In Part 2 of this blog, I’ll share with you more six more compelling hacks and tactics to make this year in a business more enjoyable, productive, profitable, and sustainable.
7. Diary Mindset
I personally love this one.
Open up your diary or calendar for last year and review:
Activities/Meetings/People which you would assess as positive, enjoyable or impactful
Activities/Meetings/People that were neutral, necessary or constructive
Activities/Meetings/People that were negative, painful, unnecessary or energy-zapping
Do this both for business and personally.
Now focus on scheduling more of the positive, enjoyable or impactful this year. As much as you can.
Adopt a minimalist attitude in scheduling the neutral, necessary or constructive.
Try and eliminate the negative, painful, unnecessary or energy-zapping.
This mindset shift in scheduling will dramatically change your life, I assure you.
8. Meeting MED
I get pushback and objections around meetings.
But there is a way to do meetings.
What are the MED or minimum-effective-dose of meetings that you need to hold?
I have an internal meeting regime I use with all my clients based on this.
Also try and schedule meetings on only 1 or 2 days per week.
9. Book Yourself First
This seems obvious but is shamefully overlooked.
Knowing isn’t doing remember.
When setting up your schedule, book yourself in first for:
Exercise
Mindfulness
Family time
Medical and key appointments
Holidays
Non-business projects
By booking yourself in first, you ensure that the important ‘you’ things get airtime.
10. People Plan
You must have a People Plan.
Internally, review your Org Chart noting emerging or vacant roles. What does the Org Chart look like when you’re finished? I have a Personnel System I use with all my clients to ensure that each team member has 1-1’s with direct reports, KPI’s and a rolling periodic appraisal system. In doing so staff retention improves, as does morale and culture. Team members experience higher job satisfaction and feel both empowered and rewarded.
Externally, what is your Customer Care Plan. Who are the key people in your customer base that you want to connect with and how will you do this? Who and what business development activities will you conduct and with whom? Who are your network members that are critical and when will you see them?
Don’t leave this to chance, internally or externally.
Schedule and prioritize.
11. The Annual Calendar
Once you’ve considered and actioned all the above, it’s time to draft a 1-Page Annual Calendar.
The Annual Calendar is a grid calendar by month that lists all the activity to be conducted over the year ahead.
Once completed, issue it to the entire team and have all the meetings, interactions and activities scheduled in individual and team diaries.
Have a nominated ‘Gatekeeper’ who ensures everything is scheduled and actioned.
12. Reinvigorating Retreats
I encourage you to adopt retreats into your Game Plan.
They can be annual, bi-annually or quarterly and are best scheduled in your happy place at a seaside or bush venue away from the office and home.
Retreats are a great forum to reflect on where you are both privately and professionally.
Review your plan noting the wins, losses, lessons and opportunities looking back through the rear-view mirror.
Now look out the larger piece of glass – the windscreen – at the future period and what key actions, behaviours, threats and opportunities present.
Include regular breaks for mindfulness, exercise and indulgence over a brief 1–2-night retreat.
You will return reinvigorated, informed and ready to tackle that next mountain.
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Email me at darren@darrenkbourke.com to schedule a meeting (at no cost or obligation) to discuss how I can help you, your business and your team this year.