Wednesday 23 July 2014

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It's for your own good. Cut these things out of your day and you'll see gains in productivity--not to mention happiness.

Rob Warde/Flickr


If you get decent value from making to-do lists, you'll get huge returns--in productivity, in improved relationships, and in your personal well-being--from adding these items to your not to-do list:
Every day, make the commitment not to:
1. Check my phone while I'm talking to someone.
You've done it. You've played the, "Is that your phone? Oh, it must be mine," game. You've tried the you-think-sly-but-actually-really-obvious downwards glance. You've done the, "Wait, let me answer this text..." thing.
Maybe you didn't even say, "Wait." You just stopped talking, stopped paying attention, and did it.
Want to stand out? Want to be that person everyone loves because they make you feel, when they're talking to you, like you're the most important person in the world?
Stop checking your phone. It doesn't notice when you aren't paying attention.
Other people? They notice.
And they care.
2. Multitask during a meeting.
The easiest way to be the smartest person in the room is to be the person who pays the most attention to the room.
You'll be amazed by what you can learn, both about the topic of the meeting and about the people in the meeting if you stop multitasking and start paying close attention. You'll flush out and understand hidden agendas, you'll spot opportunities to build bridges, and you'll find ways to make yourself indispensable to the people who matter.
It's easy, because you'll be the only one trying.
And you'll be the only one succeeding on multiple levels.
3. Think about people who don't make any difference in my life.
Trust me: The inhabitants of planet Kardashian are okay without you.
But your family, your friends, your employees--all the people that really matter to you--are not. Give them your time and attention.
They're the ones who deserve it.
4. Use multiple notifications.
You don't need to know the instant you get an email. Or a text. Or a tweet. Or anything else that pops up on your phone or computer.
If something is important enough for you to do, it's important enough for you to do without interruptions. Focus totally on what you're doing. Then, on a schedule you set--instead of a schedule you let everyone else set--play prairie dog and pop your head up to see what's happening.
And then get right back to work. Focusing on what you are doing is a lot more important than focusing on other people might be doing.
They can wait. You, and what is truly important to you, cannot.
5. Let the past dictate the future.
Mistakes are valuable. Learn from them.
Then let them go.
Easier said than done? It all depends on your perspective. When something goes wrong, turn it into an opportunity to learn something you didn't know--especially about yourself.
When something goes wrong for someone else, turn it into an opportunity to be gracious, forgiving, and understanding.
The past is just training. The past should definitely inform but in no way define you--unless you let it.
6. Wait until I'm sure I will succeed.
You can never feel sure you will succeed at something new, but you can always feel sure you are committed to giving something your best.
And you can always feel sure you will try again if you fail.
Stop waiting. You have a lot less to lose than you think, and everything to gain.
7. Talk behind someone's back.
If only because being the focus of gossip sucks. (And so do the people who gossip.)
If you've talked to more than one person about something Joe is doing, wouldn't everyone be better off if you stepped up and actually talked to Joe about it? And if it's "not your place" to talk to Joe, it's probably not your place to talk about Joe.
Spend your time on productive conversations. You'll get a lot more done--and you'll gain a lot more respect.
8. Say "yes" when I really mean "no."
Refusing a request from colleagues, customers, or even friends is really hard. But rarely does saying no go as badly as you expect. Most people will understand, and if they don't, should you care too much about what they think?
When you say no, at least you'll only feel bad for a few moments. When you say yes to something you really don't want to do you might feel bad for a long time--or at least as long as it takes you to do what you didn't want to do in the first place.
Want to become a better, smarter, more effective team builder and communicator? Join us at Inc.'s upcoming Leadership Forum June 10 to June 12 in San Diego. Visit leadership.inc.com for details.

 Source:inc.com

29 comments:

  1. Dnt look down to your mate coz, it won't add nothing to your worth. Ojekunle Olasunkanmi Idris.

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  2. It's good to set one standard and be positive at all time.By Oduola Adekemi. Blessing.

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  3. when avioding all tip you will atain and sustain the energy,well-being and dont look down ur mate u will achive ur gaol

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  4. Never look down on people and don't dissatisfy yourself because you want to satisfy others.

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  5. don't look down on your self and alway be yourself.

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  6. Just believe in anybody just believe in your self

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  7. Being focus is an essential ingredient to success and avoid talks which are notproductive.

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  8. Be confident about yourself,value yourself and never look down on anybody.The write up is caution encouraging in nature.

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  9. Avoid mistakes and also act as if u are professional . OLANREWAJU KAZEEM DELE

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  10. Try as much as possible to know want u want for your self.avoid what is necessary for u to avoid, do not say yes to would not be happy with it at the long run.AKINOLA LANRE AMODU

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  11. Human being need to think wisely before he/she lay hand on anything because opportunity comes once. Oladapo,Akolawole Jeleel

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  12. Thanks ER. Lots of people are fond of doing these... and I consider it very rude.

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. Real success is impossible unless you treat other
    people with kindness, regard, and respect.
    After all, you can be a rich jerk... but you will
    also be a lonely jerk. i.e no individual can live in
    isolation to be leader you need people. don't look down on your mate.
    TINUOYE ABIODUN OYEYEMI.

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  15. you get decent value from making to-do lists, you'll get huge returns--in productivity, in improved relationships, and in your personal well-being--from adding these items to your not to-do list

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  16. If you get decent value from making to-do lists, you'll get huge returns--in productivity, in improved relationships, and in your personal well-being--from adding these items to your not to-do list:................olatilewa tairu olatoye

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Apart from d above point,to be a good leader and to success in one's career one have to be discipline,don't go out with many friends,be sensitive to the things around you,don't talk too much
    By AYOOLA FLORENCE YETUNDE

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  19. Number 7 in this article is talking about gossiping which is common amidst women,we shlould try and do away with them so that it will help our day to day activities
    By AJILORE BOLAJI CLAUDIA

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. As a leader you should not allow your past to ride on you,rather you think on wat to do to achieve ur aims/goals
    By ADEYEMI ADENIKE ELIZABETH

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  22. Disconnect yourself from any means of distraction in order to be focus ADEBOYE ROTIMI FRED

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  23. If you get decent value from making to-do lists,
    you'll get huge returns--in productivity, in
    improved relationships, and in your personal well-
    being--from adding these items to your not to-do
    list.
    Salau Kazeem Ayobami

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dnt look down to ur mate becos it won't add nothing to your worth

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  25. Dnt look down to ur mate becos it won't add nothing to your worth.ladigbolu blessing kemi

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  26. We need to be careful in making a statement because evry word we alter has a lot of gravity is in .

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  27. We should be focus.
    RAHEEM BASIRAT YETUNDE

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  28. Be focus and learn from your mistakes. OKE BUSAYO

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  29. Paying attention is a very useful attribute of good leadership Ayinladeabigail

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