Monthly Archives: June 2013

The Disciplined Professional

25 Jun
by Bridget DiCello

Do you wish you had more disciplined employees? Employees who would routinely and consistently deliver high-quality work?

A disciplined employee is a product of their own work ethic but also rely on the discipline of their manager and their work environment.

What does a disciplined manager look like?

1. Tracks metrics. Someone who is disciplined keeps track of their current performance, any dips, and any increases. Not only does the manager track the employees’ performance, but they track their own performance, and share what is relevant with the rest of the team.

2. Does the tough things. In every job, there are tasks that are important but not necessarily urgent, that no one may want to do. They will improve overall performance once they become routine. The disciplined manager needs to lead by example in their own work, and employees will follow by doing the tough, but important, tasks in their jobs.

3. Gets started.  Often the hardest part is to get started, even if it is to take a small step on a difficult project or task. The disciplined person takes that first step forward.

4. Focuses on professional development. A disciplined person is continually looking for ways to professionally develop. This goes beyond performing well every day, to looking for ways to perform better, differently, and grow professionally.

5. Tweaks their own performance. A manager who is disciplined not only professionally develops, but also improves their own daily performance incrementally. This often requires the discipline of monitoring, identifying small steps that can be taken, and acknowledging those small steps and progress both for themselves and for the rest of the team to follow their example.

6.  Is passionate. Discipline is defined by words such as “rigorous, training, control, regimen, rules, state of order.” They certainly don’t sound like a whole lot of fun. However, when you combine a level of discipline with a passion for creating, contributing, and achieving that about which you are passionate, great and exciting things can happen. Although the trip may be tough, the results are significant and rewarding. The disciplined manager is passionate enough about the work they are doing to inspire others to follow the rules and regimens, which are improved with innovation over time, but consistently move forward.

Are you disciplined enough to achieve that about which you are passionate?

 

Purposeful Days

07 Jun
by Bridget DiCello

In order to manage your time well, you only need to make the best decision every moment of every day. The question is how to make those best decisions. Some of the most effective people plan and execute their day based on well thought out goals that are specific and measurable.

It is difficult to be disciplined enough to write those specific goals and keep them top of mind. However, sometimes even more difficult is truly being excited and passionate in spite of the pressures of the day. That passion and excitement exists when your goals are aligned with your personal vision and purpose.

A purposeful day does not necessarily mean it was, or was not, hectic or stressful.

What do you need to accomplish today to feel successful and fulfilled at the end of the day? What is that important to you? Much of your day may be filled with urgent tasks, but you may not feel content unless you spend some time on the more important and less urgent activities.

Dr. Buckminster Fuller tells us that each person looks out into the world and sees things that “need to be done” and we need to go do those things because no one else sees the world exactly as we do, and if we don’t do these things, they will never get done.

What do you see that needs to be done? And are you making progress every day?

Each one of us can only work so hard day after day unless we are working toward something, and for a purpose, even if it will take some time to see results.

If you are not energized by what you are doing every day, maybe it is time to revisit your passion and purpose. One of the most effective ways to do this is to make your “What bugs me” list. For me, my list contains many situations where people are not living up to their potential, are wasting their talents, their time or their resources. I am most energized by the days where I can help people work towards discovering greatness and potential in themselves and others.

What bugs you? And what do you see that needs to be done when you look out into the world? Are you making progress in those areas in big and small ways every day?

Plan your day. Execute the plan. Evaluate the day. Be sure the evaluation is based on not only someone else’s goals, but also the purpose and vision you have for yourself.