YOUR BUSINESS
Remove Chaos
Over-busy is a problem many are facing these days. With cost pressure always increasing, it is typical that fewer people are expected to do the same or even more work.
Granted there are some times you need to buckle down and work what feels like 24x7 to accomplish a specific deadline. But what I am talking about here is the kind of over-busy that creeps into steady state, and getting control of it.
In my experience, steady state over-busy has two main causes:
- Signing up for more than you can actually do
- Organizational chaos which makes everything you do take longer.
I will share five ideas based on my own experience leading organizations which help break through the over-commitment and chaos, and maximize the time spent actually getting benefit from work vs. dealing with things that get in the way of doing the work.
- Focus on the work that needs to be done
- Focus on the can’t fails
- Force clarity
- Communicate better
- Have Better meetings
YOUR PEOPLE
Not delegating is NOT a choice
One of the most common problems I hear when I talk to managers is “I try to delegate but then when it comes back it’s wrong or it’s not good enough, so then I have to do it myself.”
This is a very important point.
When it turns out wrong, you must resist the temptation to do it yourself.
You have only two choices: either you must:
- Do a better job delegating so it turns out right
or… - Change the person to someone who can handle it.
I am stating this harshly, but the point is critical.
YOUR VISIBILITY
Don’t do everything
This is a big aha for many people. It’s simply – don’t do everything. Most highly successful executives that I know are not the ones that are used up and burned out and pissed off. And they don’t do everything. They have a way of covering the can’t fails and setting expectations so that they can maintain some “buffer” in their schedule.
This allows them to be responsive to new “can’t fails that come up”, and not get burned out along the way.
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes you need to work 24x7 to meet a deadline, but if you are in a steady-state of over-busy, you need to find a way to contain the work, lead, and make more room.
It’s important to remember that no one other than YOU has any motivation whatsoever to make you less busy.
Your boss, your team and your peers only benefit from your endless output. It’s up to you alone.
Here's how to do it:
YOUR LIFE
Give your values some “airtime”
One of the things that makes me feel overwhelmed is if I feel like I have zero time to do the things outside of work that I want to do.
Work can have a way of squeezing out everything else.
One of the things that makes this most challenging is if the thing that is getting squeezed out represents a core value for you.
It could be something to do with your family, or that you personally need an adventure, or you need a sense of calm to do some critical thinking, or you desire surrounding yourself with nature or music, or friends…
One of the exercises I take people through in my workshops is defining what your core values are, and then once that is done, understanding how well you are doing serving them.
Most people don’t get to optimize all their core values at one time. You may emphasize financial security at the expense of freedom, or you may sacrifice personal flexibility in favor of family.
I hope you have found a few useful ideas that you can apply right away to start building value in your career and business.
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About Patty
Patty Azzarello was the youngest general manager at HP ever at the age of 33. She ran a $1B software business at the age of 35 and was a CEO for the first time at the age of 38. Patty is known for her personal leadership qualities, her straightforward and practical manner, and her genuine interest in making a real connection with people to help them to advance their career and business, and to find ways to enjoy their life more.
Today Patty Azzarello is the CEO of Azzarello Group, www.AzzarelloGroup.com a unique services organization focused on helping companies develop and motivate their top performers and grow their business.
Azzarello Group delivers practical, experience-based tools, through products and services including, executive coaching, public speaking, leadership workshops, online programs, and consulting with teams on business execution.
