Just Say No
This is easier said than done to new opportunities and critically importanty for effective time management and success. If I keep saying yes, then I end up cleaning up a mess of disappointment. It also applies to managing your time with your team. Here are some of my coaching questions to deal with saying no.
What Is Your Criteria?
How do you determine whether you will say yes or no to a new opportunity? One of the most useful tools is a list of criteria to bounce it off of. This is a well thought out list of specific items that represent your purpose/mission. Here are a couple of my items as examples: “I am inspiring and empowering people to live their best lives and be more successful.” And “I am sharing my expertise with teams and groups to help them put the puzzle pieces together to create more harmony and success than they could on their own.” Your list of criteria will help you stay more objective and focused on when to say no.
How Do You Feel?
Pay attention to how you initially feel and then as you review your criteria, how you feel about the fit with your purpose/mission. Are you excited and energized or concerned and worried? I know that for me, most new things (just by virtue of being new) get me excited. I give myself a little time to let the excitement settle and then review again and see how I feel. Know yourself and then plan accordingly.
Saying No To Your Team
Recently, I worked with a client on her time management and she realized that hours of her time was spent answering questions from her staff. We created a process for her to train her staff to think through each question and imagine how she would answer. Then when they came with a question she would ask, “What did you imagine I would answer?” If they had nothing then they were sent away to think it through first. In addition, she created quick daily stand-up meetings to review any questions that were not urgent. She learned to be disciplined in asking, “Can this wait till the stand-up meeting?” The discipline in saying no to constant disruptions will have a big pay off with her time.
Once you re-program your internalGPS with your criteria and process of saying no to your team, it takes discipline and practice to execute these new habits. It is well worth the effort to stay focused on your bigger destination and avoid being stuck in a cul-de-sac for long periods of time.
How do you prioritize your time? Please share in a comment.
photo credit: nathangibbs via Flickr creative commons