How do workers cope in our fast paced, complex and volatile world?
One trick is easy to learn, and practice.
Setting priorities.
Anyone can do it in any workplace.
You need to start in your own work. Don’t wait to be told. Don’t wait until you’re a leader.
Practice a mindset that looks at any situation and tries to make order out of chaos.
Make decisions. Indecision is still a decision, you’re just letting chance make it for you.
Sorting out your workplace isn’t just a thing for engineers and lean nerds. It’s leadership training.
When you’ve chosen to challenge some boundaries at work, and you’ve turned what is boring into a new challenge, what next?
Don’t wait for chance.
Look at your mission, your little or big objective, and decide what’s most important to get you there.
1,2,3.
Don’t pick too many. Just prioritize a few.
That’s a way of sorting and organizing. Then let the magic happen.
If you’re climbing a new mountain, it maybe boots, food & map. When they’re sorted make a new 1,2,3.
If you’re selling more widgets, it maybe selling story, pricing & customer list. When they’re sorted make another 1,2,3.
If you’re serving customers better, it maybe office equipment, appearance and patience…
If something comes along that’s not on your priority list, you don’t need to be distracted by it.
You focus better, and get more done. That’s the magic.
“…Sorting out your workplace isn’t just a thing for engineers and lean nerds. It’s leadership training…”
What’s your mission? Your next challenge?
Not just what you’ve been told to do, your own little extra thing.
Have you broken it down into parts?
What are the most important?
1,2,3..?
Do you stick to consistent priorities or keep changing when a problem comes along?
Do you set priorities or just keep adding to your to-do list?
Are decisions easier when your priorities are set?
If you’re a leader, do you practice prioritizing in your own work?
Do you expect others to be better organized than you?
What needs sorting?
.
.
“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”