Status quo is Latin for "the mess we're in." Leaders see what is, but they also have a vision for what could be. They are never content with things as they are. To be leading, by definition, is to be in front, breaking new ground, conquering new worlds, moving away from the status quo.
I believe people tend to think of leadership only in terms of action. But leadership is so much more than just that. Leadership is not just something you do; it's something you are. And that's one of the reasons good leaders have such strong magnetism. People are attracted to who they are.
I found that employees who have worked for the same boss for several years tend to share not only the strengths but also the weaknesses of their boss. In a study, I examined the 360-degree feedback results for a manager and identified areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. The 360-degree results were then analysed for all of the direct reports of the manager (who were also managers).
Time management is a myth. Let’s face it we all have 24 hours a day, irrespective of our social status, wealth or authority. And there is nothing we can do to change this fact. Yet there are people who use their time more effectively than others. The difference is how they choose to use their 24 hour allocation.
There is always time to get important project and tasks done, the challenge is not time. The challenge is our focus and priorities. The reason you’re not getting the results you want has nothing to do with how you manage time. It’s the result of your “to do list”. It’s the management of your attention, projects and tasks the need improvement, not the management of your time. The key concern for leaders is effectiveness – doing the right things. The reason you’re not getting things done is not the lack of time, rather it’s a lack of focus and priority. It’s not knowing what are those few right things that matter. There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do those few things that matter – those actions and decision that have impact and contribute to results. Therefore the primary challenge for leaders is to manage their effectiveness not their time. Majority of Executives I coach or work with agree that their company has too many conflicting priorities. Nearly half of executives say their company has no list of strategic priorities. Executive attention is the scarcest and most precious resource in any enterprise. Focusing leadership attention – doing the right things – is what leads to results. If executive attention is not focused on the right things no amount of “time management” techniques will be of use. Too often we squander out time on projects and tasks that do little to move us towards the results and outcomes that matter. The question we all need to ask is “What’s important?”, “What are those projects and tasks that contribute most to the results I’m seeking?” or “What decisions can I make that would have the greatest impact?”. The goal here is effectiveness – doing the right things – if we do these things the results will follow. Use your time doing those projects and tasks that will have the biggest impact, delegate or ignore the rest. If you’re not getting all your work done or if you’re busy. It’s not because you’ve run out of time or that you’ve not mastered time management. Rather it’s because you lack clarity concerning what matters. Do you have clarity on what matters? Are your priorities clear? Does your calendar and to do list reflect these priorities? Does your to do list have time on your calendar? It isn’t motivation that creates success, but habit and action. The most successful people in the world definitely have passion for what they do, but passion that isn’t accompanied by action is rendered useless.
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