January is well underway, and perhaps some of the good intentions (or resolutions) you made are feeling like a distant memory. It is a good time to pause and reflect on what you want 2018 to be like.
Here are ten tips to help you work smarter and achieve your goals and dreams this year.
- Show Compassion – start with self-compassion and treat yourself like a cherished friend. When things go wrong, or you make a mistake, commit to talking to yourself with kindness.
- Say No – Learn to say no with confidence to things that don’t align with your values and goals. Remember that when you say no to one thing, you can say yes to what really matters.
- Skip Meetings – do you attend (or run) meetings that waste your time? Meetings should have a clear agenda, outcomes, and only involve those who need to be there. Resolve to skip (or fix) meetings that waste your time.
- Delegate – are you doing tasks that are sucking the energy out of you? Unless you are the only person who can do this, then delegate it to someone else.
- Focus – really commit to doing the things that are most important and that only you can be doing. Devote yourself, your time, and your energy only to the things that matter most.
- Schedule – find a way to track your meetings and tasks that works for you. It doesn’t matter if you use an online calendar, planner, or a bullet journal. Consider scheduling every task you need to complete or create a list of tasks so you can decide in the moment what is essential to do. Experiment and find a way that works for you.
- Purge – I am not talking about clutter here. Purge (or limit) those relationships that drain your energy. These are energy vampires.
- Follow Your Urge – pay attention to your intuition and what wisdom is coming from your body (as well as your mind). When you feel an urge to do or say something, follow it and then stay and create from what happens.
- Ask More, Tell Less – Empower those around you to find their own answers. Accept the fact that being a good leader doesn’t mean having the answers. Get comfortable with the unknown or ambiguity. Do all this by simply asking open-ended questions and listening to the answers.
- Do Nothing – create space in your day for daydreaming, meditation, or walks and see how it enhances your creativity.
As you read through this list what excites you? What feels scary? What feels like a big stretch? Now it is time to make a choice. What will you commit to doing in 2018 to work smarter?
Janice Cunning is a Leadership Coach who is passionate about partnering with fundraisers to help them create an inspired vision that transforms lives. She is a Certified Relationship Awareness Facilitator who uses SDI to strengthen team dynamics.