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(Photo by Marty Seybold Photography)
Greetings!
This month's newsletter is focused on sabotage - specifically, YOURS. What you do to yourself (and what you let others do to you) that keeps you from finishing your projects, reaching your goals, and achieving your dreams.
I encourage you to take a moment to think about where you were last year and the year before, and even 5 years ago. Are your where you thought you'd be in five years? In two years? In 12 months? It's possible that two things impacted you not being where you wanted to be: Lack of a Strategic Plan (see September's THINK ZINK newsletter) or self-sabotage). Either way, it's in your hands to make changes.
This month's newsletter is designed to give you realistic tools to make those changes. It's not magic, it's not rocket science. There are practical action items you can start doing TODAY to get your life on track and headed in the direction you want to go.
P.S. Are you writing a newsletter and need some "snippets" of information? You are welcome to quote anything in this e-zine, provided you give appropriate credit.
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"Procrastination is the most-often used form of self-sabotage."
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 | | "Think Zink" On Blog Talk Radio! |
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"Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then do nothing to make it happen."
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"Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried."
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How to Stop Sabotaging Your
Time Management Strategies
Meetings: I believe that the biggest time-waster in most every workplace is the propensity people have to hold meetings! Here are some tips to avoid sabotaging yourself with this activity:
- Have an AGENDA
- Set a definite START and END time
- Determine ACTION items
Interruptions: It's easy to overlook the damage that interruptions have on our ability to manage our time. There are a couple of ways to minimize interruptions:
- Remember that IT'S OK to close your door. The "open door" policy doesn't have to literal; you have to re-take control of your time. I recognize that in many workplace cultures closing the door may be a negative thing; however, simply putting a note on the door that says - "Focus Hour - please, no interruptions", or something similar buys you time to focus on a critical task.
- The "Parking Lot" - Put a large sticky "flip chart" style page on the back of your door or in the break room. Many times, people interrupt because they have an idea that they need to share "right away". Using this page, tell people you are in the middle of a project, but you recognize their idea is potentially valuable; ask them to write the gist of it down and their name, and you'll schedule time to visit with them about it.
Procrastination: It seems counterintuitive that people who are trying to manage their time struggle with procrastination, but in reality, procrastination can take many forms, and it's a sure-fire way to ruin any time management plans you have. Here are some "hidden" ways you may procrastinate without realizing it:
- Doing low-priority tasks instead of high-priority tasks: For instance, making coffee, putting paper in the copy machine (when you're not making copies), organizing your desk, checking email or voicemail, etc.
- Making lists: Sometimes, making lists are important; however, too often people make lists and build spreadsheets as a way to feel as if they are "doing something" when, in reality, they are simply using a task to avoid the work at hand.
If you would like Sarah to come and speak
to your group, organization or company,
please click HERE.
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Sabotaging Behaviors
Choosing our Friends: It's important to understand that what we tell our children is also true for us as adults. "You become like those with whom you spend your time." If you are spending the bulk of your time with high-achievers, productive producers, and positive attitudes, you will set yourself up for success.
Sadly, all too often, we sabotage ourselves by being at the "top of the food chain" in our social and professional lives. That's not a healthy way to spend the bulk of our time. You should constantly be surrounded by people who are better, faster and smarter than you are - that is what causes you to grow.
Choosing our Activities: It's amazing to me how often we say that we want to get organized, get healthy, get smarter, get ______________ (fill in the blank), YET, we do everything to move AWAY from our goals.
Be sure that your behavior matches what you say you are and what you want to be. They should not be "similar", they should be EXACT. If you want to manage your time, get healthy, get smarter - then stop sabotaging yourself!
Choosing our Attitude: It's impossible to move forward in a positive direction with a negative attitude. I recognize that some of us are "hard-wired" to see a glass half-empty rather than half-full; however, you draw unto yourself what you put out into your environment. If you want more positive things in your world, then BE more positive.
If you would like Sarah to come and speak
to your group, organization or company,
please click HERE.
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Common Communication Sabotaging
What we say: We speak all day, yet more than half of the business professionals I encounter share that they struggle with getting their message out. Do you struggle? Here are some easy tips to remember:
- WHAT is the bottom line message? Think about the simplest way you can say what you want to say, then built it up from there.
- WHAT is the action item associated with your message? Too often, we forget that - for the most part - we are communicating with others to get them to DO something. Make sure that your action item doesn't get lost in a ton of verbiage.
- WHO is the audience? Consider gender, generation, behavior or social style.
- WHAT is the best vehicle to communicate the message? Stop assuming email is the best vehicle to send messages. Sometimes, you need to make a phone call or have a face-to-face discussion. Be sure that your message isn't sabotaged by your choice of delivery.
Tone of voice: Your mother was right - you need to watch your tone. The one thing you should remember is that how you feel has an effect on what you're thinking, and what you're thinking will come out in your tone. If people consistently tell you that you have "a tone", then they're probably right. Watch your thoughts and emotions, and your tone shouldn't be a problem.
If you would like Sarah to come and speak
to your group, organization or company,
please click HERE.
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Stop feeling like a fish out of water in front of a lens, and own that space! Develop your own powerful, authentic camera presence through easy exercises, training tools and simple tips that will have you looking and feeling like a total pro, and having fun doing it! Registration includes free audio training from Sandra!~ |
New Online Blog!
Check out Platforms.TV 
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