You can do anything you want. You just can’t do everything you want.
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- Uncommon Leader Insights – In a recent captivating episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, I had the pleasure of engaging in a thought-provoking conversation with Adam Ward, a public speaker, executive coach, and trusted friend. Together, we dove into the ever-evolving landscape of the workplace, unearthing invaluable insights that have the potential to reshape your understanding of career development and workplace satisfaction.
Here are three key takeaways that emerged from our enlightening discussion:
- Adapt and Adopt: Adam passionately emphasized the paramount importance of adaptability and continuous learning in today’s fast-paced marketplace. As the workplace undergoes constant transformation, the acquisition of new skills becomes essential at every turn. Whether it involves transitioning within your current organization or embarking on a new career path, the ability to adapt is the key to success. Gone are the days of merely filling a role; instead, the focus may lie in personal growth within AND beyond the confines of a specific position.
- Build Trust: Astonishingly, a staggering two-thirds of employees find themselves disengaged, contributing to a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. Adam and I identified a fundamental issue within organizations: a lack of trust. When leadership communication falters, it creates an environment where employees feel undervalued and unrecognized. To combat this, companies must shift their attention from mere hours worked to productive tasks and measurable achievements. Transparent communication and the establishment of clear are two ways to rebuild trust and foster a collaborative culture of fulfillment.
- Augment with technology: In the wake of the post-pandemic era, telecommuting has become more prevalent, and collaborative platforms like Team and Zoom have significantly improved. However, we must not overlook the irreplaceable need for in-person connections. Instead of substituting human interaction with a mere television monitor and chat box, we should view these technological applications as tools to enhance communication. Striking a delicate balance is imperative, ensuring that technology augments productivity without stifling the creative flow that fosters innovation.
As we navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, keep these insights at the front of mind. I encourage you to tune into the full episode for a deeper exploration of these vital themes that have the potential to transform your professional journey.
Stay tuned for more engaging episodes of the Uncommon Leader Podcast(and, I have a special surprise next week that will take the podcast to the next level in terms of providing even more value to you, the listeners!), where we continue to unlock the wisdom of exceptional leaders and empower you on your personal leadership journey!
Are you aware that The Champions Brew explores various topics that I frequently coach and consult on with other leaders and organizations? If you or someone you know is seeking to elevate their business or personal life from underperforming to uncommon, I would love to connect with you and discuss 1:1 or group coaching, as well as performance consulting. In fact, click the following link to schedule a FREE CALL to explore how coaching could benefit you and your team. Let’s work together to unleash your full potential and achieve your goals
- Work Hard – When it comes to productivity, many of us have been taught to focus on managing time. However, I believe the key to effective task completion lies in priority management rather than time management. The Five D’s approach to priority management can revolutionize the way you approach your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. The Five D’s, which include Deselect, Defer, Delegate, Deconstruct, and Do It provide a framework to evaluate and manage your tasks in a strategic manner.
- Deselect – Is It Even Necessary? The first step in the process is to evaluate whether a task is truly necessary. Can it be deselected and not done at all? This critical question prompts you to scrutinize tasks and choose whether they truly impact your goals. Deselecting non-essential tasks creates space for focusing on what truly matters.
- Defer – Not Every Task Needs Immediate Attention – Some tasks might be important but not urgent. In such cases, you can defer them to a later time, be it a week, a month, or even a quarter. Heck, after a quarter, you may decide to deselect it completely! This allows you to prioritize tasks that require immediate attention while ensuring that important tasks are not forgotten but are instead scheduled for a more suitable time.
- Delegate – Growing Others and Freeing Up Your Time – Delegation is a key aspect of effective leadership and priority management. Evaluating whether a task can be delegated and if there is someone capable of performing it at an acceptable level of effectiveness is crucial. By delegating tasks, not only can you free up your own time, but it also provides crucial developmental opportunities for others.
- Deconstruct – Breaking Down Tasks for Minimized Waste – Sometimes, tasks can be deconstructed to make them more time-efficient. This involves identifying areas that can be automated or streamlined (e.g., Can that meeting be done well in 45 minutes rather than 90 minutes?), as well as critically evaluating the processes involved to optimize efficiency. By deconstructing tasks, you can enhance productivity and make time for other essential activities.
- Do It – Making the Final Decision – After considering deselection, deferral, delegation, and deconstruction, there will still be tasks that must be performed. These tasks become part of your ‘standard work’ and are scheduled into your calendar.
The five D’s approach is not just a one-time exercise. It is a continual process that requires regular evaluation and adjustment. By periodically revisiting tasks and subjecting them to the 5D filter, you can ensure that they remain impactful.
- Read More – I am thrilled to continue the journey through “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by the esteemed John Maxwell. Just two to go!! This classic work is sure to equip and inspire you for uncommon leadership! Have you grabbed your copy to read along with me?
Quality #20 – Teachability
To Keep Leading, Keep Learning
At various stages of our journey, leaders often face the danger of contentment. With influence and important titles, it’s easy to ask, “Why should I keep growing?” But the answer is simple: When you stop growing, you start dying. If you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve made the commitment to be a lifelong learner. To continue on this teachability journey, let’s avoid some potential pitfalls:
- Your current success: The seduction of success can keep us looking in the rearview mirror, dwelling on past achievements. However, spending too much time there will only give us a sore neck. Remember, the windshield is larger than the rearview mirror for a reason. Keep looking forward, even after milestones like degrees, positions, awards, or financial goals.
- Pride: Being a lifelong learner requires humility and admitting that we don’t know it all. As legendary coach John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts.” Pride and teachability cannot coexist.
- Shortcuts: Anything worth doing is uphill and challenging. Shortcuts limit our growth. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Embrace the uphill journey and avoid the allure of shortcuts.
So, how can we overcome these barriers and improve our teachability? In this chapter, John outlines three key ways:
- Admitting our mistakes
- Trying something new that stretches us
- Learning within our area of strength
Continuing to learn and grow in our area of strength prevents us from becoming unteachable.
Remember, if you want to be a champion tomorrow, be teachable today.
Next week, we will review the final quality: Vision.
If you find these book reviews helpful and want to continue reading along with me, I’ll be starting a new book in two weeks: “The Power of One More” by Ed Mylett. This is a special request from an avid Brew Nation member and one that I read back when it came out in 2022. I look forward to reviewing it with you.
Quote of the week: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Now that you’ve learned about the Five D’s of Priority Management, it’s time to put this powerful tool into action. Take a look at your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks and apply the 5D filter to gain better control over your time and priorities. Remember, it’s all about deselecting, deferring, delegating, deconstructing, and ultimately, doing what truly adds value.
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
