If we are late to a meeting something happens to most of our brain chemistry. We start to grab what we need, our mind is whirling…
…what excuse can I give
…do I have everything I need
…is “so and so” going to be aggravated
and usually when we actually get there, the plan for the meeting is in the distant recesses of our mind.
It takes a few minutes to get acclimated back to the here and now.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
Starting the Week Without a Plan
I have this same feeling if my work week begins unplanned.
When I just show up to work on Monday morning my mind immediately goes into this intense concentration zone.
Who am I meeting with today?
Was I supposed to do something for these meetings?
What should I be working on?
And if someone is being friendly and walks by my office to say “hi” and ask how my weekend was, I look up with a blank stare. And when I focus, my eye contact says “Leave me alone, I am doing really important stuff here and I don’t have time for this.”
What a fun office environment. NOT!
The Simplest Solution in the World Is So Easy
It doesn’t have to be this way. If I do one simple thing each week, either on Friday afternoon, or early Monday morning, my entire week is different.
I Plan
I spend 30 minutes.
- I review my calendar for who I am meeting with this week and what, if any, deliverables are due from me.
- I make a quick list of key things I need to do this week – what are my priorities.
- I make a list of who I need to contact this week – to either set up an appointment, send a reminder, or touch base with.
- And lastly, I make a list of what I can and will delegate.
This simple planning exercise makes all of the difference in the world. I know what I will be doing all week, what I need to do it, and who I need to help me.
Hit The Production Time Strong
When I have an uninterrupted hour, I already have a plan of what I need to do with this time by looking at my list. Without it, by the time I figure out what I need to do, the hour is gone.
And if I fritter away an hour here or there, I end up not getting everything done that I need to.
It is that simple.
So why do so many people not do it? I don’t know, but that shouldn’t keep you and I from being smart with our time and our business.
Let’s both just do what we know works, and let’s make sure we end well!
Great reminder, Sue. When are we doing coffee, again?
Give me a call Carter…things have slowed down a bit!
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