Let me know if this sounds familiar: It’s Monday morning. You've just started up the computer and you're already feeling overwhelmed because your email inbox is overflowing, you have a long list of tasks to complete from the week before, and your boss just added a new project to your plate.?
This is what it’s like to play defense. In sports, it’s draining. I’ve seen countless games where the announcers have said, “the defense looks exhausted”. That’s because it’s true. Constant vigilance is hard work.?
I’ve fallen into the trap and I coach other leaders who fall into a defensive mindset and whether we admit it or not, we get hooked on the adrenaline of stamping out the next potential crisis. We tell ourselves, “when we get the next hire” or “after this next conference”, things will get better. We react to whatever comes our way and struggle to make any real progress. The circumstances won’t change. We have to change.
By shifting our mindset from defense to offense (some call it an abundance mindset), we can start each day feeling energized, focused, and ready to tackle our most important tasks.?
It’s easier to play defense because we don't have to think as hard or make as many decisions as we do on offense. But playing offense is a primarily intentional, proactive approach that allows us to discern our priorities and stick with our plans in the face of distractions and temptations. Here's how we can make the shift from defense to offense.
- Start with a plan - Start each day with a concise and direct plan. Before we check email or respond to any requests, take a few minutes to review the projects and set goals for the day. I make a Focus Five by prioritizing and limiting myself to a few of the most important and/or urgent tasks. I picked it up from a colleague and on the surface it sounds so simple but, for me, it’s incredibly easy to skip. Keeping a tactical “in the day” plan keeps us focused and avoids getting sidetracked by less critical tasks.
- Make our goals visible - Staying on track with our plans by making our goals and projects extremely visible to ourselves and teammates. Some of us are tactile and need a notebook. Some of us live on our laptops. Whether it's a whiteboard, a sticky note system, or an online workflow system like Trello, keeping tasks and deadlines in front of us reminds us which priorities demand our attention and keep us motivated.
- Minimize distractions - Distractions are the enemy of an offensive mindset. Take steps to minimize distractions by closing our laptop and putting away the phone as much as possible. Disable notifications and alerts that may interrupt time to create and innovate. I have ADD so I get distracted by my own thoughts. When the reminder ding goes off, I can think 100 things - What’s the meeting? Is someone at the door? Was that the dinner bell? A game changer for me was - instead of blocking time on my calendar for my Focus Five or to think through problems, I scheduled time for email and phone calls.
- Surround ourselves with like-minded people - When shift to an offensive mindset, spending more time working and socializing with people who share our goals and projects is a key driver in feeling inspired during the day and fulfilled when we shut off the computer at night. This helps us stay on task and avoid getting pulled away from your areas of focus. Seek out colleagues who are working on similar projects and form a support system to have each other’s backs and stay positive.
- Celebrate the wins - Finally, celebrate your successes along the way. Take time to acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may be. Celebrating your successes will help you stay motivated and energized, and it will reinforce the importance of maintaining an offensive mindset. Too often, I’ve celebrated by switching back to picking through unimportant “to do” items that could have been easily delegated but I feel far more fulfilled when I can see what I’ve helped accomplish then unplug and close down the computer. It helps give me confidence that I’m spending my time and energy in the right places.?
By starting each day with a plan, making your goals visible, minimizing distractions, surrounding yourself with like-minded people, and celebrating your successes, you can become a proactive, intentional player in your day-to-day work life. So the next time we feel like we're playing defense all day, remember we have the power to shift to an offensive mindset and take control of your day.
Jamie Bearse is the CEO at ZERO Prostate Cancer, the founder and CEO at Build a Better NonProfit and a 21-year nonprofit executive.
