Achieve!

Do you want to achieve? Of course you do.

To achieve is to succeed in reaching a goal. This means if you don't have goals, you can't achieve.

So make your goals explicit rather than implicit - to yourself, your managers, your teams ... And do so in forms and language that is relevant to them.

After all they have to achieve for you to do so.

Sometimes we achieve more by setting out to do less.

I'm sure you are a busy person. Lots to do, lots to think about, lots to manage. Well, perhaps things might be better if you thought more and did less. Take the time to think things through. Then, act ... but only then.

Its also worth thinking about those things you don't need to do at all ... there are usually some of those on most people's agendas.

So, sit back ... and think. You'll get more done!

Do you want happy staff?

Are happy and contented staff less productive?

If you take the time and effort to make your staff happy at work, content with their lot ... are you automatically setting up lower productivity?

After all unhappy staff might be motivated to transform their lot ... work their way out of their current situation. Contented staff might not do anything to harm their current situation ... like working hard enough to alert you to their prowess and possible promotion possibilities.

We talk about 'comfort zones' ... stifling innovation, for example.

So, is there a balance to be struck? Do we need to maintain a (healthy) tension in the workplace. If so, are we sure we can focus that tension to our benefit?

Who is doing billable work?

The self-employed and freelancers know about the concept of 'billable work'. Its what you do that you directly charge clients for.

You have to do other things - update yourself, keep up with the email torrent, market your services and so on. But this isn't billable.

So, look around your organisation. Who is doing billable work? How much of it?

How much of people's time is sucked up by other things - the things a customer wouldn't want to pay for? The proportions might surprise you ... and might make you do something about it!