Get it Together Do it Together

Are you overwhelmed?  Most people are.  There is so much to do and such little time.  Therefore, you need to utilize that statement - get lots done in a little bit of time.  How do you do that?  Grouping! Batching!

When you group items together and do them all at the same time, you can get more of them done in less time than doing them at individual intervals.  Think about this - some of the tasks you need to do will require materials, software, access codes, etc. and if you are constantly having to gather them, do the task and put them away, that all takes time.  If you group your items together and cut down the number of times you have to pull out and put away the materials; access the software and wait for it to load and wait for it to shut down; and enter and re-enter your access codes, you will save time and be more accurate.

What can you group or batch together?  Paying bills - do it once or twice a month.  It takes some planning and organizing, but the time you take on the front end to set up the systems will save you hours on the back end from not processing multiple times.  Opening your mail - do it once or twice a week and have a recycle bin handy.  Doing your follow ups to prospects - pick a time once a week or a couple of times per month (depending on your business) to do and record the follow ups.  Handling your email - open it twice or three times per day - work it, file it and close it.

Rather than treating every task as an individual item - look for ways you can batch things together.  You may need to set up physical folders to group your items and save them until it is time to work them.  Then work them and finish them.  The less you have to touch processes, the more processing you can get done.

Actions Scream Louder Than Words

Yes, I know it is "Actions speak louder than words."  However, I know that isn't strong enough.  Many of the companies that I work with come to me with "situations".  When I ask the owner or the manager how they would handle the situation, unfortunately I tend to get an answer in the neighborhood of "do as I say, not as I do."  Why not?

You can have every rule written down at work and at home, but they will constantly be broken when you break them.  Yes, you.  As a manager, owner, parent, or role model you are being watched.  If you need to address a situation, take a look at how you have handled it in front of the offender.  Chances are really good, they just mirrored your behavior.

If we want things done a certain way, then we need to do them that certain way.  Using the excuse that you have authority or are in a different category doesn't work.  Having it written down and then acting against it, doesn't work.  Telling someone to do something and then you not doing it, doesn't work.  Mimicking the behavior you want and the processes you desire, can work.  Let your actions scream the words you are trying to convey (without actually screaming). 

The King Has Arrived

In the financial world, cash is king.  In the behavior world, consistency is king - only if you want results.  Consistency will instill trust, set expectations, and open communications.  Without it, people aren't sure where to go, what to do and how to respond. 

Stephen M.R. Covey's book, "The Speed of Trust" tells us that when you have trust, transactions can occur faster than without it.  How do you gain trust?  By doing what you say you are going to do, setting expectations, building integrity, and generally being consistent in all areas.  Most people don't enjoy being blind sided and when you are consistent in what you do it is easier to instill trust and get results.

Consistency also helps set expectations.  Many studies have proven that when people (or animals) are given expectations, the majority will either meet or exceed them.  When there are no expectations, that is generally the same result you can expect from them.  Being consistent in what you want and also how you react to what you don't want will help ingrain the importance of those expectations.

It also opens the lines of communication.  If you are consistent in your responses, people will know how to communicate with you.  Here you need to walk the talk of an open door policy.  If you consistently say no and don't listen to people, that of course will not draw them in.  If you consistently listen with an open mind and allow them to speak and ask for clarification when needed, you will likely find that people are willing to come to you with ideas and information. 

Consistency is not complacency.  Consistency will allow things to happen quicker as it helps instill trust, it helps set expectations and can improve communication.  That is, only if you are consistent with your promises, walk the talk and have an open mind to new ideas.  Find somewhere today that you haven't been consistent and make a conscientious effort to be more consistent.  Notice the results.