Organizations are more and more demanding their employees, partners and/or collaborators to become more effective. But before there is organizational effectiveness, there has to be personal effectiveness.
In the two previous articles, we talked about the first seven blocks of the performance launchpad that would help increase our personal effectiveness. They are attitude, ambition, communication, community, command, time, and tools. Today, let’s talk about the last three.
Eighth, systems. You have to have systems to help you in producing the required output. You have to learn to use the systems that are available to you. They may be technological systems or simply systematic way of doing things whether they involve technology or not.
Michael Hyatt, a New York Times Bestselling Author and a long time CEO of Thomas Nelson, shared the importance of systems in his career. Aside from the technology that he uses, he also employ templates in what he does – even when he blogs or journals, he uses templates. This makes him more efficient and effective because he doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel everytime he does it.
At work, there are formats that are in place. Make use of them. The apps that we have on our smartphones now can also help us in systematizing our tasks. What other systems do you think you can use today?
Ninth, sweet spot. You have to operate on your sweet spot, on your space where you find your flow. Find that area where your work is considered play and your play is considered work. In other words, you have to get in your lane.
To be able to compete, it is necessary to get in your lane. These were the words of one of the judges during the semi-finals just after Scotty McCreery sang his piece, an old country that leverages his voice quality and personality, “That’s what I call in your lane!”
He did not try to imitate the voices of others; he instead banked on his own genre that is true to his heart and voice. He found his flow in country music and that’s where he poured his passion and performance. In his season, he emerged as the American Idol. He won!
The same is true at work. To make an intense impact, you have to integrate your intellect (what you do best), interest and inspiration (what you love to do).
Tenth, story. Successful people win because of the story that they are writing. The do not just do tasks, they are writing their own history.
You need a story that’s bigger than yourself. We long for this. Stephen Covey said that we all long to live, to love and to leave a legacy.
So what is your story? How can we craft this? To start appreciating a bigger story, you have to redefine what you do.
For example, instead of just saying I am an accountant helping in the process improvement department, say, “I aim to develop better processes to prepare financial information in an efficient and effective manner to further the company’s mission.” Instead of just saying I am a trainer, how about, “I aim to empower my fellow young minds with practical instruction and inspiration in the fields of communication and personal leadership.”
Have stories rather than tasks. Say, “I aim to express my thoughts effectively to convey messages to audiences for the purpose of empowering them to live their dreams with love.” “I aim to live a vibrant life, to receive and share the love of God, and to lead a life of success and significance.”
Have that story. What’s yours? With it, you will look beyond the mundane and routinary. You will see the beauty in the ordinary and make it extraordinary.
There you have it – the final three blocks of the performance launchpad. With these, I hope you will be able to enhance your personal effectiveness, raise your performance and be of greater help to your company and community.
(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.)
