How can you increase your performance level? This is a very important question we must answer whether you want to be more productive in your career, at work, or in any organization you belong to.
Two Sundays ago, we talked about the first four blocks of the performance launchpad: attitude, ambition, communication and community. Today, let’s talk about the other three.
Fifth, command. To increase personal effectiveness, it is important to take command in terms of persuasion, physicality and parameters.
The skill on persuasion is very important if you are to influence others to support your cause. When you want to rally your team to support the organization’s goals, it is necessary to be able to cast and communicate the vision with them and persuade them to support it.
Another important aspect to take command is our physicality. The adage health is wealth is very true. And if we are to continually perform at high level, we should take charge of our physical health. Do we take sufficient sleep? How is our diet? Do we still exercise?
One more thing that we must consider is taking command over our parameters or boundaries. Yes, be open and not build walls but you should set boundaries. Are other people already taking advantage of your misguided kindness that your key responsibilities are being compromised? Perhaps it is just right to get back to your boundaries. Here’s a question we could reflect on: If you are doing the tasks of other people, then who is doing yours? Communicate your parameters to your team or colleagues.
Sixth, time. Achievement demands daily execution and investment. How are you spending your time?
You might have asked the question, “Why are some people successful than the rest?” If we look at their daily activities or schedules, we will see the difference. Almost always, they are investing their time. They are always executing their ideas, refining it and making the most out of every second they have.
They do something of excellence and they do not stop there. They keep on. They understand what Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act it’s a habit.”
Furthermore, they knew how to manage their tasks and priorities. They understand that activity is not always equal to productivity. They do not confuse busyness with real business.
How are you making use of your time? How are you investing it?
Seventh, tools. With today’s tools, you can touch terrific treasures. In this age, we are surrounded by technology which we can leverage to pump up our productivity. The problem though is when we allow technology to use us instead of us using technology.
For example, there are people who start their day with their email, Facebook, and other social media. They miss the point of systematizing their day with these tools as against to starting their day with them. (Do not start your day with them.)
Or some would not even bother to look at how they can use the smartphones in their hands to systematize their activities. (There’s more than just taking selfies!)
For example, you can use your Google calendar to set your schedules and reminders. This way you will not miss deadlines, meetings and events. You can also use Facebook to your advantage; for instance, doing a quick chat with your team to update them or to ask a question, poll them on your project options, or invite your friends and acquaintances for worthwhile events they can attend.
These are just some of the ways we can increase our performance level. It won’t be easy. It takes discipline. But what I realized is that when I ignore these, I would miss to hit my goals. When I apply them, I benefit a lot. These are fundamental principles that we can use to increase our productivity and performance.
Consider applying apply them. Together, let us grow our performance level one inch at a time.
(Chris Dao-anis, CPA, ACG, ALB is a trainer and speaker on communication and personal leadership. His latest book ‘Living Large in the Little Things’ is available at Mt. Cloud Bookshop, Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City. For talks and trainings, email him at chrisdaoanis@gmail.com or visit his website at www.chrispoweracademy.com.)
