Mess. Clutter. Disorder. We've all learned that these are bad. We should avoid them at all costs. Children's rooms should not have toys all around them. Office desks need to be organized and not too personalized. Lawns need to be well groomed to fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.
Who decided this? Is it really better to be organized and structured than to have free flow and flexibility?
In "A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder", Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman describe a number of benefits of mess. Those people with stacked desks may actually have a better system of prioritizing than those with tickler files and folders. They've gotten used to where the higher priority items are located and easily locate them.
People who vary their easy-to-change habits can break out of habit webs that make it difficult for them to be creative. Going home a different route or getting ready for work in a different sequence are examples of habits that could be varied.
Noise can be a form of mess. Phone communication has always had the challenge of sounds on the line. With the improvement of cell phones, background noise was eliminated to the point that the quiet was actually a problem. They now add background noise to cell phones and call it comfort noise. It is a comfort to people to hear some background noise so that they know they are connected. It also disguises voice echoes that show up when there is no background noise. Frederic Bourget, Senior Product Manager of Octasic Corporation created the CN, comfort noise.
According to Abrahamson and Freedman, there are specifically six key benefits to messiness:
FLEXIBILITY:
With messy systems, change can occur more easily in a wider variety of ways than the more rigid neat systems. Neatness does not respond well to changing demands and unexpected events.
COMPLETENESS:
Messy systems tend to keep more of the diversity of elements. Neat systems often eliminate useful and even critical elements.
RESONANCE:
Mess contributes to having a system harmonize with its environment, receiving helpful information. Neatness can insulate a system from environmental cues.
INVENTION:
Mess allows system elements to more randomly move about, leading to new solutions. Neatness can limit novel and unexpected elements to be present. Chefs often prefer to work in the midst of a spread of ingredients and tools in order to come up with new food combinations and techniques.
EFFICIENCY:
Messy systems can accomplish goals using fewer resources and can often have the support of those in the outside world. Being neat keeps the burden of the work trapped in the system and requires constant use of resources.
ROBUSTNESS:
Because mess loosely weaves various elements, messy systems can be more resistant6 to destruction, failure, and imitation. Neat systems can have very definite strong and weak points, causing them to be brittle, easily disrupted, and copied.
Did you ever think there could be so many advantages to being messy?
Just as with so many things in life, there just isn't an easy answer to what is the best way to organize. You can see that productivity is not dependent on one method.
If you'd like some support to improve YOUR productivity, it's time to check out the resources at
Exuberant Productivity.com
Contact Suzanne Holman, MAEd, the Exuberant Productivity Coach!
Friday, June 8, 2007
How Important Is Your Urgent?
How often do you hear the phone ringing and NOT answer it?
Because the phone ring is so intrusive, we tend to treat phone calls coming in as urgent and answer. In fact, the call may be of little or no importance and only serves to get us off tract from working on what really is important. With caller ID now available, it can give us more control of whether we want to answer the call depending who is calling.
Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", clarifies the distinctions of activities that are urgent-unimportant, urgent-important, not urgent-important, and not urgent-not important. He puts these into a grid that gives a clear visual of the four categories of tasks.
Urgent items are deadline based. They are often associated with the achievement of someone else's goals. The "squeaky wheel gets the grease" is an expression that describes urgent issues. Urgent matters can also be an uncomfortable problem or situation needing immediate resolution.
Most items in the urgent-important category are crises. Some of this intensity can be avoided by better planning and taking care of the important items before the timing puts them into the urgent category as well. Critical activities that support your goals and have a looming deadline certainly go into this category of urgent-important.
There can be activities that are very important that can be overlooked because there is no one pushing for their completion. Those problems relating to the business team or products/services being developed can be much more visible than the very important relationships with current or potential customers. Marketing efforts need to be consistent in order for there to be sales on a regular basis. These efforts definitely fall into that important category, but without a definite deadline, they can be overlooked.
For good time management and goal achievement, the focus must be on things that are important and not just urgent. In order to avoid the struggle of having too many critical deadlines, you must distinguish clearly between what is urgent and what is important.
Here's a real simplification of the difference:
IMPORTANT activities: the outcome leads to the achievement of your goals
URGENT activities: demand immediate attention
What can be a real time and energy saver is identifying the tasks that are NEITHER important nor urgent. These trivial activities need to be ignored or delegated. What happens too often is that we may use our valuable time and energy just to get them out of the way.
For our work to be effective as well as efficient, it is important that we determine the priority of the tasks before us. When we have a clear picture of this, there is much less struggle in our daily activities since we can avoid the push-pull of those urgent-unimportant tasks popping up in front of us, luring us away from our productive day!
Description
There can be activities that are very important that can be overlooked because there is no one pushing for their completion. It is critical that you not let what seems urgent to take all of your attention.
What's luring you away from your full engagement and outstanding achievement?
Are you ready to get yourself on track to your goals?
Resources are available at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com
Contact Suzanne Holman, MAEd, the Exuberant Productivity Coach.
Because the phone ring is so intrusive, we tend to treat phone calls coming in as urgent and answer. In fact, the call may be of little or no importance and only serves to get us off tract from working on what really is important. With caller ID now available, it can give us more control of whether we want to answer the call depending who is calling.
Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", clarifies the distinctions of activities that are urgent-unimportant, urgent-important, not urgent-important, and not urgent-not important. He puts these into a grid that gives a clear visual of the four categories of tasks.
Urgent items are deadline based. They are often associated with the achievement of someone else's goals. The "squeaky wheel gets the grease" is an expression that describes urgent issues. Urgent matters can also be an uncomfortable problem or situation needing immediate resolution.
Most items in the urgent-important category are crises. Some of this intensity can be avoided by better planning and taking care of the important items before the timing puts them into the urgent category as well. Critical activities that support your goals and have a looming deadline certainly go into this category of urgent-important.
There can be activities that are very important that can be overlooked because there is no one pushing for their completion. Those problems relating to the business team or products/services being developed can be much more visible than the very important relationships with current or potential customers. Marketing efforts need to be consistent in order for there to be sales on a regular basis. These efforts definitely fall into that important category, but without a definite deadline, they can be overlooked.
For good time management and goal achievement, the focus must be on things that are important and not just urgent. In order to avoid the struggle of having too many critical deadlines, you must distinguish clearly between what is urgent and what is important.
Here's a real simplification of the difference:
IMPORTANT activities: the outcome leads to the achievement of your goals
URGENT activities: demand immediate attention
What can be a real time and energy saver is identifying the tasks that are NEITHER important nor urgent. These trivial activities need to be ignored or delegated. What happens too often is that we may use our valuable time and energy just to get them out of the way.
For our work to be effective as well as efficient, it is important that we determine the priority of the tasks before us. When we have a clear picture of this, there is much less struggle in our daily activities since we can avoid the push-pull of those urgent-unimportant tasks popping up in front of us, luring us away from our productive day!
Description
There can be activities that are very important that can be overlooked because there is no one pushing for their completion. It is critical that you not let what seems urgent to take all of your attention.
What's luring you away from your full engagement and outstanding achievement?
Are you ready to get yourself on track to your goals?
Resources are available at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com
Contact Suzanne Holman, MAEd, the Exuberant Productivity Coach.
Monday, June 4, 2007
What You Think of Me Is None of My Business!
How often do you hold your tongue and not speak the truth of what you are thinking?
What do you love doing that you haven't done in a long time?
Does your creativity get shoved into the box of what you think will please others?
If so, you may be letting your fear of criticism rule your life. This is one of the key sources of struggle people face. It is easy to try to please everyone all the time.
We tend to moderate our words, our actions, and look over our shoulder to see who's watching. Actually pleasing everyone all the time is actually a losing battle!
When we're caught up with what we're supposed to do we tend to stifle our energy and enthusiasm for whatever project we're pursuing. When we trust our actions and choices, we see that everything gets easier and we're in the flow of the work. There is more consistent energy. Our energy is not bolstered when others applaud us and deflated when others have a negative reaction to what we've said or done.
This is contrary to how many of us were raised. We were supposed to listen to how things were to be done and do our best to copy that. There was a right and wrong way for every project to be completed. Rarely were our personality styles considered as to what method would work best for us to approach any situation.
Terry Cole-Whitaker wrote the book titled, What You Think Of Me Is None Of My Business. I remember when I first heard this title. Over the years it has come to mean more to me as I've realized the peace that can come from letting go of need for love and approval for everything I do.
Is this selfish to put our OWN approval above others' approval? This may have been the message of our childhood. When we have healthy self-love we are able to be comfortable with what we are doing and are able to accept that others may have their own way to complete a task as well. Our self-care is essential for us to be a fully engaged individual in any situation, whether it is a personal relationship or a business project.
HOW CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR HABIT OF PLEASING OTHERS?
It first takes the decision that you are going to live life for yourself. This isn't to say you are not being considerate of others. On the contrary, you will value and respect them more than ever.
Then make a conscious effort to speak the truth, no matter what. How often to we filter our words carefully to avoid offending anyone? This only makes connecting more difficult and awkward. It is really pretty obvious when a person is not being authentic. You are not doing anyone a favor by not being real.
This process will not happen in just a few leaps and bounds. Small steps are the most effective way to make any change. You have to be comfortable with what you are doing to have this be a smooth process.
Give yourself a moment before speaking to check how authentically you are about to respond. Speaking the truth does not mean that you have to fully disclose all of your thoughts. That isn't necessary. Healthy boundaries for your privacy are appropriate.
And, realize that some people in your life may not be comfortable with your honesty. They are probably not people who are adding positive energy to you anyway.
How would your life be different if you were living congruently with your ideas and values?
How would your relationships be enriched by being all of who you are?
How would your productivity be affected?
What would it mean to your bottom line to be more aware of yourself and how you relate to others?
Developing your communication skills by working with a coach can be very effective in creasing your productivity. Check out the resources and services offered by Suzanne Holman, MAEd, Exuberant Productivity Coach, found at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com
What do you love doing that you haven't done in a long time?
Does your creativity get shoved into the box of what you think will please others?
If so, you may be letting your fear of criticism rule your life. This is one of the key sources of struggle people face. It is easy to try to please everyone all the time.
We tend to moderate our words, our actions, and look over our shoulder to see who's watching. Actually pleasing everyone all the time is actually a losing battle!
When we're caught up with what we're supposed to do we tend to stifle our energy and enthusiasm for whatever project we're pursuing. When we trust our actions and choices, we see that everything gets easier and we're in the flow of the work. There is more consistent energy. Our energy is not bolstered when others applaud us and deflated when others have a negative reaction to what we've said or done.
This is contrary to how many of us were raised. We were supposed to listen to how things were to be done and do our best to copy that. There was a right and wrong way for every project to be completed. Rarely were our personality styles considered as to what method would work best for us to approach any situation.
Terry Cole-Whitaker wrote the book titled, What You Think Of Me Is None Of My Business. I remember when I first heard this title. Over the years it has come to mean more to me as I've realized the peace that can come from letting go of need for love and approval for everything I do.
Is this selfish to put our OWN approval above others' approval? This may have been the message of our childhood. When we have healthy self-love we are able to be comfortable with what we are doing and are able to accept that others may have their own way to complete a task as well. Our self-care is essential for us to be a fully engaged individual in any situation, whether it is a personal relationship or a business project.
HOW CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR HABIT OF PLEASING OTHERS?
It first takes the decision that you are going to live life for yourself. This isn't to say you are not being considerate of others. On the contrary, you will value and respect them more than ever.
Then make a conscious effort to speak the truth, no matter what. How often to we filter our words carefully to avoid offending anyone? This only makes connecting more difficult and awkward. It is really pretty obvious when a person is not being authentic. You are not doing anyone a favor by not being real.
This process will not happen in just a few leaps and bounds. Small steps are the most effective way to make any change. You have to be comfortable with what you are doing to have this be a smooth process.
Give yourself a moment before speaking to check how authentically you are about to respond. Speaking the truth does not mean that you have to fully disclose all of your thoughts. That isn't necessary. Healthy boundaries for your privacy are appropriate.
And, realize that some people in your life may not be comfortable with your honesty. They are probably not people who are adding positive energy to you anyway.
How would your life be different if you were living congruently with your ideas and values?
How would your relationships be enriched by being all of who you are?
How would your productivity be affected?
What would it mean to your bottom line to be more aware of yourself and how you relate to others?
Developing your communication skills by working with a coach can be very effective in creasing your productivity. Check out the resources and services offered by Suzanne Holman, MAEd, Exuberant Productivity Coach, found at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com
Mind Mapping Yourself Into Focus
Mind mapping can seem like such a disorderly process. You pull out a big sheet of paper, get the markers rounded up, and start writing, drawing circles and lines in
all directions. How can this help with focus?
Lack of focus is one of the key sources of struggle for most people. Sometimes it takes thinking "out of the box" to get some direction. Have you been avoiding the "hard stuff" and keeping busy with the routine tasks? Has not being sure of what to do next kept you stuck at the starting line?
Perhaps you feel pulled back and forth by stimuli in many directions. This could be caused by emails and phone calls coming in from people with other priorities. They want your input and they want it now! In an office setting you may have coworkers walking in to chat about work subjects or just their upcoming golf game. How do you decide where to focus your energy?
Are there too many ideas to implement all at once? How can you narrow it down to what you can manage?
There are a number of solutions to these challenges and today we are focusing on the mindmapping process.
Tony Buzan explains Mind mapping in his popular book, How To Mind Map: Make the most of your mind and learn how to create, organize, and plan. His book came out in 2002, but he wasn't the first to use this type of organizing. The Greeks developed many systems to organize and recall facts, using imagination and association. Imagination and association are two keys factors for why mind mapping works so well to organize and clarify your thinking.
Mind mapping gives you an overview, displaying large amounts of data in one place. You are able to see new creative pathways and integrating information. And a mind map is even enjoyable to look at and read.
Mind mapping recreates the way we were designed to think. We don't have outlines and structured charts in our brain. There are millions of connections going from one concept to another. These connections are what helps us to recall past learnings and integrate new ideas.
Although there are software programs for mind mapping on the computer, I prefer to use the tried and true method of a large sheet of paper and colorful markers. Once I start with a central core to an idea, I come up with lots of details going out from that core. These connect with other concepts that may give more understanding to that core idea. Then you can create connections for possible solutions to a problem.
What I find is that my thoughts then flow from these key "sentence starters". I find myself coming up with much fresher, more creative ideas than when I am trying to fit my thoughts into the linear outline form.
Would mind mapping be a help to you in getting your focus? I would enjoy sharing my experiences of mind mapping with you and develop strategies with you for your business using the process. You'll find me, Suzanne Holman, the Exuberant Productivity Coach on the web at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com I know you'll enjoy some of the other resources on my site to support you in creating a healthy bottom line plus quality time for family and FUN!
* 2007 Suzanne Holman, MAEd and Exuberant Productivity.Com
all directions. How can this help with focus?
Lack of focus is one of the key sources of struggle for most people. Sometimes it takes thinking "out of the box" to get some direction. Have you been avoiding the "hard stuff" and keeping busy with the routine tasks? Has not being sure of what to do next kept you stuck at the starting line?
Perhaps you feel pulled back and forth by stimuli in many directions. This could be caused by emails and phone calls coming in from people with other priorities. They want your input and they want it now! In an office setting you may have coworkers walking in to chat about work subjects or just their upcoming golf game. How do you decide where to focus your energy?
Are there too many ideas to implement all at once? How can you narrow it down to what you can manage?
There are a number of solutions to these challenges and today we are focusing on the mindmapping process.
Tony Buzan explains Mind mapping in his popular book, How To Mind Map: Make the most of your mind and learn how to create, organize, and plan. His book came out in 2002, but he wasn't the first to use this type of organizing. The Greeks developed many systems to organize and recall facts, using imagination and association. Imagination and association are two keys factors for why mind mapping works so well to organize and clarify your thinking.
Mind mapping gives you an overview, displaying large amounts of data in one place. You are able to see new creative pathways and integrating information. And a mind map is even enjoyable to look at and read.
Mind mapping recreates the way we were designed to think. We don't have outlines and structured charts in our brain. There are millions of connections going from one concept to another. These connections are what helps us to recall past learnings and integrate new ideas.
Although there are software programs for mind mapping on the computer, I prefer to use the tried and true method of a large sheet of paper and colorful markers. Once I start with a central core to an idea, I come up with lots of details going out from that core. These connect with other concepts that may give more understanding to that core idea. Then you can create connections for possible solutions to a problem.
What I find is that my thoughts then flow from these key "sentence starters". I find myself coming up with much fresher, more creative ideas than when I am trying to fit my thoughts into the linear outline form.
Would mind mapping be a help to you in getting your focus? I would enjoy sharing my experiences of mind mapping with you and develop strategies with you for your business using the process. You'll find me, Suzanne Holman, the Exuberant Productivity Coach on the web at http://www.exuberantproductivity.com I know you'll enjoy some of the other resources on my site to support you in creating a healthy bottom line plus quality time for family and FUN!
* 2007 Suzanne Holman, MAEd and Exuberant Productivity.Com
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