Often it is the mundane that trips up the best intentions, or activity that is urgent, but not important. In fact, take a look at last year’s calendar. You'll probably see the "have to" events – the industry conference, the customer outings, board meetings –and the activities that imposed their attention on you consumed far more time than you would have expected. Now take a look at this year's calendar and make some conscious decisions about the "have-to" events you brought forward from the previous year. Finally, see if you've scheduled time for your break-through planning and the related actions that are going to move you forward in a strategic way.

Make an Appointment with Yourself

If they're not there, here's a tactic: Make an appointment with yourself at least once a week to zero in on your most important objectives for the year. Put it on the calendar as a new "have to". If you want the time enforced, tell your administrative assistant to remind you and to not schedule meetings for you during that time. Then, whatever the work has to be, schedule enough time to get it done. If it’s exploring a strategic partnership, map out all the pieces and assign them to your calendar of appointments. Just as you accomplish any project, schedule it straight through when you expect to declare victory.

Delegate Delegate Delegate

Author James Jenks in his book, "Don't Do, Delegate", reminds us how important it is to not do it all ourselves. Certainly delegating is the best way to leverage your time and perhaps it’s the best way to ensure your most important objective is met. So use your appointment to check in on the work of others if you haven’t assigned the work to yourself.

Think Strategically

Making an appointment with yourself can also foster the discipline of strategic thinking - imagining the possible or even the audacious. It may be possible to execute a strategic acquisition or be so bold as to sell the business or turn over your executive team. If you need help, I can assist, as this is among the services I provide – I ask critical questions that leverage your imagination and challenge your assumptions. In fact, several of my clients engage me for that very reason – I’m an outside facilitator for one-on-one thinking.

The point of the appointment is to impose on yourself the discipline of ensuring that you are always working somewhere between the routine and imposed – that place and time that produces new, creative, and satisfying results.

Leadership Coaching Newsletter is written and produced by Wendy Capland. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: wcapland@visionquestconsulting.com. We'd love to hear from you.

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Copyright Wendy Capland 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. All rights reserved.