Prioritise Your Day - Keep Focus - Win!

Whether you run your own business or manage a team, there are times when things don't go to plan. Like:-

  • Your key people don't show up.
  • A deadline shifts.
  • Your boss turns up unexpectedly.
  • You get really busy beyond expectations.
  • ...and more.
How do you get clear on the priority of the day?

Value it - that's how!

So, if you run any sort of business, consider what the most important thing would be to your business, if you were down to the barest of bones in personnel numbers, for just one day, what would you do?

Here are some thoughts...

  • Be honest with yourself, and very, very realistic - in fact, plan what you can achieve and then less! It is far better to be great at less, than poor at too much.
  • Be honest with your people and get them on board - appeal to their emotional side, "I need your help", usually works.
  • Think damage limitation - what would do the most harm to your business - and resolve that first (hint - think Customer).
  • With customers, be honest and realistic with them - usually, they will be very understanding if you are clear about it being a bad day - they will not forgive inadequate information and poor performance.
  • Plan short-term solutions on the run - by making space for thinking time (see 1 above) to resolve where your problems are today, so you move on tomorrow.
  • Celebrate success with your people. Back to basics and succeeding against all the odds builds teams - utilise the opportunity to let it sink in - together!
  • Learn and make changes - so that there will not be a next time. Your clients and your own staff have only so much generosity when things go wrong - so make sure it doesn't happen again. Fire-fighting happens! So, when you need to have a day doing just the top priorities for your business, let go of everything else. Have the courage to be honest with yourself, park not-necessary-now stuff and enjoy your day truly in the business. Be honest with your people and welcome them on board the firetruck! Finally, yet most importantly, be honest with your customers and clients, forging new, mutually supportive relationships with them too.

    If you need to do this too often for comfort, you need a rethink - then is the time for some real 'source' problem solving (see the "Solving Problems with Whys" article at www.ezinearticles.com - checkout 'Expert Authors, sort by name, Martin Haworth)

    Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com (Note to editors. This article may be edited for use in your publication or newsletter as long as a live link to the website is included)

    ...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Why Your Business Needs an E-Mail Policy

    Why is it imperative to have a company E-Mail Policy?... Read More

    The Significance of the Mundane

    This article begins with a tip of the hat to... Read More

    Across The Interview Table!

    Job interviews are easier for the interviewer or the interviewee... Read More

    New Job, New Culture: Do You Fit In?

    It seemed like a good decision at the time. A... Read More

    Problem-Solving Success Tip: Use Your Project Management Skills

    Solving a big problem is a project: you're far more... Read More

    Top Ten Tips About Communicating with Your Employees Effectively

    Communication is the basis of who you are as a... Read More

    Quality Improvement is Free

    The point of a quality improvement program should not only... Read More

    Leadership Style: What Makes A Good Boss?

    In today's competitive environment, companies realize that a good boss... Read More

    Innovation Management ? Producing Great Products, Motivation

    Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

    Building the Trust in Your Employees - 12 Easy Tips

    In Stephen Covey's great book, "The Seven Habits of Highly... Read More

    Increasing the Return on Your Training Investment

    Insightful leaders and organizations recognize that training is a valuable... Read More

    How Can A Communications Audit Help You?

    Organizations communicate in two directions: internally to staff and externally... Read More

    30 Ways to be a Butt-Head Boss

    1. Trust no one. Not your superiors and not your... Read More

    The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Competitive, Not Complementary Action

    A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More

    Innovation Management ? Diversity Can Make All The Difference

    Companies are welcoming a diverse range of employees (The Sunday... Read More

    Credibility - A Golden Key to Becoming More Influential

    You have been named a new leader in your organization,... Read More

    Lack of Operations Manuals Stunting Your Growth?

    Lack of Operations Manuals stunting your growth?CONTENTS:1. Do you lack... Read More

    Give Yourself a Boss Day Gift, Part 2: Are You the Position or the Person?

    Are you the position or the person?Bosses can lose their... Read More

    Managing People - No More Mr Tough Guy

    I believe the media and our culture sends the wrong... Read More

    Controlling Your Cash Flow

    IntroductionAre you looking for a way to gain control of... Read More

    One Simple Idea to Grow Your Business

    Perhaps the most common theme I've heard in working with... Read More

    Collaboration: 3 Keys to Keeping Your Documents from Getting Lost in the Shuffle

    Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More

    5 Ideas To Leverage The 3 Stages Of Career Development In Your Organization

    In most industrialized nations, the average age a student graduates... Read More

    Rethinking Workplace Security: How the Rules Have Changed

    The workplace has traditionally been a dangerous place. Very early... Read More

    Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

    Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the... Read More

    Lets Make Training More Interesting!

    Many HR managers believe that by sending their workers to... Read More

    Optimizing Your Cash Flow With Proper Accounts Receivable Management

    Businesses miss on growth opportunities and even close their doors... Read More

    Workplace Violence - People are Dying Going to Work

    Workplace violence has become a tragic reality today. From minor... Read More

    A Management Strategy

    I witnessed some interesting behaviour from one of our premier... Read More

    ISO 9001 and Total Quality Management

    Total Quality ManagementTotal Quality Management, or TQM, has become one... Read More

    Project Managment: Land the Plane Stop Doing and Start Succeeding

    We all spend time on planning vacations. If it's not... Read More

    Knowledge Management - Lessons Learned and How To Identify Them

    Many organisations use the term "lessons learned" to describe the... Read More

    Organizational Techniques - Tickler and Chron File

    One of the biggest problems we encounter in our consulting... Read More