Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Decrease the stress of more work with less support by focusing on your priorities
Stress for Success
August 28, 2007


Has your workload increased as your workforce decreases? Whether your organization is laying off employees or having problems hiring enough qualified ones, step back and evaluate what you're doing to assure that you’re doing the most important things.

If you’re in a near constant race against time it’s easy to become distracted by what’s urgent but unimportant. If you simply add more tasks to your previous workload hustling to get everything done you’ll easily lose sight of your main purpose. If everything becomes a priority that means that nothing is. "Work smarter, not harder," by always knowing and investing your limited energy into your top personal and professional priorities.

A former high-school vice-principal who became the principal of her school created a visible, colorful poster for her desk on the first day of her new job. It depicted the top three priorities she’d identified as vice-principal to lead toward the ultimate goal of improving student performance: classroom discipline, teacher expectations, and parent involvement. She committed to these three priorities guiding her time investments for at least the first year.

As she raced through her days, to avoid being sidetracked by an urgent task, she’d question if investing her energy into it would lead toward one of her top three objectives. If her answer was “no”, she’d delegate the task as often as possible.

Another technique to remain focused on the important comes from Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." He suggests planning your time by making a weekly list of your professional and personal roles and what you want to accomplish in them. For instance, professionally your roles include coach, supervisor, team member, etc. Personally you’re a parent, spouse, friend, etc. Schedule your week’s activities ahead of time by including what you want to accomplish for your most important roles. For example, if you have a friend who needs support schedule a lunch to offer her some.

Take the advice of consultant Ivy Lee for one final idea on focusing on the important. Back in the 1930s he was asked by Charles Schwab, President of Bethlehem Steel, for advice on how he could achieve more. Lee told Schwab to write down the most important things he needed to complete the next day and rank-order them. In the morning start immediately on the number one priority and work only on it until completely finished. Then move on to the second most important, etc. Stick with each as long as it remains the most important. Do this every day.

Within five years Schwab created the largest independent steel company in the world. He was so impressed with the value of Lee’s advice he paid him $25,000! How much would that be worth in today’s dollars?

To make the most of your time identify and then live your life by your top priorities. Say “no” to that which leads you away from them. Say “yes” to that which leads you toward them. Stop doing more and more; instead do more of the important and much less of the unimportant.

Jacquelyn Ferguson, M. S., of InterAction Associates, is a trainer and a Stress Coach. E-mail her at www.jackieferguson.com with your questions or for information about her workshops on this and other topics and to invite her to speak to your organization.