| Are you busy? The following anonymous quote | | | | task, can you choose the appropriate person. |
| may echo what you are thinking: Beware of the | | | | Next state the objective. In some cases you |
| barrenness of a busy life. So how do you go | | | | may need to communicate the procedure, give |
| from a busy, frazzled life to a productive and | | | | specific instructions, or demonstrate, in many |
| fulfilling one? You begin by implementing | | | | cases, you do not. Only participate as much as |
| appropriate tools and creating helpful habits. Let's | | | | necessary. I am not advocating that you abdicate |
| get started. | | | | responsibility entirely. Asking a ten-year-old to do |
| Determination | | | | the laundry without any other instructions is |
| Did you know that you can choose to declutter | | | | probably not wise. Demonstrating, then having the |
| your schedule? That's right. Organizing time starts | | | | child do the laundry with you, and then supervising |
| with making choices. I hear you say, "But I don't | | | | as needed for a few times will produce better |
| have choices!" Let's see what we can do to | | | | results. However, asking an administrative |
| change that perception. Each day we make | | | | assistant to secure a rental care for you and then |
| dozens of selections from what we wear to what | | | | telling her who to call (beyond a preferred |
| we eat to how we drive to work. Let's widen this | | | | provider), exactly what questions to ask, and how |
| view of options: | | | | to compare prices, will not only waste time, but |
| 1. Instead of spending three hours preparing the | | | | will also be an exercise in frustration for the |
| perfect 30-minute free presentation, I can take | | | | admin. Remember to inspect and praise the work |
| one hour to make the same presentation good | | | | done by the delegate. And yes, sometimes |
| but not perfect. | | | | correction or retraining will be necessary. But |
| 2. Instead of spending tens hours finding the | | | | effort up front will gain time in the end. |
| perfect recipes for a four course dinner, shopping, | | | | In scenario two above, another way to have a |
| and then preparing the food for a group of close | | | | great time with friends without running yourself |
| friends, I can buy good frozen lasagna, bag salad, | | | | ragged would be to have everyone bring |
| garlic bread, and make my favorite dessert. | | | | something to share. Yes, this is delegation! |
| What created the change? Goals. Let's take the | | | | Remember, delegation extends results from what |
| same scenarios and list the corresponding goal: | | | | you can do to what you can control. You can gain |
| 1. My goal is to work smarter, not harder to gain | | | | hours in your day by delegating |
| money. Therefore, I want to spend an | | | | Declination |
| appropriate amount depending on the importance | | | | One of the shortest words is also one of the |
| of a task. A 30-minute free presentation for 20 | | | | hardest to say: NO. In order to use this word |
| people isn't as significant as a four-hour paid | | | | effectively, you must know your goals. The word |
| presentation for 100 people. As such, I need to | | | | NO should be used when you are asked to |
| allocate my time accordingly. | | | | participate in something that doesn't complement |
| 2. My goal is to have a good time with some | | | | your goals. In scenario one above, if I want to |
| great friends. The food isn't as important as the | | | | work smarter to earn money, then saying NO |
| time spent together. I am more likely to be | | | | when someone calls me to give a free |
| frazzled and not enjoy the evening if I have | | | | presentation is appropriate. Yes, it is possible that |
| spent many hours trying to make everything | | | | I might get a paying client from the engagement, |
| perfect. | | | | but there is no guarantee. In addition to creating |
| The first and most important step to gain time in | | | | the presentation, there is the travel time, set up |
| your day is to determine your goals. Don't stop | | | | time, etc. Is all of that time worth "the possibility |
| reading and don't get overwhelmed. First decide | | | | of a client" when I could take the same amount |
| the major areas of your life, such as family, self | | | | of time and create a product to sell? NO! |
| personal, professional, spiritual, health, fun, | | | | Time to learn two techniques for creating the |
| finances, relationships, community, etc. Then | | | | declination habit: |
| define a big picture goal in each area, followed by | | | | Develop a stock answer to give anyone who |
| one or more specific activities which will contribute | | | | asks for your time. For example, "Can I get back |
| to the overall big picture goal. Remember, you can | | | | to you in a couple of days; I need to check my |
| change these whenever you want. Just write | | | | calendar before I commit to something new?" |
| something down so that you have a starting place | | | | Practice this stock answer until it rolls off your |
| for organizing your time. | | | | tongue easily whenever anyone asks you to do |
| Delegation | | | | something. If the person won't allow the |
| Okay, do you have your goals in mind? You will | | | | "consideration time" then your immediate answer |
| need them in order to implement the next tool | | | | is NO. |
| which is delegation. I can hear you say, "But I | | | | Make a policy to drop one activity before |
| don't have anyone to delegate to." or "I don't | | | | adding a new one. If someone wants you to be |
| know how to delegate." Permit me to equip you | | | | on a committee but you don't have another |
| for the job. | | | | activity to drop, then you can't say "yes" to the |
| The Who of Delegation: Anyone who makes less | | | | new committee. By the way, if your schedule is |
| money per hour than you do is someone to | | | | already way too full, then you may need to drop |
| whom you can delegate. In addition, children (your | | | | two activities for each new one you acquire. |
| own or others) make great task completers. In | | | | Learn declination skills by embracing the following |
| fact, expecting children to contribute to a | | | | words from Anne Lamott: I live by the truth that |
| household creates responsible adults. In addition, | | | | "No" is a complete sentence. |
| because of today's busy society, there is a whole | | | | To recap, the three ways to gain more time in |
| industry of people called personal assistants or | | | | your day are to: |
| personal concierges who run errands and carry | | | | 1. Determine your personal and professional goals. |
| out chores for others. | | | | 2. Delegate as many tasks as possible. |
| The How of Delegation: First, you need to choose | | | | 3. Decline tasks and opportunities that do not |
| a task to delegate. Don't think about anything but | | | | complement your goals. |
| what task could be replicated if a person is | | | | No more delays, it's time to get started gaining |
| properly trained. Only after you decide on the | | | | time! |