — both staff and customer — focus. They care about others, take the time to understand issues, and demonstrate kindness in their approach.
  3. Honest and capable: High-performing leaders gain the trust of their colleagues through honesty and transparency; are competent and knowledgeable, these experts excel in their fields.
  4. Confident: High performers exude confidence. However, they are not egocentric (there is a huge difference!); they are deserving of their success and express humbleness and a continual desire to improve and learn.
  5. Perseverance: High performers demonstrate patience and perseverance in achieving a goal, no matter what obstacles are faced. They continue to push forward, focus and show a trajectory of success. Perseverance and tact, enable high performers to take on the relationship of role model and mentor.
  6. Gratitude: High performers recognize and express gratitude. They show appreciation and thanks for effort, accomplishments, success and goal achievement.

Now think of leaders that you crossed paths with in the last 12 months that did not demonstrate or possess the characteristics of a high performer – how did they fare? Who would you prefer to be?

To download the associated worksheet for this blog post, please click on the button below.

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To schedule a free 30-minute strategy session with Jenny to discuss strategies for improving your high-performance characteristics,  or learn more about 90-day High-Performance Coaching packages available, please click on the button below.

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Jenny’s 2019 Recommended Reading and Podcast List

On December 17th, I facilitated my last workshop of the year to a wonderful group of professionals at Mitacs Canada. I was asked to share a list of books that I had referenced in the workshop and also recommend to clients. Culling my list of recommended books was a challenging task as I read on leadership, professional development and marketing daily; however, there are some go-to books that I reference more than others.

Below is a list of my favourites that I hope will inspire you to block off a minimum of 20 minutes per day and simply read to improve, transform and thrive….

ATOMIC HABITS – James Clear

I believe that one of the biggest barriers for individuals in achieving their personal or professional goals are the habits they have created that get in their way. This book is one I reference for individuals who want to design habits that will work for them, rather than against them, in achieving their goals.

BUILDING A STORY BRAND – Donald Miller

This is a must-read for anyone in marketing and communications. The book outlines a seven-part framework that emphasizes the story of your customer – the story that we all need to be telling. It will help you evaluate how you talk about your business and project your key messaging.

DARE TO LEAD – Brené Brown

This book is a great read for anyone in leadership, ‘A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas and has the courage to develop that potential’.  The book provides a roadmap for leading mindfully and cultivating brave daring leaders. Actionable tools and techniques are provided throughout the book on leadership vulnerability, living our values, and learning to rise in our leadership roles.

HIGH PERFORMANCE HABITS – Brendon Burchard

This book highlights six habits that give individuals the edge in their professional and personal life.  Practical examples are provided that can be easily implemented to help develop the six habits of high-performers around: clarity, generating energy, raising the necessity, increasing productivity, developing influence and demonstrating courage.

IT’S ALREADY INSIDE – Robert Murray

I had the opportunity to see Robert present on his leadership journey this year and was inspired by his story – excellent facilitation skills and nuggets of leadership wisdom shared. His book provides leadership techniques on connecting emotionally, finding balance and leading a fulfilling life both professionally and personally.

TED TALKS – Chris Anderson

For anyone who presents or should be presenting more in their position, this is an exceptional reference. Even if you do not intend on facilitating a TED Talk, this book is essential if you have a story to tell that should be shared to help you in your business, or an audience that you are struggling to engage with and need some tips.

THE CEO NEXT DOOR – Elena Botelho and Kim Powell

I love this book! It highlights what is needed to excel professionally, how to make smart decisions, work ethically and honestly, and directly excel with customers and employees. It is a great guide for any aspiring professional on how to play their A-Game. It is well-researched and helps individuals raise their leadership insight while offering practical and easily actionable tips and techniques for professional improvement.

THE FIRST 90 DAYS– Michael D. Watkins

A must-read for anyone starting in a new organization, taking on a new job or coming back after a maternity or medical leave.  This book will take you through steps to assist you in transitioning with competence, accelerating your learning, working effectively together with your colleagues, securing early wins, achieving alignment, building your team, creating alliances and most importantly managing yourself in this critical transition.

THE ONE THING – Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

My favourite book by far and top choice for most of my clients! This simple, powerful concept enables you to focus on what matters the most in each domain of your life and helps you move forward with ease. This book will enable you to evaluate the clutter in your professional and personal life and develop a plan to achieve results in a shorter period of time. Tips and techniques provided will enable you to retain your momentum towards your goals, reduce feelings of overwhelm and stay on track to attain your defined goals and achieve extraordinary results.

THIS IS MARKETING – Seth Godin

Everyone has some form of marketing to do in their position, in this book Seth Godin pinpoints marketing wisdom nuggets. Highlights include how you can identify with your audience, built trust, adopt the right narrative, and how you can use stories to achieve your marketing goals. Yes – I must admit I love reading anything ‘marketing’ and Seth Godin is a true marketing guru!

THRIVE – Arianna Huffington

I know too many people who live to work, put in WAY too many hours and have let their personal lives suffer significantly – that being said, I am the first to admit I was also one of ‘those’ individuals for many years. This is a good read if you are pondering what success really looks like to you. Arianna shares her journey including the challenges, prioritizing demands of career and family and what led to her ‘aha’ moment.

WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE  – Marshall Goldsmith

This book is relevant to all, no matter what position you hold. This book will help you identify what is standing in your way to reach the next level or a more comfortable space in your current position. You will discover some of your own habits that are getting in the way of your success, flaws and behaviours that you may not have recognized are problematic. The Global Leadership Inventory in the book is a great resource of 15 leadership areas and 72 traits – this is a great tool for leadership self-reflection or to rate leaders on a five-point scale for feedback.

YOUR BEST YEAR EVER  – Michael Hyatt

In my goal planning workshop, I reference much of the content that Michael Hyatt articulates in his New York Times Best Seller. The book lays out a five-step plan for achieving your most important goals. His process enables you to review what has been holding you back, how you can overcome setbacks, how to quit-proof your goals and what to do when you are feeling stuck. I also like his book on NO FAIL MEETINGS.

Harvard Business Review – subscription. I would highly recommend subscribing to HBR for a copy to be delivered to your office. It is a great way to stay on top of interesting business practices and articles on the professional workplace. I also highly recommend HBR’s 10 Must Reads books. These are books that are easy to pick up at an airport when you are en route to a meeting or conference and can be consumed easily on a short flight. For example:

HBR 10 Must Reads on Leadership; Managing Yourself; Strategy; Teams; The Essentials; Change Management; Making Smart Decisions; Managing People; Collaboration; Communication; Entrepreneurship and Startups; Mental Toughness, Strategic Marketing…

I was also asked to share podcast recommendations.  This was not as easy, as I tend to switch up who I listen to weekly when commuting to client meetings. My current rotating podcasts are Michael Hyatt’s Lead to Win, Amy Porterfield’s On-line Marketing Made Easy, The Tim Ferris Show, Donald’s Miller Building a Story Brand, Nicole Waters Dream Driver, Harvard Business Review’s HBR Idea Cast, Andrew Warner’s Mixergy and Tamara Ghandour’s Inside Launch Street.

If you have any leadership, professional development or marketing recommendations that I should add to my reading or podcast list in 2019, I would love to hear from you!  Please connect with me by dropping me an email to jenny@jennyreilly.com.

Happy reading and Happy New Year! May 2019 bring you all that you ‘plan’ for – make it your best year ever!

 

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Good morning sunshine!

What are your morning habits? What morning routines can you introduce into your day for greater focus and productivity?

Whether in my 20s, 30s or 40s, I have found over the decades my morning rituals have changed quite considerably. Depending on my age, my morning routines were quite different when my roles were single, wife, mother of two small children, single parent, employee, boss and now, entrepreneur.

Now, with my teenagers increased independence, mornings with them are so enjoyable, rather than rushed and harried. I ensure I prioritize time on my morning routine to set the day up right and realize, I have always had time to do so. What I did not have in my previous harried years were clear personal priorities rather than concentrating only on the priorities of those around me. Priorities that include health and emotional well-being as well as work and kids.

The first thing I do when I wake up is a ten-minute meditation (love the Headspace app). I set my intentions for the day, followed by a large glass of ice water. The Australian in me needs that ice water for a quick jumpstart, and it is just as important as my morning coffee.

A tip to those that don’t make their bed after jumping out of it in the morning – start doing so. The simple act of making your bed — no matter what — gives you an instant feeling of accomplishment and that sticks with you throughout the day. (Not to mention, it’s less tempting to crawl back into a made bed than an unmade one!)

I have found a great workout gym close by called Fit Body Boot Camp that has 30-minute classes, and with that time frame, it is difficult to find an excuse not to go. If I can get in a good 30-minute workout class, or alternatively exercise at home prior to starting my ‘work day’, all feels good in the world. While getting ready I use this as my ‘thinking time’ of what is planned for the day ahead. I intentionally think about how I can transform interactions into positive encounters, be focused and present, and attain my established goals for the day. I mentally go through the meetings and calls I am taking and outcomes I would like for each one. It is then time to fuel up. My favorite go-to in the morning is a green smoothie.

I have an annual business plan, that is broken down into quarterly targets and weekly project priorities. Every Sunday evening, I spend time evaluating my past week and mapping out what priorities need to be concentrated on in the upcoming week. At the end of every business day, I review my schedule for the next day. I ensure I have a minimum of three, 50-minute periods to enable focused, uninterrupted time to concentrate on my top three projects. Starting the day already knowing what the priorities are, ensures that I am getting through the items that will bring me the most return on a professional level.

I am a strong believer in the 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle. What that means is that in any given situation, 20% of your activities are normally responsible for 80% of your results. The time spent scrutinizing items on my ‘to do’ list is a key daily habit. I focus on the most important items first, guaranteeing the most significant results consistently.

When in my productivity zone (the 50-minute uninterrupted focused project times), I turn off my phone and concentrate on the task at hand. When not in calls or in meetings, I use a 50-10 productivity tip learned that has been extremely helpful. I work uninterrupted on one activity for 50 minutes. I then take a stretch or do something completely different for ten minutes. I use this time to stand and move around. The invigorated blood circulating keeps my energy up; it works brilliantly.

Use your schedule to stay on top of priorities, meetings, and activities. Don’t forget to schedule in breaks like lunch and actually take a break and refuel – working through will not help you get to the end game any faster (well, perhaps the ultimate end game, but who has prioritized that as a goal?!).

I would also encourage you throughout the day to:

  • Smile for no reason; it simply makes you feel happier,
  • Be kind and do kind for others; we often are too focused on a task at hand and don’t stop to think what our clients or colleagues need from us. Remember the Golden Rule.
  • Be present — listen — when being spoken to. It will make a great difference in the conversation outcomes. Excuse yourself if you need to take a call or text don’t do it in front of another; it devalues their time and takes away from your focus and attention.
  • Use every transition (even if it is as simple as every time you walk through a door frame) to think of what you want out of your next action.

If you would like to book a free 30-minute High-Performance Coaching Consultation on techniques that you can implement to boost your productivity, or learn more about high-performance coaching please schedule a time by clicking on the the link below.

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If you have any questions about 90-day coaching packages offered through Jenny Reilly Consulting, please email jenny@jennyreilly.com or call 604-616-1967.

 

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