Create better objectives...

Oi oi! Time for another quickie?

Here's an example of a common conversation I have, based on a real conversation I had at a 'Flexible Working' conference...

Person - "Can you really help me get back time?"

Me - "Possibly. How much time would you like?"

Person - "I don't know, just more!"

Me - "Okay, what would you do with it if I gave it you?"

Person - "I don't know, just stuff!"

Every time, I respond in exactly the same way, and every time I get the exactly the same responses.

Why do you think that is?

It's because one of the biggest causes of lost time is a lack of clarity around how time should be best spent.

This isn't time-management...

A prominent –?and award winning –?Chief People Officer from the City of London once reflected having read my book, "This isn't time-management, it's FOCUS-management."

And they were completely right!

Whenever I'm approached with a challenge around productivity, wellbeing or time, the first place I explore is their direction –?their objectives.

Invariably, having reviewed them, it's clear that something has changed in the real world that no longer tallies with what they had previously stated as one of their goals.

A few minutes resetting their direction usually does the trick.

The problem with objectives...

There's a bigger problem here.

Think about how you (or your colleagues) likely set, use and review your objectives.

There's a high likelihood that you agree your objectives with your manager at the beginning of the year and then rely on your memory for the next six to twelve months, only looking at them again when it comes to your annual or semi-annual review.

In the intervening time, those objectives will probably have changed, or you will have accidentally re-written them in your mind.

This is, of course, assuming that you have objectives in the first place –?I have coached many (even a COO in a City Firm) who had NONE!

"Would you consider putting on a blind-fold before paying darts?"

Of course, not. That would be bonkers.

But this is exactly what happens when you lose track of your objectives.

There's more (or perhaps less)

Okay, so let's assume you don't wear a blind-fold. Would you consider throwing five darts, all with the same hand, all at the same time?

Again, of course not. How could you hope to control the direction of each?

But this is another analogy that exemplifies a common problem with focus –?focussing on too many objectives at the same time.

How many objectives should you have?

I have seen people with well over ten objectives.

But all that does is make it more likely that you'll do a bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing.

The OKR framework, pioneered by Andy Grove at Intel and later used to great effect at Google by John Doerr, suggests that you should have no more than five objectives in a quarter –?although the recommendation is three.

Some go further and have only one clearly defined objective per quarter as a way of creating utter focus.

Focus, focus, focus...

So, if you want to get better with your time, get better with your focus.

Create three, two, or even one, clearly defined objective and channel your time and energy into that.

You'll be amazed at how much more you get done!

If, like many, you struggle with the idea of having so few objectives, "because everything's important", try asking yourself this question:

"If you had time for only one thing this next quarter, what's the thing that would deliver the greatest benefit a year from now?"

Whatever your answer, if you make that your focus, it'll propel you further forward, faster than ever before.

Would love to hear your thoughts so, feel free to jump into the comments.

See you next time.

Love,

Paul

Want to find if your organisation is struggling with focus?

?? Have you got an off-site, town-hall, team away day or conference coming up?

? Why not run a one-hour Diary Detox Discovery – a highly engaging, interactive experience that will give your people new insights about where they lose time (and why) and provide some simple techniques to get time back, straightaway.

?? Learn about a Diary Detox? Discovery on the website here (see the 'Organisations' section).

Wish you had more time to lead?

??Why not learn the ten habits of the Diary Detox? method?

?? Learn about the Diary Detox? App on the website here.