Read the article we have written for WeAreTheCity here: January focus: Work smarter, not harder
A new decade, a new year, a new month – what better time to have a proper restart?
This is the time to do it, don’t let the autopilot run your life and career, make sure you are in charge of your journey through the year.
As you kick off 2020, stop and think about how you spend your time and how you can work smarter, not harder. What do you need to focus on this year to achieve your goals and ambitions?
If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one
Russian proverb
Part of this is about TIME LEADERSHIP (not ‘time management’ as it’s about more than just managing your time). It is all about self-leadership, leading yourself entails planning your time well, blocking time for the important stuff too, so the urgent stuff doesn’t win every time. It’s about thinking short- and long-term.
It could look like something as simple as this for example:
The other part is about HABITS & ACTIVITIES – being outcome focused rather than task focused. Ask yourself:
- What should you STOP doing? (dare to challenge practices that don’t deliver for the overall outcome)
- Is there anything you should START doing instead?
- What should you CONTINUE doing? To celebrate your strengths and success and to ensure you appreciate what you already do well.
And then finally, ask yourself:
How will you stick to your commitments of working smarter, not harder?
Who could support you? Who else could you involve, to help you succeed?
And could there a win-win aspect here too, that helps both parties succeed?
Here’s to a smart 2020!
Efficiency is doing the thing right. Effectiveness is doing the right thing.
Peter Drucker
About the authors
Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, multi-award-winning authors of “Leading Teams – 10 Challenges: 10 Solutions” and ”The Team Formula”.
Their latest book “The Leader’s Guide to Impact” published April 2019 by Financial Times International is an in-depth practical guide to creating the impact you want.
You can download a free chapter of the book at www.2020visionleader.com
Praise for “The Leader’s Guide to Impact” – “If there is one book you read on leadership, this is it. It’s jam-packed with practical tips, stories and frameworks to help you to be the best leader you can possibly be by taking control of your impact on those around you. Elisabet and Mandy hit the leadership nail on the head every time! I wish this book was around 20 years ago!” Vanessa Vallely, OBE, Managing Director, WeAreTheCity, author, “Heels of Steel”
