Profit Magazine Interviews
Leverage Yourself
Increase Your Focus
Profit Magazine - "Leverage Yourself"
Interview Of Ellen Samiec by Karen Kelly
Want to make the most of your day? Become more effective and more efficient by leveraging the skills you already have
"The problem with our society is that we're constantly looking at how to fix our problems," says Ellen Samiec, author of 101 Ways to Accomplish More with Less and a Toronto-based executive coach. "Whereas if you really want to leverage yourself, the secret is to focus on your strengths." While there's nothing wrong with upgrading skills or improving shortcomings, Samiec says that it's become too much of a focus: "The most effective business people know what they're good at and only do that."
So just how do you get the most with what you've got? Here how's to leverage yourself:
- Know your strengths. Many people don't take the time to define exactly what makes them successful. What is your greatest skill in business? Write it down and concentrate on using it. Samiec suggests asking peers, business associates or even some of your trusted clients as to what sets you apart. Once you've determined your strengths, take the time to develop them further.
- Examine your tasks. As a business grows, the nature of work changes. Things that were once important often become redundant. "Look at what you're doing and ask yourself if a particular task really needs to be done," says Samiec. If the answer is no, wash your hands of it.
- Learn to delegate effectively. According to Samiec, the average business leader spends 45 per cent of their time on tasks that can be delegated. While you may feel you can do it faster and better, you're limiting what you can offer the company. Says Samiec: "The reality is that you can't have it all if you do it all."
- Recharge your batteries. Working non-stop will only harm you in the long run. "The law of diminishing returns comes into play," cautions Samiec. If you're not taking the time to exercise or to take a break, you'll eventually burn out. Focus your energy on what's important and then step away from the office.
Profit Magazine - "Increase Your Focus"
Interview Of Ellen Samiec by Karen Kelly
Unable to concentrate on the task at hand? Don't waste work time with daydreams or frazzled thoughts. Here's how to increase your focus and get back to business.
There's nothing worse than realizing you've put in a long day and accomplished virtually nothing. How did it happen? You could've sworn you were busy — you certainly didn't just sit there. People flew in and out of your office, the phone rang incessantly, emails blinked on your screen ...
If this sounds familiar, take heart. You're not alone. "So many people are working 12 or 14 hour days and they're still not getting what they want done," says Ellen Samiec, a Toronto-based executive coach and author of 101 Ways to Accomplish More with Less. She says in our fast-paced work world, more and more business leaders are struggling to keep up. "The demands for higher customer service, higher productivity and better results are pulling people in all different directions."
Ready to get focussed and pack more into your day? Here's how:
- Be clear on what is important. "People really need to recognize there is a difference between being busy and being effective," says Samiec. Start by defining your goals and putting them down in writing. Samiec has clients who write their priorities on a whiteboard in their office. When other tasks pop up, they always have a guide to keep them focussed.
- Implement focus time. Open up your daytimer and schedule an appointment to finish certain tasks. It's easier to get things done if you dedicate a specific block of time to accomplishing them. Samiec advises people to chose a time when you're most alert. For most people that's early in the day.
- Ignore the phone. Studies show that it takes a minimum of five minutes to recover from an interruption, says Samiec, who notes that the average businessperson receives five phone calls an hour. Put these two facts together and you'll notice phone calls are taking up a huge chunk of time. Samiec recommends turning off the ringer during your allotted focus time (tip #2) and covering up the red flashing light. Let the call go to voice mail or have the receptionist say you're in a meeting.
- Stay away from emails. Do you open every email as soon as it comes in? This distraction is eating up valuable time. Set aside two or three times a day to check and respond to email. Disable those pesky reminders that pop up on the screen.
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