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Unlocking Success: Embracing High Payoff Activities for Optimal Results

Sep 27, 2023 | Business Growth, Business Owners, CEOs, Goal Setting, Happiness, Leadership, Leadership Development, Motivation, Productivity, Strategic Planning, Success, Uncategorized

In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed by an endless stream of tasks, responsibilities, and distractions. The key to success lies in identifying and focusing on the most important high payoff activities that truly move the needle. By harnessing our time and energy effectively, we can achieve remarkable results and create a meaningful impact in both our personal and professional lives.

High payoff activities, often referred to as HPAs, are the critical tasks that generate the most significant results and contribute directly to our goals and objectives. These activities differ from the countless trivial and time-consuming tasks that can consume our days if we allow them to. By prioritizing and dedicating our attention to HPAs, we maximize our productivity, effectiveness, and overall success.

One of the first steps in embracing high payoff activities is to clearly define our goals and objectives. This provides us with a roadmap to guide our decision-making process and helps us identify the tasks that will have the most significant impact on achieving those goals. It’s essential to regularly review and reassess our goals to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with our evolving aspirations.

Next, we must learn to distinguish between urgent and important tasks. Urgent tasks demand immediate attention, but they may not necessarily contribute to our long-term success. On the other hand, important tasks align with our goals and have a lasting impact. Focusing on the important tasks rather than constantly firefighting urgent matters allows us to invest our time and energy wisely.

Delegation and automation are powerful tools when it comes to optimizing our focus on high payoff activities. By delegating tasks that don’t require our unique skills or expertise, we free up valuable time to concentrate on activities that truly matter. Similarly, automating repetitive or mundane tasks eliminates time-consuming inefficiencies, enabling us to redirect our efforts towards more strategic endeavors.

Another crucial aspect of embracing high payoff activities is minimizing distractions. The digital age has presented us with an unprecedented amount of distractions, from social media notifications to never-ending email inboxes. Implementing strategies like time blocking, setting boundaries, and practicing mindfulness can help us create focused and uninterrupted periods to tackle our HPAs.

In conclusion, mastering the art of focusing on high payoff activities is a game-changer in today’s fast-paced world. By prioritizing tasks that directly contribute to our goals, we can increase our productivity, efficiency, and overall success. Remember, success is not just about working hard; it’s about working smart. Embrace the power of high payoff activities, and watch as you unlock your full potential.

Crafting a Successful Future: Mastering SMART Goal Setting to Achieve Your Dreams

Sep 26, 2023 | Business Growth, Business Owners, CEOs, Ethical Leadership, Goal Setting, Happiness, Leadership, Leadership Development, Motivation, Productivity, Strategic Planning, Uncategorized

“Begin with the end in mind.” This timeless principle, popularized by Stephen Covey, holds the key to a successful and fulfilling life. Goals, like guiding stars, illuminate our path and empower us to shape our destinies. The act of goal setting is a deliberate step towards carving out our desired future. In this journey, understanding the essence of effective goal setting and utilizing the SMART framework can be transformative.

A goal is more than a vague aspiration; it’s a written, tangible target that delineates the results or outcomes we aim to achieve. 

The acronym SMART succinctly encapsulates the attributes that render goals effective: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Let’s break down the components that shape these transformative goals.

Specific:

The specificity of a goal provides clarity that propels action. Define who is involved, what needs to be accomplished, identify the location, establish a timeframe, and outline the requirements and constraints. This precision turns vague ambitions into focused targets.

 

Measurable:

Measurement is the yardstick of progress. To make a goal measurable, identify the metrics that signify achievement. Quantify your goal by asking: how much, how many, and how will I know when it’s accomplished? Tangible metrics fuel motivation and track progress.

 

Achievable/ Attainable:

An effective goal stretches your capabilities while being within the realm of achievability. Plan steps that establish a timeframe allowing you to carry out the necessary actions. Aim high, but ensure your goal is grounded in the realities of your resources, time, and skills.

 

Relevant and Realistic:

Does your goal align with your current reality? Evaluate whether the goal serves a relevant purpose within your broader aspirations. Assess if the conditions necessary for success exist and if the goal harmonizes with your life’s overarching objectives.

 

Time Bound and Tangible:

A goal without a timeline often languishes in the realm of intentions. Establishing a deadline infuses a sense of urgency, motivation, and commitment. A tight timeline acts as a catalyst for action, propelling you forward.

 

Remember, a goal is more than a wish; it’s an intention coupled with a strategic plan. By adhering to the SMART framework, you transform aspirations into achievable milestones. As you progress, remember Covey’s timeless adage: “Begin with the end in mind.” Visualize the culmination of your efforts and harness the power of effective goal setting to craft a future of purpose, growth, and accomplishment. Your journey towards success starts with a clear vision and the determination to create it.

Creating Leaders out of Doers.

Feb 4, 2023 | Business Growth, Business Owners, Leadership, Leadership Development, Motivation, Strategic Planning, Success, Uncategorized

Are you up for the Challenge? Creating Leaders out of Doers. 

 

Every day individuals are promoted to supervisory or management positions because of their ability to get the job done. They are the best doer- the best technician, salesperson or worker bee. Great at execution, we promote them to management. If they are lucky, they get a half day workshop on ‘Everything You Need to Know’ about managing and motivating. So many leaders come to the table with their MBA’s – “Management By Accident.”  

 

With very little knowledge or leadership training, they struggle to become successful leaders.  Most of the training is on the job, hopefully learning from success and mistakes. Constantly struggling, ill prepared managers may be doomed to eventually fail or burn out.   

 

Conversely, excellent managers and leaders are made not born. People can be developed to maximize their talents and leverage their strengths. By focusing on strengths, you can apply time, effort and energy to the areas which grow their leadership potential. With intentional training, they can become leaders who inspire others to reach their greatest potential and improve your company’s performance overall.  

 

Ultimately, promoting from within has advantages- leaders understand the company inside out. Knowing that they work for a company that promotes from within is inspiring to the work force. They will work harder and better to distinguish themselves as leaders. And they will be less likely to leave for greener pastures if they know that they could climb the ranks right where they are- which, of course, saves time and money for you. 

 

Let’s look at results for a moment. Do the leaders in your organization get the results that you expected from them based on their potential as doers? Are they struggling to inspire their teams to do great work? Now take a minute to look at how you prepared them for leadership roles? 

    

If you want to improve your results, look carefully at how you are promoting and preparing your management team.  Two ways that you can improve the promoting from within strategy are Mentorship and Assessments.  

 
Mentoring relationships are an important and effective tool for growing leaders. Ideally, a mentor has practical experience as a leader in addition to knowledge of the business. Mentors can teach by example and direct conversations about their experiences as a leader including challenges and successes. They should be a source of meaningful, honest feedback and an inspiration to new or younger employees. 

 

Assessments are valuable tools for evaluating the underlying skills and talents of your leaders or potential leadership candidates. They not only highlight the personality style of your candidate, they will help you to understand their communication style and find the right position with in your company to capitalize on their strengths. 

 

We, at Achievement Unlimited, have the tools to assess your leader’s skills and potential in many areas. Armed with this information, you can tailor the training your team needs to address shortcomings and communication problems. With simple but detailed assessments your team can go from flat to flying in a short time.  In addition, we offer mentoring and accountability groups to grow your team into leaders who win.

Creating a High Performance Culture

Feb 4, 2023 | Business Growth, Business Owners, Goal Setting, Leadership, Productivity, Strategic Planning, Success, Uncategorized

Are you creating a culture of success in your business? 

 

Every organization has a culture. It begins as soon as there are people working together communicating about the day-to-day, vision and purpose of the organization.  Culture can be positive and vibrant with engaged employees, or it can be toxic or apathetic. As a leader, you should be intentional about creating the culture you want, or it will default to whatever happens. Your organization’s core values and purpose should be driving company culture. 

 

Culture is powerful. It helps to create high performance teams that are highly engaged because their work gives meaning to their lives. Human beings are motivated by contributing, using strengths and talents for something that matters. If organizations are to grow, they must be purposeful about creating organizational culture. 

 

Knowing your purpose and what you stand for should be at the front of everything you do.  You want to give your people a compelling reason to work for you beyond simply earning money.  Your core purpose gives meaning to the work that they do. An effective purpose statement reflects people’s idealistic motivations and captures the heart and soul of the organization.  Your core purpose is like your north star on the horizon. 

 

To make the magic happen, though, you must define your core purpose and share it.  If you aren’t sure how to articulate your company’s Core Purpose, your employees probably can’t either. Start with these questions: 

 

  1. Why does your organization exist? 
  2. What are you passionate about? What gets you excited about what you do? 
  3. What difference do you make in the lives of your clients? How are their lives better because of what you do? 

 

It’s not about what you do or how you do it, your core purpose is the why. It defines the difference you want to make in the world. Together with your Core Values and Big Hairy Audacious Goal (Thank you Jim Collins, Good to Great), your Core Purpose is the long-range vision for your organization.  

 

Now more than ever, people are seeking meaningful lives. Studies show that employees who are aligned to your core purpose are three times more likely to stay and report higher job satisfaction. Take time now, at the beginning of the year, to clearly define your Core Purpose and vision. Then look around the office. Honestly evaluate whether the culture of your company reflects your vision and declared purpose. 

 

If it does, give yourself a pat on the back.  

 

But if you are confused by what you see, or it doesn’t align with what you want your company to be, you have a little work to do. Start by clarifying your vision and purpose. Next, work on communicating that mission to your employees and coworkers. Follow up with them and see how they are reflecting your vision to others inside the organization and outside. Really get clear about the vision and how it is being relayed to others.  

 

It may take some time and team building, but it is urgent that you get everyone onboard. Because as John C. Maxwell said in his 2002 book, “teamwork makes the dream work!”  

The Shopping List

Jan 25, 2023 | Leadership, Leadership Development, Uncategorized

The Shopping List

Last week, I asked you to do a Vocation search and think about what you are talented at and what your options could be. What did you learn about yourself? Were there any careers that you had never considered?

By now, you should be convinced that you really can be and do anything that you set your heart on. (Remember that you should not take this as a license to trample on others’ rights).

Your mission now becomes just like a domestic shopping list. The rules and procedures for turning a simple shopping list into its material equivalent are the same for your life goals.

Let’s get started.

Grab some paper or your favorite notes app and start writing out all the things that are missing in your life, both tangible and intangible. It doesn’t matter what order they come in, don’t stop to think, just keep writing and writing and writing until you’ve exhausted all the possibilities – you will sort them out later.

Some people find this difficult because nobody ever gave them permission to think and dream this expansively. Stay with it.

It’s your turn now to be just a little bit selfish and express – exactly- what it is that you want for your life. If you are prepared to give your gift to the world in large quantities, you are entitled to receive on the same scale.

I know of at least one man who undertook this procedure and sat and wrote for almost four hours, without stopping. At the end of that time, he examined his notes and discovered something he described as a ‘revelation’. It even included the answers to some challenges that had plagued him for years. It had been a healing process too.

When you have the finished notes, still in their rough form, keep them handy and refer to them often. You may finally be introduced to someone you never met before – The real YOU.

Next week, I want to talk to you about how to analyze this information along with the work you did last week. Be prepared to do the work and have your hopes and dreams list ready!

About those New Years Resolutions You Just Set…

Jan 17, 2023 | Goal Setting, Uncategorized

About Those 2023 Goals You Just Set-

All goals are purposeful, but are they meaningful?

A meaningful goal is one that ‘makes a difference.’ Jacking up your income by a few percentage points, while desirable, does not qualify as a meaningful goal. So, what does?

You may wish to make scientific breakthroughs, set new standards at Wimbledon, save a rain forest, or a whale. You might even aspire to raising the level of education on the African sub-continent or at home. Whatever it is, find it – it’s waiting out there for you.

Your special set of skills, talents and abilities make you a square peg looking for a square hole. Until, or unless, you find it you will never do your very best work, enjoy total job satisfaction, or fulfill your destiny – so find it!

Of course, there are elements to all professions that require us to do stuff we don’t particularly like, that’s life. I personally don’t enjoy some of the more technical aspects of being a writer, trainer, speaker and publisher, but those aspects don’t take up all my time and the parts I do enjoy more than make up for it in job satisfaction.

The first step then, is to find out what your personal make up really is and how your share of skills, talents and abilities stack up in the overall scheme of things, and the marketplace.

Until you find out exactly what tools you’ve got to work with you cannot decide, with any degree of accuracy, exactly what purpose you should put them to.

In your heart of hearts, you already “know” what the answer is, but you may be afraid to admit it to yourself and others because of what they may think or say. You may need a little help.

Don’t make life more difficult for yourself. Before you start setting down ‘meaningful goals’ you need first to show what it is that you are best at, in order that you can excel at it easily and naturally.

If you have any problems at all finding what you need, just punch “Vocational Guidance” into your favorite search engine and something will turn up.

What new things did you discover about yourself during your vocational guidance analysis? Perhaps you discovered nothing new but were able to confirm some deeply seated suspicions about just what you should be doing with your life. If that’s the case the effort will have been worthwhile.

If you really did go through the vocational guidance procedures as instructed, you now know what you should be concentrating your energies on. Now that you recognize what it is that you enjoy the most and can really excel at – here comes the fun part.

Next week, we will talk more about what to do with this revelation and how to get started on making meaningful goals for your personal and professional lives.