Productivity - The Aspiring Leader

Recently, I realized how much time I spend planning and sitting in meetings. I am not even sure if there is an alternative. My different roles seem to require me to participate in these meetings, whether I like it or not.

It isn’t that I do not like them – sitting around discussing, dreaming, and planning is something I enjoy. However, I am beginning to notice the number of unproductive meetings I am not only a part of but also lead. Meetings with no outcome that only results in another meeting being scheduled are too familiar.

I have also realized my inability to affect any change in whether meetings occur. I may have influence over my team and how we operate meetings, but I still need to respond to the requests of others. Meetings are just a part of life.

We can ask three questions at the end of every meeting, whether we lead it or a part of it, to ensure the time is adequate:

Question 1: What decisions have we made?

I recall a recent meeting where we had significant discussions, brilliant, innovative ideas were generated, and challenges were overcome with creative debate. However, after the meeting concluded, it was unclear whether any decisions had been made and what the next steps were.

We often fail to summarize at the end of meetings and reinforce decisions made and who will action them. Asking a simple question can help ensure the time spent was productive and move the conversation forward.

Question 2: Who is impacted by our decisions?

One aspect that can make or break a team is the communication that occurs. This situation is highlighted and can become an issue if decisions and actions are made and not everyone is informed. Sending out minutes, recordings, and notes taken during the meeting is sometimes insufficient in communicating with those absent.

If we want our meetings to be effective and not waste time, it is essential to communicate to everyone impacted by those meetings’ outcomes. I have found that doing this properly actually means we have fewer meetings. So, posing the question, “Who is impacted by the decisions we have made, and therefore, who do we need to engage with before it becomes a problem?” can save us from additional meetings in the future.

Question 3: Who will inform them?

We can quickly walk away having made decisions and even understanding our effect on people but forgetting to inform them.

It can often be the classic case of everyone else in the team expecting someone to inform the people who need to know.

Please don’t leave the question unanswered, and don’t leave it as an assumption that somebody will do it. If we have determined the decisions, actions, and the people affected, let’s inform them.

Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

I recently read an article that suggested it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit in our life. A habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially hard to give up.

This definition makes sense to me. The old myth of “21 days to make a habit” never seemed to work for me – well, not with any good habits.

What is the great mystery or secret to habits? Why are we so intrigued? A quick google search brings up an endless list of articles, suggestions, and guides. Exactly like this one you are reading now.

But that is precisely why I am writing on this topic. I could never find a solution that worked for me in its entirety. Instead a whole range of different ideas, learned lessons, and suggestions amalgamated into a process.

4 Habit Making Habits That Work For Me

Key 1: Get Some Quick Wins

We’ve all had those moments of great inspiration and motivation – often as the clock ticks over into a brand new year on January 1st.

The list begins, grows, and becomes almost fictional when compiled into our “100 things to change this year” spreadsheet.

But it only takes a few shorts weeks for the reality of our list to suck out any potential there was to knock a few off early in the year. So the weeks tick by, and the list becomes increasingly daunting until we discard it.

I needed a list that was achievable and strategically created to get the ball rolling and hit some quick wins.

Very often, that one thing we are trying to change with creating a positive habit is like staring at a giant disassembled flat-pack piece of furniture and its 93-page instruction booklet.

But grab a few small pieces and start chipping away, and pretty soon, it starts looking like the photo on the front cover.

Make your goal, your new habit achievable:

Don’t aim to do it every day.
Start with a few times per week.
Break the more critical goal up into smaller steps.

Key 2: Don’t Set Yourself Up To Fail

A few years ago, when I began the journey of being more serious about health and fitness, I was plagued with failure.

My Sunday night routine was to pack my gym bag and set my alarm for a 5.15 am wake-up. My Monday morning routine was to hit the snooze function dozens of times and then drag myself off to work.

I failed before I had even begun. Not because I didn’t drag myself out of bed, but because I set myself up with an unrealistic expectation.

Like in the first point, when it came to exercising, I found it easier the more times I achieved it. The more quick wins I had, the more I made it a habit and a higher priority in my life. So if my current schedule requires an earlier gym session (definitely not my preference), I can make it in time and sometimes with a smile.

Why? I stopped setting myself up to fail. Instead, I created realistic expectations that I could achieve. The momentum of hitting quick wins motivated me to keep pushing forward, which ultimately started habits.

Simple? Well, not always. But it should be simple. A goal is just a whole list of small achievable tasks, and so are habits.

Key 3: Start Somewhere

Here’s another mindset that I’ve had to journey through – just because I can’t do it perfectly straight away doesn’t mean I shouldn’t start anyway.

At times I am terrible at this. I want to wait until everything is in place, organised, and ready to go. Rather than just getting started and letting it all fall into place.

Do any of these sound familiar?

I’ll wait till my job changes, so I have more time.
When summer comes, it will be warmer, and I’ll start then.
Once this busy season is over, I’ll start working on it.
When the kids grow up, then I’ll do that.

But what if you just did it anyway? It may not look like the end product you want, but it moves you another step closer.

Key 4: Embrace Technology

Why fight technology? If it takes 66 days to create a habit in your life, why not use any resource or support to get to that point.

I’ve used reminders and tracking apps to help me build habits for all kinds of things – health and fitness choices, daily tasks, personal development, and strengthening relationships.

My current app of choice is called Productive, and it works perfectly for what I need. Set habits, frequencies and tick them off as I go.

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash

Category: Productivity

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