Reflection Improves Us

Reflection. We don’t do much of it. Why not? Don’t we all complain about how busy we are and long for a break? Well…take one..daily preferably, but at least weekly. Personal reflection can accomplish a number of things, but most of all it helps you learn from the interactions you’ve had with others.  Were you well received by those you came in contact with or did you default into some bad habits such as gossip or complaining?   Did you ask more questions than made statements? Did you listen twice as much as you spoke in meetings? It’s a good time to pull out that goals list or coaching map, too and check your progress.

Keeping Your Processes Current

Mindmaps, especially those used in real-time or collaboration modes, can keep your operational processes and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs) current.  I was demonstrating “Military Planning 2.0 with Mindmapping” to Don Lett, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, now responsible for major emergency contingency plans.  He commented on the struggle to keep SOPs current and enduring due to the turnover of military and government civilian personnel.  He saw what I had not considered before – that by putting SOPs in collaboration mind-maps the data stays fresh

Office Rules: “Getting it Done” meets sensitivity

A short note today about managing in the office for efficiency.

Making email work for you:  If your email box gets overloaded quickly, set up some rules in your office whereby email messages must be prefaced with a few key letters.  I use the following:

We don’t do alot of great work at work

Jason Fried stole my thunder. We really don’t do our best work at Work.  During a recent workshop, I asked 15 young pros at a client company to tell me when they were at their thinking, creative best.