October 1, 2003
A free Ezine sent to you monthly by Glen Rediehs, Ph.D.: Personal Coach, Corporate Coach, Organization Development Consultant
Web site: www.SolutionLeader.com
E-mail: Glen@SolutionLeader.comSolution Leader Ezine will give you solutions for your personal life and the people side of your business. Every issue is filled with practical strategies plus a little humor.
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In This Issue:
Get Your Office Organized
A Little Humor
Thought for the Day
Grow the Leader in You
In the Next Issue
How organized is your office?
- Does it take you more than twenty seconds to find something?
- Do you "pile" papers or "file" papers?
- If you were out, could anyone else find an urgently needed document in your files?
- Is your Inbox overflowing?
- Does your current system work for you or frustrate you?
Office disorganization is very costly!
- According to the Wall Street Journal, US executives waste an hour a day searching for documents and information. That's six weeks a year! What is the value of six weeks of your time - in productivity and money?
- The American Demographic Society reports that Americans waste more than nine million hours each day looking for lost or misplaced articles.
- 80% of the documents that are filed are never referred to again.
An organized office will save you tons of time and money, increase your productivity, and lower your stress level. The good news is that being
organized is a learned skill. Anybody can do it - even you and I.Are you ready? Here are some suggested steps:
- Schedule one or more blocks of time to do your organizing.
- Get your supplies ready: hanging folders, file folders, dividers, labels, storage boxes, a big trash can and trash bags, etc.
- Start with your desk. Empty the drawers. Eliminate everything that you don't use regularly in your work. Put the retained items back in your desk in an organized fashion. Do the same thing with your shelves, storage cabinets and closets.
- Sort what's left over into labeled boxes or bags (Give Away, Archive, etc.) or throw it in the trash.
- Then attack the paper. Go through your file folders and the stacks of paper around your office and clean out ruthlessly. Ask yourself if you will actually need a particular item in the future. Is it available elsewhere? Was it just FYI? Be sure to check with your attorney or accountant if there is any question about how long some files must be kept. Get as close as possible to the 20% that you will actually need in the future.
- Develop four files: 1) an "action file" for current work in progress, 2) a "tickler file" to file things by date for future action, 3) "active files" for things you refer to regularly, and 4) archival files. Each of these files will use an alphabetical, numerical or chronological filing system as appropriate.
- Locate files according to use. The action file will probably be in your desk. The tickler file should be close at hand. You will likely have to get out of your chair and walk a few feet to get to the active files. Archival files should be in labeled boxes and stored elsewhere.
The next challenge is maintaining your system. Get a three-level stacking tray. Label the levels "In," "Out," and "To File." Do one the following with every item that comes to the In shelf:
- Act on it immediately yourself.
- Delegate it and place it in the OUT shelf.
- Put it in the TO FILE shelf. File these items once a day. At that time you will put it in the tickler file, active file, or add it to an archived storage box.
- Trash or recycle it. Optimally, 80% should end up here.
Twice a year, clean and re-organize everything.
Create file folders in your computer and follow an analogous process with
your e-mail and the documents you create. Don't be afraid to use the delete button. Be sure to back up everything you keep.If you want more detailed information, check out Taming the Paper Tiger
at Work by Hemphill and Kiplinger or Winston's Organized Executive.
© Glen Rediehs, 2003
What's the next step in your life? In your business?What do you want to achieve?
What do you want to change?
Coaching will help you reach your goals!
Let's work on your future together. You can make it happen!
PLEASE CALL ME at 704-788-9184 or Email me at Glen@SolutionLeader.com.
A Little Humor
Leaving Home
During a quarrel with his parents, young Michael cried, "I want excitement, adventure, money, and beautiful women. I'll never find it here at home, so
I'm leaving. Don't try and stop me!"
With that, he headed toward the door. His father rose and followed close
behind.
"Didn't you hear what I said? I don't want you to try and stop me."
"Who's trying to stop you?" replied his father. "If you wait a minute, I'll go
with you."
_______________The Bible According to Kids
The following statements about the Bible were written (just as they are) by children:
Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.
Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.
The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
The seventh commandment is "Thou shalt not admit adultery".
Moses died before he ever reached Canada.
The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still
and he obeyed him.
When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna
Carta.
Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which says do one to others before they do one to you.
The people who followed Jesus were called the 12 decibles.
The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.
_______________The Young Businessman
A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques. Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wishing to appear the hot shot, the businessman picked up the phone and started to pretend he had a big deal working. He threw huge figures around and made giant commitments. Finally he hung up and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?"
The man said, "Yeah, I've come to activate your phone lines."
Thought for the Day
Lessons from Geese
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front of it.Lesson 2: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others' skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
(Author Unknown)
Who is the best leader you have ever known or worked for?
What was it about that person that inspired you and earned your respect?
The individual's business sense and technical competence undoubtedly impressed you. But, I'm going to guess that there was something more than skill, something very personal about him or her, that won your admiration as an outstanding leader.
What is Leadership?
In Leadership From the Inside Out, Kevin Cashman says, "Leadership is not simply something we do. It comes from somewhere inside us. Leadership is a process, an intimate expression of who we are. It is our being in action."
Traditional leadership competencies are important. But, the effectiveness of all those skills and competencies depends on the person of the leader.
For example, you can perform a listening skill just as you learned it in the communications workshop. But, if you're not listening from a caring heart, the employee won't feel heard. You can share a vision or a set of goals. But, if there is no passion behind the vision, it won't inspire very many people.
How to Grow the Leader in You
So, how can you grow the leader in you? Take the time to discover more fully who you are. With this awareness, you will be able to recognize the strengths of your character and rethink the beliefs, values, etc. that hinder effective leadership.
Beliefs
What is the set of beliefs that shape the way you react to people and events, the initiatives you take, etc.? Most of the time we are on "automatic pilot" and act without being aware of how our beliefs are steering our behavior.
Ask yourself: What do I believe about me? ("I am ... .") What do I believe about other people? ("People are ... .") What do I believe about life? ("Life is ... . ") Think about how those beliefs might help or hinder your leadership.
Some of your beliefs are "shadow" beliefs. Experts say these are "hidden" or "denied" beliefs that can limit or derail people. Ask yourself: "What are the events that trigger an overreaction?" "What is it about other people that most irritates me?" For example, getting upset whenever you start a new project or becoming irritated at other people's mistakes might suggest that you have a "shadow" belief that "I can't fail." Consider how something like this might harm your leadership.
Purpose
What were you born to be? What's your purpose here on earth? Ask yourself: "When in life do I feel most completely myself?" "I feel most energetic, fulfilled, and 'full of life' when I ... ." Ponder what that says about where you can lead with passion.
Confidence
Change is constant. What level of confidence and resilience resides within you to cope with change? Ask yourself: "When presented with a new experience, what is my typical first reaction?" "When do I resist change?" "When am I excited about change?" What do your answers suggest about your capacity to lead change?
Interpersonal Relationships
Leadership always operates in relationship. How do you get along as a person among people? Ask yourself: "Under what conditions do I open up or shut down on other people?" "In what ways am I adding value to other people's lives?" How will these tendencies make a difference in your leadership effectiveness?
Take time to reflect on what kind of a person you are. Ask for feedback from people you trust. Consider how your answers to the questions above make a difference in how you lead. What about your beliefs, values, etc. do you need to rethink? What are your strengths of character on which you can build?
Get serious about being a leader of integrity and character. Read Leadership From the Inside Out by Cashman, Leading From the Heart by Gilley or Moxley's Leadership and Spirit.
© Glen Rediehs, 2003
Who are the best leaders you know? How did they grow the leader in themselves? Send your stories, quotes, thoughts. As space permits, I will try to publish them. Send them to Glen@SolutionLeader.com.
What's the next step in your life? In your business?
What do you want to achieve?
What do you want to change?
Coaching will help you reach your goals!
Let's work on your future together. You can make it happen!
PLEASE CALL ME at 704-788-9184 or Email me at Glen@SolutionLeader.com.
In the Next Issue:
Finding Your Talent - What You Were Born to Do
A Little Humor
Thought for the Day
What's Your Management Style?
In the Next Issu
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Find out more about me and my services at: www.SolutionLeader.com.2003 © Glen Rediehs. All rights reserved.
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