Time Killers<\/p>\n
Time killers are things, processes, people or anything that diverts our attention to activities that are unnecessary and without benefit. Time Killers harm our effectiveness as entrepreneurs. I believe these tips may be credited to Stewart Levine and his book Cut to the Chase, but I was unable to verify the references. Nevertheless, they are excellent tips and worthy of repetition.<\/p>\n
Tip 1 – I GOT IT<\/b><\/p>\n
As soon as you understand exactly what someone is explaining, indicate in one way or another, \u201cI got it.\u201d Doing so frees them to move on and cover more ground. Similarly, if someone else says \u201cI got it\u201d to you when you\u2019re explaining a point, stop.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not sure if someone got your point, listen carefully to the person\u2019s responses. If it\u2019s clear there\u2019s still a misunderstanding, say \u201cI\u2019m not sure we\u2019re on the same page. Let\u2019s make sure we understand each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tip 2<\/b><\/p>\n
YOU\u201dRE KILLING ME<\/b><\/p>\n
What happens if you have said, \u201cI got it\u201d to the person and they keep right on talking? You feel trapped. You know the clock is ticking. This is the third time you have heard the story. Everyone in the room is already in violent agreement. Instead of getting angry or giving up, look at the other person, laugh, and say, \u201cYou\u2019re killing me. I\u2019ve got the point. Let\u2019s move on.\u201d<\/p>\n
By being both direct and funny about it, you do two things: (1) you break the tension that everyone probably feels; and (2) by keeping things light, you move the conversation forward without offending. Odds are that the speaker is so wrapped up in the point being made that he or she has stopped observing what was going on around them. You\u2019re offering him or her, a graceful way out and helping to keep things moving.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not comfortable saying, \u201cYou\u2019re killing me,\u201d try \u201cTime out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tip 3<\/b><\/p>\n
CLOSE THE LOOP<\/b><\/p>\n
Have you ever had a test at your physician\u2019s office, and the nurse said, \u201cWe\u2019ll call you if there\u2019s a problem\u201d? Two weeks later\u2014and still no call. You begin to wonder, \u201cWhat if they lost the test? How can I be sure everything\u2019s okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
When people don\u2019t close the loop, they leave the other person hanging. Not only is it distracting, it can subtly erode the relationship.<\/p>\n
Anyone can follow up. It\u2019s a simple matter of being conscientious and disciplined.<\/p>\n
When a colleague introduces you to a new contact, tell your colleague when you\u2019ve reached out to the new person. After you\u2019ve connected, tell your colleague how it went.<\/p>\n
Respond to invitations and meeting requests promptly. It\u2019s a lot easier for others to plan an event when they know who\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n
When you receive details or specifics, acknowledge them. When you receive a question by phone or e-mail, answer it or forward it to the person who can.<\/p>\n
Acknowledge your action with the person who raised the question. A simple e-mail reply saying, \u201cGot your message, see you there\u201d will eliminate any confusion or uncertainty over whether you received the e-mail and were able to attend the event.<\/p>\n
Never let yourself be known as someone who leaves other people hanging. Once that label gets applied, it\u2019s hard to shake. On the other hand, when you consistently close the loop, you build a reputation as a dependable professional.<\/p>\n
Tip 3<\/b><\/p>\n
Never let your iPhone become iCrack<\/b><\/p>\n
We\u2019ve become obsessed with staying connected at all times. If not used wisely, these tools, instead of helping us cut to the chase, can usher in a relentless stream of interruptions in our professional and personal lives.<\/p>\n
Do you ever find yourself irritated at a fellow commuter who talks nonstop on his cell phone, sharing private and privileged information, while you are attempting to catch up on industry reading? Have you ever been tempted to strangle someone at a meeting who checks his email while others are speaking or presenting?<\/p>\n
These productivity tools should serve us, not the other way around. Turn them off when you\u2019re in meetings or working on something that involves others or requires concentration.<\/p>\n
You can check in and respond to e-mails when the meeting or work session is over.<\/p>\n
Set an after-hours limit as well\u2014one that works for you, your family, and friends.<\/p>\n
Tip 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Tell them the Baby is Ugly<\/b><\/p>\n
When I asked a colleague to review my initial outline for an article, he agreed under one condition: \u201cI need to know that I can tell you if the baby is ugly.\u201d I told him that not only did I agree, I was counting on him to constructively challenge my thinking.<\/p>\n
When someone has a new idea, he or she often loses objectivity. After all, the idea reflects on his or her creativity and quality of thinking. It\u2019s hard to tell someone that you don\u2019t like an idea. But it\u2019s a lot easier to have that discussion before you launch a new product or service than after your company spends countless hours and dollars to develop it. In fact, the sooner you point out that the baby is ugly, the less time everyone wastes developing a flawed idea. A smart innovator counts on your honest feedback. That\u2019s why he or she is asking for it.<\/p>\n
An easy way to provide constructive feedback is to give or ask for: three things you like about the idea, three ways to improve the concept and if you dare three things not liked about the idea. This last question is difficult as many humans are programed to be polite and the politeness barrier is a difficult one to crack.<\/p>\n
Tip 5<\/b><\/p>\n
Know your weaknesses, but play to your strengths.<\/b><\/p>\n
Most people focus on their weaknesses and try to improve them. But the most successful executives realize that this is a waste of time. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, whether they are a CEO or a management trainee. While it\u2019s important to be aware of your weaknesses, devoting time and energy to strengthening them will give you only limited gains.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll become much more effective by building on the things you already do well.<\/p>\n
Tip 6<\/b><\/p>\n
Life is a negotiation<\/b><\/p>\n
If you\u2019re breathing, you\u2019re negotiating. Every day you\u2019re trading \u201cthis for that\u201d\u2014whether requesting a better compensation package from your employer, negotiating a deal with a client or vendor, or deciding where to dine that evening with your spouse. Make every negotiation a little easier by limiting your wish list to the two or three things that matter most.<\/p>\n
Unless you\u2019re negotiating a multiyear contract or a peace treaty, don\u2019t bring a long laundry list to the table. You\u2019re bound to lose something important if you do. Negotiation takes time. Invest it wisely in the important work\u2014knowing exactly what you want, listening to what the other party needs<\/p>\n
Tip 7<\/b><\/p>\n
On it. Pending. Done<\/b><\/p>\n
Develop a shorthand with your close colleagues. You\u2019re all busy, so give each other permission to dispense with the niceties. On it, pending and done is one I like to use. Another CEO, when he wants someone to move on, e-mails or says \u201cPAC.\u201d It stands for \u201cPoint accepted. Continue.\u201d His team knows it\u2019s nothing personal.<\/p>\n
Tip 8<\/b><\/p>\n
Good Enough is the Enemy of Perfect<\/b><\/p>\n
There\u2019s nothing wrong with wanting to do your best. But striving for perfection when \u201cgood enough is good enough\u201d is a waste of time. Don\u2019t let unhealthy perfectionism keep you from cutting to the chase. Know when to let things go.<\/p>\n
Tip 9<\/b><\/p>\n
Take back the Weekend<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s 4:30 on Friday afternoon. You\u2019re ready to go home. After putting out fires all week, you\u2019re the one who\u2019s burned out. But you\u2019ve got a pocketful of business cards, a pile of receipts to sort through, and at least three people waiting to hear back on something. You decide to go home anyway and \u201ccatch up\u201d over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Stop!<\/b><\/p>\n
Unlike on weeknights\u2014when your goal is to clean up quickly and respond to anything time sensitive\u2014 Friday afternoons are the time to close every open loop and catch up on those easy-to-put-off tasks that clutter your desk and mind.<\/p>\n
Before you leave the office, make sure you\u2019ve delivered on promises, reviewed everything that needs your input, and returned all calls and e-mails. Stay late if you need to. Better yet, set aside time earlier in the day so you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n
Tip 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Know when to put the book down<\/b><\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve grown irritable or are snapping at people, if you\u2019re exhausted or can\u2019t focus, if you can\u2019t fall asleep or are waking up in the middle of the night, take a step back. It\u2019s time to do more than \u201cturn the page\u201d on a workday. You need to put the book down. Whether it\u2019s a long weekend or a true vacation, you need a break. Things aren\u2019t going to improve until you take some extended time off to reenergize.<\/p>\n
Every one has effectiveness tips. Feel free to add yours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Time Killers Time killers are things, processes, people or anything that diverts our attention to activities that are unnecessary and without benefit. Time Killers harm our effectiveness as entrepreneurs. I believe these tips may be credited to Stewart Levine and … Continue reading