Don't Be a Picklebump

While I’ve been answering Reverb10 Prompts this month, I’ve also been pondering something my manager asked me at work. I thought this question might be a good one for others to contemplate as well.

“How can you be more effective in 2011?”

I’ve got normal business related ideas:

1. Using lessons learned as a stepping point to improve performance.
2. Communicating better with my co-workers.
3. Getting over my fear of confrontation.
4. Keeping clutter at my desk down.
5. Not overscheduling/commitin myself.
6. How I present myself.

But I also realized that there are things outside work that can affect my effectiveness as well.

1. Quality of the foods I eat.
2. Quality of the sleep I get.
3. How scheduled my weekend is.
4. What are my commitments at outside my normal work schedule?
5. Am I exercising?

My challenge to you is to think about how you can be more effective in the New Year. Not only in terms of your business, but how things that you do in your home life maybe carrying over into the workplace. Start developing a plan on one item you need change to be more effective. For example if you identify that you’re not getting enough sleep to be effective, put together a plan to improve your sleep. What are your sleep habits? What may be influencing them? Do you need to go to bed earlier? Are you over-committed? Are you zoning out with the computer/television? Are you drinking too much caffiene late in the afternoon? Once you have the plan, start implementing it one step at time.

And please, feel free to let me know if you post in response to this prompt. Like Mary Beth, I’ve found that other’s responses widen my own personal perceptions and may help myself and others.