Bridges Edition of 7/5/2007

2007-7
Bridges - July 2007
Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Executive and Career Coach & Consultant. My goal is that these newsletters include practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you found the newsletter helpful, please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.
If you would like to take advantage of a business consultant or executive coach, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com for a complimentary coaching session or visit my website - www.coachrobinfogel.com
********************************
We have lost our ability to prioritize. In this world where the work place can be 24/7 we start to react to any stimulus and believe everything to be of equal importance. We move from one task to the next, often feeling that nothing has been accomplished, feeling overwhelmed. We look at our calendars and yearn for another hour, instead of shifting the focus to managing our time differently and setting those priorities.

Stephen Covey, the guru of productivity and author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", has written that we spend considerable time on trivia, on busywork. We let interruptions control our day. So what can we do to regain control? Start with the end in mind. Do you know what the key things are that you want to accomplish today, this week, this quarter? Does this task or activity move you toward that goal? The question I ask clients is, "Is this the best use of your time?" If not, let that task go or if it's still important though not the best use of your time, delegate it or train someone else to do it, and shift your focus back to your top priority.

Ask yourself a few clarifying questions:

1. What will help me accomplish this task more quickly? Do I need an uninterrupted block of time and if so, how do I get it?
2. What can I do simplify the process? Am I making the best use of available technology and other resources? If it is something reoccurring, could I develop a template?
3. What level of effort do I need to put into this? Sometimes good enough really is good enough. Does this effort really require 110%? Am I being a perfectionist when it may not be needed?
4. What is your most productive time of the day? If possible use that to your advantage when planning your work.

Remember, being busy is one thing but being productive is something quite different.

**************************************

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
From Parade Magazine - Average vacation time:
French: 39 days
Germans: 27 days
English: 24 days
Americans: 14 days

************************************

For those who ask me what it is that I do, my business has evolved and I have been offering coaching and business consulting in the following areas:

-Business Consulting & Executive Coaching - working as an independent sounding board providing advice on staffing issues, developing emerging talent and helping managers sharpen their communication and management skills;
-Career Coaching for career advancement, change or transition;
-Not for Profit Consulting - providing Executive Directors with independent sounding board, consulting on staff issues, board relations and staff development.

************************************

Final thought
When we are the most overwhelmed, we are the least resourceful. - Anthony Robbins

COPYRIGHT: 2007, Robin Fogel & Assoc., LLC. All Rights Reserved. May be distributed and reprinted in its entirety with copyright, subscription instructions, and contact information intact. However, you may not copy it to a website.