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It is good to feel good!

Yes, we all have days, sometimes weeks, where we may hit a drudgery zone. I prefer to feel good rather than bad, don’t you? I prefer to be productive, have a plan, and be making a difference rather than feeling stuck. Even in the most complicated circumstances, I am always thinking about the next best steps to take. Even if it is a small step, it provides momentum and the ability to move forward.

I have had three separate in-depth conversations this week around professional and personal engagement. The challenges of individuals on the professional and personal front have been difficult, stressful, and not predictable. In these situations, it did not matter if the individual was an entrepreneur or employee, nor their level, profession, or industry sector.

Although an individual may have the technical know-how or academic background to do their job well, if a positive mindset or good habits are not present, it is tough to overcome challenging periods. There is little to no training in mindset and not enough provided on professional work ethic in an academic setting; these traits are attained through practical training and exposure to others that have the strength and know-how to achieve, maintain and retain a positive mindset.

I read an interesting HRB article on engagement and a study this week from The ADP Research Institute, entitled The Global Study of Engagement: Technical Report 2019. Many of the factors referenced for professional engagement, I also believe, mirror what is required for personal engagement on the family front and within relationships.

Productivity, focus, and satisfaction levels require effort. Some of these points may resonate with you:

  • If you are not receiving the feedback you need, don’t wait for it, step up and ask for it.
  • If you do not have the required skill set to do your job more effectively or life skills to deal with a situation, then seek them out. Utilize training and if it is not available, seek it out personally. The free training and development resources available online through edX, the Khan Academy, TED Talks, and YouTube are extensive. As Marya Angelou said “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
  • Work at developing trust; it does not just occur. If trust is broken, accept it and move on.
  • Be very conscious about your level of communication and work at it. Don’t assume that others know what you are trying to say. Verbal and written communication skills need continual development.
  • Demonstrating full presence is challenging, with all the distractions we have thrown at us daily. Consciously be attentive and develop personal activators for every interaction to ensure that you are present.

What can you do this week to feel better professionally and personally?

#jennyreillyconsulting #engagement #productivity #leadership #positiveattitude

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‘ I am sooooooo busy…’

There is a HUGE difference between being busy and highly productive. Does this sound familiar, your days are filled with back-to-back meetings, urgent email, staffing issues, and before you know it, it is the end of the day, and you have not had the opportunity to start your ‘real work.’ 

Next time you feel like this, or if you are talking to a colleague, who is venting about how busy they are, I encourage you to challenge gently. We often need a kind reminder or gentle push that we are, in fact, 100% responsible for our time no matter what pressing deadline, project, or commitment. 

I am addicted to being ‘on’ or ‘in-flow’ when I am working on a project or with a client. I seek it daily and ensure my time is structured to permit me to be in this ‘happy place of productivity’ during focused periods throughout the day. 

Too often, we get caught up in the minutia, fall down that deep hole of procrastination and forget to focus on our ‘real work’ and what truly matters. 

As 2020 is fast approaching, it is an excellent time of year to do a quick, professional reality check. Evaluate what is working for you, what is not, what you would like to continue focusing on in 2020, and what behaviors or habits you need to rid yourself of that are not serving you well. 

Spend one hour daily, yes, only one hour on yourself, and you will be more productive, present, engaged, aware, and empathetic to those around us. I am sorry to say this does mean raising yourself off that soft pillow and out from under your warm duvet a little earlier, but I promise you it will be worth it. Your first hour of the day can be your rejuvenation hour, stretch, meditate, plan your day, savor a cup of coffee, read – take time out to let your mind and body get ready for the day.

Think about your week ahead carefully; you know you need time for family, exercise, sleeping, meal preparation, and cooking. With your professional hours, look closely at how you are spending your time. Your priority should be to allocate time daily to work on meaningful projects that affect the bottom line or are revenue-generating. How many hours should you be spending on these primary tasks daily? Throughout the remainder of your day, slot in three email check-in times and stick to them. Ensure you also have time allocated to customer or client acquisition and maintenance, finance, operational execution, human resources, IT, and staffing. Your categories may be a little different depending on what role you are in; however, the habit itself is the same in spending allocated time on what you know you need to be working on professionally to move forward.  

Plan weekly your top three priorities, review daily, notate progress, and allocate time to evaluate your weekly progress and the next best steps to take. You are the CEO of your life, and nobody else has the responsibility for your success –it’s up to you. 

 In summary:

  1. Implement a daily rejuvenation hour.
  2. Identify your weekly top three priorities and block off uninterruptible time to work on these priorities.
  3. Cancel, or delegate attendance in any meeting where your participation is not essential, or someone else can sit in for you.
  4. Block off time in your schedule for other areas that require your weekly attention.
  5. Focus on every task at hand, and only do one thing at a time. Be present, fully listen, and be open to a change or pivot when necessary throughout the day. 
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Benefits of Connecting with Like-Minded Professionals

Last week in San Diego, I had the opportunity to connect with 56 like-minded professionals. C-Suite and entrepreneurs from across the US, Canada, Netherlands, and the UK. When you get a group of leaders together, connections are made and learning is amplified. Shared professional and personal experiences bond, inspire and motivate.

Another serendipitous connection occurred on route back to Vancouver. Seated next to a woman who had palpable excitement for the adventure she was commencing to Nepal. Lawyer by profession and survivor, she was embarking on a trek to Everest Base Camp raising money for cancer research. We had a great conversation and I had the opportunity to share my past trekking stories of the Annapurna Circuit. She reminded me to continually seek out new adventure and challenged me to stretch and do something new next weekend and yes… I promised too!

Put yourself in a position to meet new people this week, connect and have a meaningful conversation. Moreover, don’t forget to stretch yourself professionally and personally. Plan to do something new that you have not done before.

Here is to an adventure!

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Struggling to make a difficult professional or personal decision?

Take the stress away from your decision-making process and simplify by following five easy steps:
1. Define the problem, and determine the real decision required.
2. List the reasons the decision is difficult.
3. Determine if the decision is as important as you initially perceived. Write down the pros and cons of not making the decision.
4. Brainstorm the various outcomes that could be a result of your decision making.
5. Now breathe, lean in and make the decision. Yes, go for it – you know the best and worst that can happen.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, or stuck in your decision-making process, sign up for a free 30-minute strategy consultation and experience a high-performance coaching session. What are you waiting for, complete your contact details by clicking on the button below, and we will be in touch within 24 hours to schedule a convenient time to connect.

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Mentors Make A Difference

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