7
Ways to Make the Rest of 2013 Amazing
The
year is halfway done. Are you on track to meet your year end goals? Here are
some ways to make sure you blow through the finish line by December 31st.
The
older I get, the faster time flies. A month seems to go by like a day. It's
hard to fathom that half the year is gone and I am already busy helping clients
assess their Q1 and Q2 accomplishments. Some of my clients are ahead of
schedule; others are a little behind. Of course, I know of many companies that
believe they are neither, simply because they don't plan for the year in the first
place. (I would argue these companies are very much behind.)
What's
past is past, and the coming July holiday is a good time to take stock of your
situation so you can set an action plan to make the rest of the year as
productive as possible. Regardless of your position or status, there are
actions you can take to drive forward your company, division or even your own
career. Here are seven actions to take immediately.
1. Solve
at Least One Communication Issue
Nothing
gets in the way of accomplishment more than poor communication. No one has
perfect communication. Figure out where yours is falling short. It might be ineffective
meetings,
how you deal with conflict or how you manage
criticism.
Ask around and self assess. Chances are you'll find several breakdown issues
from which to choose. Pick the one that is the biggest obstacle to your
end-of-year goals.
2. Eliminate
at Least One Useless Practice or Policy
Nearly
everyone has daily activities that are inefficient or even unnecessary. These
practices often go unnoticed due to habit. Sit with a colleague and list out
the actions in your day or in a company process. Brainstorm together how to
eliminate or refine the process for efficiency. The more bureaucracy you
remove, the more you'll wonder why you were foolishly doing things that way in
the first place.
3. Remove
at Least One Useless Item From Your Budget
This
is a great time to trim the fat. Take a day and go through your entire budget
line item by line item. You're bound to find some left-handed smoke shifting or bacon stretching service you
really don't need. At the very least, figure out how to finally empty out that
storage facility that no one has touched for five years. Then you can
reapportion the funds toward something that is truly useful and appreciated.
4. Commit
to at Least One New Experiment
Once
you complete tips #2 and #3 you'll have some extra resources. You might use
these to take some new risk that could propel things forward in a big
way. Experimentation is necessary for exponential advancement. It might
turn out to be a wasted effort but even failure can be valuable for learning. At the very
least, you'll learn what doesn't work.
5. Make
at Least One New Major Connection
It
doesn't matter whether you are focused on sales, operations or development.
Adding smart people to your circle can help you grow faster. Bring on the
employee you have been coveting or go engage the mentor or advisor you have always
wanted. Build the team that will take you beyond your expectations.
6. Add
at Least One New Competency
There
is always some skill you crave to help you advance. If you don't start getting
good at it now, you may never get there. According to Malcolm Gladwell you'll need 10,000 hours
to master it; if you are pushing 50 like me that doesn't leave much time.
(Actually, a company can achieve the requisite hours before the end of the year
by assigning 10 people full time for the next 6 months.)
7. Inspire
at Least One Colleague
You
can accomplish far more with support from others. Find people who are
floundering and help get them on track. By unlocking the key to inspiring
them
you'll inspire yourself more in the process. You'll feel good about moving them
from a place of mediocrity and together you can take pride in
accomplishment.
Kevin Daum http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/7-ways-to-make-the-rest-of-2013-amazing.html?cid=em01013week27c
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