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The third secret to success is to be systematic. In order to do that, you need
to take charge.
Sure most people put in a good day's work, but not everyone is
created equal when it comes to
completing their tasks and meeting
their career goals. For many, days can end up being filled with last minute projects,
seemingly endless meetings, or unimportant tasks that they never wanted to handle in the first place. While Secret #2 dealt
with developing your aspirations, Secret #3 is about making your time and efforts relevant to your goals.
In our daily
lives, it's often easier to devote time to menial
activities and "urgent" requests made by others than it is to focus
on more challenging but important tasks. When's the last time you
spent your day answering the slew of non-urgent e-mail
that sometimes floods your inbox, rather than attending to more vital projects?
Don't worry, it happens to most people.
In fact, some individuals
become so focused on perfecting the small details that they lose the big picture and fail to
carve out time dedicated to their higher goals. Below are two ways to focus your managerial skills so these things don't happen
to you.
Just say "no"
Chances are, you
try to do a good job no matter what tasks are given to you. However, in the work world, a job well done typically doesn't
only merit a pat on the back. It's usually also rewarded with more work. ("Great job, Jennifer! You'll be the perfect person
to take on the Smith account.") Although it is a wonderful compliment to be regarded as capable and competent, sometimes accepting
extra projects can interfere with achieving your long-term goals. At its extreme, being dependable can seem like a punishment
if it results in frustration and career setbacks for you.
While
opportunities you're offered may seem like honors you can't
refuse, part of prioritizing effectively is learning how to
say no to tasks that aren't worth your effort. Allow yourself to be flattered, but then ask yourself the hard questions:
Can I commit myself to this opportunity and still work on my aspirations on a daily basis? Is this task central to my job
function? If the answer to these questions is no, then graciously turn down the offer. At first you might feel uncomfortable
disappointing other people. However, if you don't say, "No," when you
should, you'll set up yourself for the bigger disappointment of failing to reach your dreams.
Learn to
delegate
When your schedule becomes overwhelming, it can help to hand off
certain tasks to others. While you may
subscribe to the adage, "If
you want something done right, do it yourself," this attitude isn't always feasible in the
work world. While it's probably true that
others won't proceed in exactly the same way you would, it's unlikely that you're
the only person who can get a particular task done. Think of it this way: In the end, what is more important, the result or
the method? Also, don't worry about shirking your responsibilities. You can keep the highest-level projects for yourself.
There's no need to give away tasks that are central to your role. Simply hand off smaller, non-essential projects to others.
In doing so, staff members are empowered with new responsibilities and you have your schedule
free for crucial duties.
Once you've handed off a project, don't micromanage. Delegating
effectively
happens when:
you set clear expectations and deadlines
you delegate tasks that demand a certain level of responsibility
you allow the person to whom you're delegating to work autonomously
Depending on a staff member's skill and knowledge
in a particular
area, you can be more or less specific about the desired outcomes.
Even though it may initially take
some time to train someone well,
this effort will pay off in the long run as you'll have one less
project eating your
time away. You'll also help develop the careers of those around you. This kind of mentoring is often not only valued in organizations
but rewarded as well.
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