Too Much Baggage

• Taking the quickest route - A CEO, upon hearing about a new method to provide job equity in performance appraisals, squelched the creativity and initiative of her direct reports by impulsively imposing a simplistic solution.  The result?  A deflated staff and a solution that did not prove to be the most equitable for all involved.  A few moments of asking questions and getting clarification may take longer, but will save us on possible negative consequences later on.  
  

• Blaming the economy - Wow, this trap can be insidious. Sure things are slow for some of us but so many of us can use this as a reason for us to not market or focus on what we can do.  We can always blame something or someone.  And we can use tough times to NOT take necessary action too. I frequently hear of managers who refuse to fire underperformers.   Not firing an underperformer for any reason, including your concern for that person's welfare in this challenging economy, can affect productivity, demoralize your team, and undermine your credibility as a manager.  When you find yourselves blaming, start looking in the mirror.   Usually the face looking back at you is at least part of the problem!

• Being busy - Some of us are so busy doing "busy" work that we never get to accomplishing activities that really move our lives forward.  One of the classes I teach helps people use Outlook more effectively. 
  One tip that will help you work more focused involves turning off your email notifications and task reminders.  Another tip is to only check your email at certain set aside times in your day so that you can focus on what matters most to you.