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My Lessons From Last Week – Week #2

August 23, 2010 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, My Lessons From Last Week, Productivity, Social Media, Teamwork with 0 Comments

On the Road

Lately, this seems to be one area that I witness and sometimes learn some interesting things (to say the least). Besides occasionally having someone just cut in front of you without signalling, I’ve seen other ‘phenomena’ such as people holding up two lanes for about two kilometres because they were texting, some people reading novels when traffic is crawling, ‘Facebooking’ on mobiles and the one that is on number one at the moment (drum roll) playing an alto saxophone while driving at least 80km/h!

Let me get to the lessons… On one of the days I left the office about 15-20 minutes later than than I normally do, and it took me an extra 50minutes longer to get home!  I then concluded that 15 minutes actually is a lot of time. Sometimes taking a little time to do something could save us much more time ‘down the road’. I then starting thinking about areas where we lose time e.g.:

  • Snooze! When the alarm goes off in the morning. Other ‘snooze buttons’ that I think affect productivity can be. Imagine what you could do with the extra 10-20 minutes. Perhaps plan your day, helping you feel less rushed as you get into work mode. Perhaps use the time to interact with your spouse or children or catch the news update and find out what happened in the world while you slept, there may be something there that affects you. Or spend some time in prayer and meditation, setting the platform for your approach and mind-set for the day ahead or a little cardiovascular exercise… I think the first minutes when we get out of bed determine greatly how our day is going to be. Be very careful and intentional about what you do with the first few minutes when you wake.
  • Small talk that goes on for too long. I think it is important to connect with your teammates / colleagues but watch your time. At the office we have set days and times for us to interact / connect i.e. is outside of meeting etc. You may want to consider something similar. This has actually helped us reduce the amount of small talk that steals from productivity as well as help team building. Our team has grown even closer… Strong teams are not only built on sound clear strategy or vision but also by the strength and depth of relationship of its members!
  • Choice of battle. Sometimes we expend way too much energy on useless arguments. Useless in the sense that we don’t really achieve much by winning them. Okay, you were right that the new guy drives a pink and not an orange car… So what?! Cheesy example but am sure you get what I mean. You’ve just wasted 10 minutes on something that hardly adds value and will not matter at the end of the day!

  • Tweeting, Facebooking, ‘LinkedIning’ etc You are never going to exhaust everything on the internet. Worrying that you may miss something is not valid enough to spend too much time on these platforms. They can help productivity but be a good time and energy waster too if not managed properly.You don’t really need to see every video posted on Facebook or YouTube.  Resist the urge to follow every link that pops up on your Tweetdeck (great app by the way) etc

  • Doesn’t Matter How Much You  Think About It you will still need to get it done. Sometimes we spend too much time thinking about whether we feel like it. After half an hour debating with ourselves we decide to go ahead and do it. Stop checking how you feel about doing something and just do it. Thinking about whether you feel like it or not isn’t going to change the fact that it needs to be done! Nike – “Just do it”!

My Loss

Guess what, I lost my squash league match last week. Yeah losing did sting! I had a sore neck and part of my left shoulder was a little sore. I learnt that I shouldn’t aggravate pain unless to heal. Playing in that condition did not help much except the pain. My movement on the court was terrible to say the least as it was hard to turn especially to my left. I learnt to listen to my body and not try pushing it to do things it is not ‘ready’ to do. I guess this applies all round. Don’t try to make your team do things that it is not ready for, it may hurt them. This may cause them to not want to go down the same road again when they are ready. When ‘hit’ take time to recover. Not doing so will only make things worse. Take a chill pill, get back in the  game another day.  You are no good injured!

A friend of my asked me how my game was and I told him, “I played a rubbish game”. He responded with a truth that stung a little, “Then you deserved to lose!” How true! I learnt to own failures and not make excuses for them. If my input was bad then the only thing I should expect is an output that is bad. Made me think, “Have I downplayed the fact that in some cases I have been the enabler of my own demise?” If your team has failed because of some wrong / bad calls as the leader own them and chart some solutions! Don’t waste time looking for a scape goat. Contrary to what most people think, you’re more likely to gain their respect and confidence. Besides, that is leading by example. I’m sure you  like those on your team to own their role in in not getting the target. As leader this is one of the areas you must not make any exceptions when it comes to you.  I love the varsity of life!

Don’t just let life happen to you, learn something and grow! Have a great week!

…Quit ye like men, be strong – Apostle Paul

Where have you been losing time? Any stories of how you ‘enabled’ your own demise?

My Lessons From Last Week – Week #1

August 16, 2010 in Ideas, Life, My Lessons From Last Week, Self Leadership, Skills, Teamwork, time management with 4 Comments

This is the first of my feature posts – Monday is for “My Lessons from Last Week”… Over the next few weeks (maybe longer) I will share some of the lessons I would’ve learnt for the previous week…

I learnt more lessons than this last week but I chose a couple… Enjoy!

On The Road

I will not go into detail on how I arrived at this one but one of the lessons I remember from last week was that not everybody drives like me. (I don’t know if I can call it a lesson or reminder, perhaps both…) It may take me a little longer and in some cases faster than others to get between two places. What does this have to do with anything? Well, I was reminded that not everybody will do things the way I do.  While we all may have the same destination in mind, we are very likely to have diverse ways of getting there. While I’m more likely to think what is the fastest route someone else may think what is the shortest route. This is so because sometimes the fastest route is not necessarily the shortest and the shortest route is not always the quickest.

We may place the same value to the destination or not. Despite the value we hold for the destinations, I believe there are other values at play. We all have different ways of doing things done because of the diverse values we hold.  I may feel that that my time is more valuable hence the shortest route, while John may esteem his fuel tank with higher regard, yet going to the same destination.

In a team context, I think there are some things that the leader can leave his team to seeing that they happen. At the same time, besides just getting to the ‘destination’ there may be some values that you want your team to embrace. The journey to the destination may be as worth as the destination as you add values at each step.

We may value the ultimate destination the same but the steps on the way differently. Sometimes it may be more important to focus on the desired outcomes than on the methods. As a leader, watch the methods / steps in the process for where you can ‘punt’ a value. As we’ve established, not everybody will do things the same as you…

On The Squash Court

I probably played one of my most exhausting and exhilarating, yet best squash games in a long time on Wednesday last week. I wanted to be so tired that I couldn’t help but sleep, hence I pushed myself. I had started off with a good lead but from having played several games before this one I was very exhausted. My lead started narrowing and I was very alarmed. You know the guys that play the game for some cardiovascular exercise? I am definitely not one of them! I am one of those guys who does not believe in the “what’s important is that you participated” philosophy! If I am going to be in a game I have to be in it to win it! There! The truth is out – I don’t just play for a cardiovascular workout or to participate, I play to win! Period! Yes, I sometimes lose…

Whilst on that, I think people that use the “what’s important is that you participated” line are not always honest. The truth is it sucks to lose! If you one of the people in the “what’s important is that you participated” club I dare you to be honest! It sucks to lose and you hate it!

Sorry, I’m getting a little carried away… Where were we… Ah… back to my game on Wednesday… I eventually got back in the game, extended my lead again and won. One of the lessons I learnt on the court that day: there is always some fight left in you! When we defeat ourselves everything else will walk over us. We defeat ourselves when we constantly tell ourselves we have given all. When we constantly tell ourselves we cannot ‘fight’ anymore then we cannot. When we tell ourselves there’s not more hope then there isn’t any more hope. I learnt to constantly examine the things I tell myself. What I constantly tell myself, believe and embrace is a sure indicator where I will end up. In the midst of my fatigue I told myself, “I can still win this and I am going to return every shot well” and that’s what I did. You will benefit more by keeping your eyes on the ultimate prize than the pain. The prize will last longer than the pain. After the game, victory was where my focus went and the pain was not as prominent. When you get the prize somehow the pain becomes irrelevant.

As You Slide Down The Banister Of Life May The Splinters Never Point The Wrong Way – Irish blessing

P.S: If you planning on falling on the squash court, make sure you don’t fall on your behind and slide, you may just get a splinter!

About Time

July 19, 2010 in Life, Productivity, Teamwork with 2 Comments

I had the opportunity and privilege to go on a trip to Mozambique recently. I remember the countdown I did a few days before departure. As part of my preparation for the trip there were some things I had to see to before leaving. I remember brainstorming with one of my team leaders about plans for meetings that were going to take place in my absence. I also attempted, to the best of my abilities, to prioritize some of the things in my diary at the office. I shuffled things up and down the priority and important lists.

In a bid to pay full attention to some things I deemed important and of high priority, there are some things I left either completely not done or partly complete. After returning from Mozambique I revisited my diary to follow up on some outstanding issues. I noticed that a substantial number of issues would not still be in my to-do list if I had seen to them when and as they arose as I had the time and space for them then. I visit life’s university yet again.

One of the reasons I did not do those things I could have at that time is to an extent I was busy, busy procrastinating. (I ashamedly admit). Today there were some areas where I felt a little overwhelmed as many minute things have become a mountain of sort. I think one of the reasons we procrastinate is not that we do not have adequate time, but that we simply, “did not feel like it”. We all know this, but I was reminded of the fact that living in procrastination is not progression.

Another way I realized I procrastinated was moving some things in the “urgent-and-not important and urgent-and-important” cycle. I understand the importance of distinguishing and striking a balance between urgent and important, but if it is something you have to do and you keep pushing it on the back burner it will not change the fact that it still needs to be done! Procrastination in all the creative forms we cloak it in, will not change that fact that things will not just happen on their own. Sometimes the things we classify as urgent and not important grow until they make it to urgent and very important – a crisis! No disrespect to whoever came up with “urgent-and-important and urgent-and-unimportant” but sometimes we just need to get with it and get whatever needs to be done done period! Whether urgent or not it will need to be done eventually! I do need to manage my time well but without ignoring that whatever I need to do will not go anywhere until it is done! (#notetoself)

“There is a time for everything, and a season for everything…” Some things are only significant and relevant in their time. If we’re not careful to observe, we may lose out on some of life‟s valuable moments. For example, it is more beneficial and pertinent to study well before one’s exams. It makes more sense to cherish our families and or those we hold dear in their time. It becomes irrelevant to them when they are no longer with us. Time and timing is of the essence. I’m sure it will prove beneficial for us to take another look at our budgets, our time budgets. Everything is just beautiful in its time!

I’m now reflecting on how I’ve been managing my time… Yet another challenge – to celebrate life more by being good stewards of time.

Ask Moses!

July 16, 2010 in Leadership, Ministry, Teamwork with 2 Comments

Imagine being a leader responsible for, let’s say, about 3 million people. Picture all of them looking to you for direction and answers for diverse situations. It excites and scares me at the same time. Leaders’ scenarios vary. Some lead larger teams or organisations than others, but one of the common attributes to all of them is that those they lead are looking to them for direction and answers. “What should we do about…?” and other similar questions are nothing foreign to leadership and as a leader one needs to be comfortable with questions; they are not going anywhere!

I came across an interesting part in Scripture for leaders and some lessons also specifically for ministry leaders:

6-7 But some of them couldn’t celebrate the Passover on the assigned day because they were ritually unclean on account of a corpse. So they presented themselves before Moses and Aaron on Passover and told Moses, “We have become ritually unclean because of a corpse, but why should we be barred from bringing God‘s offering along with other Israelites on the day set for Passover?”

8 Moses said, “Give me some time; I’ll find out what God says in your circumstances.” (Numbers 9:6-8, The Message)

  • You haven’t seen it all: There are still more unique and unpredictable situations yet to arise as you lead. It’s the nature of leadership. The men that approached Moses came to him with a situation that they hadn’t encountered as a nation before. It doesn’t matter the size of your team or organization, you haven’t seen it all! During Israel’s journey God gave Moses what I think were very elaborate instructions on how to handle different situations, yet a unique one still arose. Not knowing everything as God sends us is a good thing; it helps us stay reliant on Him as we lead.
  • It’s Obvious!: As leader people are going to look to you for answers and for you to navigate them through unfamiliar ground, as in Moses’ case. That’s why you are there; to give direction. It should not be surprising for you to have ‘all eyes on you’. When there are challenges or crisis it should not be a nag for you to have people continually come to you looking for direction or guidance. That’s an inherent part of your job. Make peace with this fact.
  • Respond: I think one of the big “don’t dos” of leadership should be not having a response for your team or organisation especially when in unfamiliar ‘territory’. When you respond to questions or objections it tells the team you are listening to them and helps reduce undesired anxiety or panic in your camp. Responding does not necessarily mean you give them the solution immediately. Sometimes a response may be I Don’t Know, but don’t leave it at that. You must communicate what you are going to do about what you may not know. Don’t be afraid to put your team on pause. Moses put the men asking on hold, told them he didn’t know and what he was going to do in order to reach a solution (Num. 9:8). A team can be easily unsettled and lose morale if there is no form of assurance that something is being done to reach a solution.
  • You Can Also Ask: In the case where Moses did not know what to do he asked! The day a leader thinks he either knows it all or stops asking questions to curb his ignorance is the day his leadership sets on a course for destruction. Asking questions is an important part to growth of a leader. You can never ask enough questions.
  • Where To Go: When you do not have any answers to new situations and or challenges from within your organization it is not the end of the world. Because you haven’t found someone who has the answer and or solution, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one! Look beyond your enclave. There are innumerable resources on the internet for instance. In some instances employing the services of a consultant could prove more worthwhile than trying to find an answer on your own.

For ministry leaders, especially, Moses gave a great example. He went straight to the Owner of the mission. Many ministry leaders and the initiatives they’ve led have suffered because they stopped asking the most important Person – God!  At the start of their leadership journey they consistently sought direction and answers from God, the one who mandated them, but as they journeyed got complacent. While it is beneficial to be diligent in resourcing yourself, there is no blog, book, mentor, idea, research, conference or any other resource than can substitute God’s leading in your ministry! It is God you serve and only He must be the first you seek wisdom and guidance from! He’s the one you should be consumed in pleasing above anyone.

Think about the last few challenging decisions you’ve made. Who was the first you consulted? Keep in mind when you hit the next challenge, you need not lose sleep. God has and knows all the answers. Yes! There goes all the pressure and stress – you don’t have to know it all!  I cannot overemphasize the importance of where you seek answers. Your solution will be as good as the source from which you draw. Moses chose to tap into the unsurpassed and inexhaustible wisdom of God and as leaders we have to follow suit.

What are you going to do differently next time you get to unfamiliar ground?

Fire in the Ice

July 10, 2010 in Leadership, Passion, Productivity, Skills, Teamwork with 2 Comments

Working the garden in the freezing Johannesburg winter is not likely to make my ‘top ten things to do’. (Though not as cold as other parts of the world, it is freezing for us) Yet, this is what Elsie, did on one of the coldest mornings we’ve had this winter! She was sad and ‘grieved’ loss of some plants. I found it puzzling that she’d contend with such unfavourable weather conditions for plants! Am sure you’ve figured it out by now – Elsie has by far more passion and patience for gardening and plants than I have.

Elsie’s undertaking reminded me never to underestimate the power and significance of passion. Passionate people are more likely to ‘stick it out’ in adverse conditions; they are not as easily dissuaded by challenge. If necessity is the mother of all invention I reckon passion has to be somewhere in the family!

I’ve decided to be more careful and consciously align the tasks I give with the people who are passionate about them. Passionate people are more likely to be innovative as they seek ways around challenges.

In addition to competence (including strengths), willingness and availability, passion will now be part of my criteria in assigning tasks. While a competent team member can do the job right a passionate one is likely to do it right and excellently. I think excellence comes easier with competence, willingness, availability and passion.

How important do you think what people “burn with” (i.e. their passion) is in the roles they play?

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