Focusing and Executing Your Priorities: Living Above the Line FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities RPMs Facilitator Notes Focusing and Executing Your Priorities: Living Above the Line “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” —Michael Althsuler Quote Read the quote on this slide or ask for a volunteer to read it. STATE: This quote presents an interesting analogy for living above the line. If you were the pilot of an airplane, you would chart your course for the day before taking off. The only reason you would deviate from your course would be bad weather, wind sheer, health emergencies, etc. Once you were past the problem, you’d immediately get back on course. STATE: Now, compare piloting an airplane with navigating through a typical day. What actions are taking you off course? Are they true Quadrant I urgencies, or are they sometimes Quadrant III tasks? Does Quadrant IV ever tempt you to deviate? If you want to reach your goals by the end of the day, you need to stay on course.

Time Management Objectives (pg 263-273) Describe some benefits of time management Describe consequences of poor time management List concepts of time management Franklin Covey

Time Management: ability to control your time & commitments Priority something you give attention to before you think about other things Procrastination tendency to delay or put things off Multitasking ability to complete more than one task at a time Distraction things that draw your attention or interest away from what you are doing

“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” Henry Emerson Fosdick BENEFITS: Get things done Maintain order Create time for things you want to do Reduce stress

Consequences of not planning Stress Unprepared Feel cannot catch up Don’t accomplish tasks to best of your ability Waste time

FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities RPMs Facilitator Notes Planning System Understanding the Concept (cont.) STATE: “Activities” is a broad category that represents how you typically interact with your planning system. Planning-system activity types include “plan,” “schedule,” and “capture and retrieve.” STATE: By now, everyone should be fairly familiar with the concept of planning. No single activity impacts productivity more than your ability to plan successfully. ASK: Could I have a volunteer read the bulleted list on page 3 of the RPM that outlines the different planning elements? STATE: Scheduling should also be a familiar topic. Scheduling activities is always part of the planning process. An effective planning system helps you schedule your time and track your tasks effectively. STATE: Capturing and retrieving information is the last activity. Your planning system should enable you to gather the information you need, then get back to it quickly at any given time. Set priorities Eliminate distractions & activities that don’t meet your goal Quadrant 3 &4

FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities RPMs Facilitator Notes Planning Long-Term Planning write down a specific goal break it down into achievable tasks commit to completing those tasks Document on daily or month page Weekly Planning Review roles. Choose big rocks. Schedule the week. Daily Prioritizing list and prioritize daily tasks by: Check today’s appointments. Make a realistic task list. Prioritize (ABC, 123). Understanding the Concept (cont.) STATE: Let’s discuss long-term planning first. Long-term planning is about defining and outlining your long-term goals. The Goal Planning pages help you outline each goal in detail. Mention to participants that the RPM entitled Achieving Business Success Through Goal Setting is a resource to help them set and achieve their long-term goals.

Typical Weekly Scheduling M T W Th F Sa Su III IV I I III IV III I IV II II II II II II II Franklin Covey H3-03

Effective Weekly Scheduling II I II I II II II II II Franklin Covey H3-04

PRODUCTIVITY PYRAMID Franklin Covey-Focus

Identify Key Roles Band Member May 14 - 20 Family Friend Learner WEEKLY COMPASS Social/Emotional Mental Spiritual Physical What Matters Most Date Role: Sharpen the Saw Identify Key Roles May 14 - 20 ROLES AND GOALS Family Friend Learner Leader Band Member Buff Wanna Be Franklin Covey FTF-28

Key Question : What is the most important thing I could do in this role, this week, that would have the greatest positive impact? Franklin Covey

I want to be the person my dog already thinks I am! Remember Goals & Values I want to be the person my dog already thinks I am! Borrowed from Chicken Soup or Ann Landers

PRODUCTIVITY PYRAMID Franklin Covey-Focus

Classifying activities into three priority levels Planning Classifying activities into three priority levels Must do Should do Nice to do Modelnetics

4 steps to remember when scheduling Things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least” Focus on Importance vs. Urgency Relationships before Schedules Compass over Clock

Time Management Objectives (pg 263-273) Describe some benefits of time management Get things done maintain order create time for things you want to do reduce stress Describe consequences of poor time management Stress feel unprepared Feel cannot catch up, don’t accomplish tasks to best of ability, waste time List concepts of time management Setting priorities eliminates distraction & activities that don’t help meet your goal