Leadership Fire: How to Get Extraordinary Things Done – Consistently! Developed and Prepared for: Executive Assistants Spring Conference Developed and Facilitated by: Jan Dwyer Bang, MBA, CSP

Resources

Overload Activity overload Change overload Choice overload Commitment overload Competition overload Debt overload Decision overload Information overload Expectation overload Fatigue overload People overload Technology overload Problem overload Work overload From Margin, Richard A. Swenson, M.D

What is your Biggest Time Barrier?

Barriers  Paper  Priorities  People  Other

Leadership – is what we do, not what position we hold. Leading is influencing others.

“Whether the value is family, teamwork, hard work, or fun, the truest measure of what leaders deeply believe is how they spend their time.” -The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes & Posner

Leadership Self Assessment In your Appendix

Myths of Time/Life Management  Time can be managed.  More and faster is better.  People and circumstances can make us act in certain ways.

Life Management Principles  Time must be budgeted.  Your ability to make decisions on your use of time should be based on your life mission, goals, and responsibilities.  You need to understand your own limits.

Life Management Principles  You can seize time when you schedule it far in advance.  The ability to apply assertive communication and say “no” is critical to managing your schedule and your life.  You must know your own natural rhythms of maximum effectiveness.

Twelve Dimensions of Life/Self Management 1.Attitudes – Are you an internal or external thinker? 2.Goals – Top time masters develop clear goals and then focus on the activities that will achieve them. 3.Priorities – After setting your goals, then you determine what activities must be done to help you reach the goal. (Important vs. urgent) 4.Analyzing – No one can really master their time use until they know how they spend their time now. 5.Planning – Planning is the only way to break out of the reactive pattern. It is deciding what to do. 6.Scheduling – Is deciding when to do what you have decided to do.

Twelve Dimensions of Life/Self Management 7.Interruptions – Interruptions are a part of your job – accept the uncontrollable and control the controllable. 8.Meetings – Eliminate wasted time in meetings! 9.Written Communications – Learn to trim unnecessary parts and concentrate only on those things that help us achieve results. 10.Delegation – Horizontal and vertical 11.Procrastination – This is doing a low-priority action or task instead of high-priority ones. Things that are unpleasant/things that are difficult/things that involve tough decisions. (SELF-SABOTAGE) 12.Team Time – What’s the best use of OUR time? Respect and help others.

Time Mastery Profile Individual Reflection – 15 minutes 1.What did you discover about your time mastery strengths? 2.What did you discover about your areas of greatest opportunity? 3.Identify one time mastery category that you would like to work on and read the pages associated with that category (pages 10-33) 4.Read the pages, including key concepts and start to fill out Action Plan.

Time Mastery Profile Share with Partner – 15 minutes 1.Share your greatest strengths and weaknesses. 2.Talk about your ideas on improving your time mastery category. Brainstorm other ideas 3.Transfer ideas on Index Cards on your table.

Where to Begin “If we want to make significant changes, we can’t just change attitudes, behaviors, methods, or techniques; we have to change the basic paradigms out of which they grow.” -Stephen R. Covey, First Things First

Leadership Fire “Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” – Reggie Leach Connect your goals with your mission! Write a mission statement by asking yourself: –What’s most important? –What gives your life meaning? –What do you want to be and to do in your life? First Things First, Stephen Covey

Laser Focused Goals Why do I want this goal? What will the goal look like when it is completed? How will I feel like when the goal is completed?

M=Measurable T= Time Bound GOALS

By April 30 th, I will have my office filing system completed. SAMPLE GOALS

By creating an organized space in my office by eliminating unwanted paper and by designing a system that works, I will feel more productive and energized in my work. WHY?

Business Career Mental/Learning Physical Goals

Spiritual Emotional Relational Financial Goals

Plan Weekly Review your “why” Schedule your “big rocks” Schedule the week From First Things First, Dr. Stephen Covey

Plan Daily Check today’s appointments Make a realistic list Prioritize From First Things First, Dr. Stephen Covey

How to Prioritize Is this a High Value Activity? What am I doing this morning to reach my goal(s)? What am I doing this afternoon to reach my goal(s)?

Quadrant 2 Living CrisisPreparation/True Recreation Interruptions?Trivia, busywork URGENTNOT URGENT IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Systems Create a series of activities that you do on a daily/weekly basis Set up benchmarks that will help you reach your goals Tickler files (43 folders- 31 daily (1-31); and 12 more labeled with the months) Daily calendar/Daily tickler folder Action lists

Accountability: Actions toward or involving others that reflect the integrity of the person you want to be.

Follow-Through Just do it! Start now Set a timer Recognize your own barriers

Follow through To press on in an activity or process; especially to a conclusion

Ideas for Just Doing it! 1.Kitchen timer 2.Delayed gratification 3.Be accountable to someone else 4.Use technology for reminders

Action Steps

Better manage time, set goals, and accomplish what matter most Overcome barriers that hijack your time Key Goals

Discover systems, processes, and tools to keep you focused and handle multiple priorities Recognize your own responsibility to “light your leadership fire” to move you and your team forward with results Key Goals

Leadership Fire: How to Get Extraordinary Things Done – Consistently! Developed and Prepared for: Executive Assistants Spring Conference Developed and Facilitated by: Jan Dwyer Bang, MBA, CSP