Many of us live most of our business life in a 90 day box. Others are lucky enough to live on a calendar year basis. I've worked in one sales organization that was fanatically driven by the weekly total. This goes back a few years, but I can remember it well: Three bad weeks and you have to let them go. A good first week makes a good month. Friday is not a fun day, its the real hump day in this system.
So many refuse to measure that way anymore. From car lots to technology companies, monthy and quarterly goals/metrics are the norm.
But I've found that as individual leaders, we need to hold ourself accountable to accomplish something every week. This will help us reward ourself with a great weekend experience. I belief that a sense of satisfaction that coincides with a reward (time off) is a part of finding work/life balance and meaning.
Here are a few Friday goals you can have:
1. Introduce three people in my network that "should meet".
2. Finish a great book or an important article related to my work/professional challenges.
3. Eliminate all quadrant 3 items from our TODO list (these are items that are urgent and unimportant -- many times you were roped into doing it or you've mishandled expectations).
Chip in more ideas with comments. Note that I'm not going to measure revenue in this model. Stick with the company system when it comes to numbers-metrics. Think add value, synergy when coming up with suggestions.
Tim,
Thanks for starting this discussion. Executives today need to recognize that they must have a dual agenda.
They need to win according to the socreboard that their Company has dictated for sure. However, this is just the starting point for your overall career management.
I network and upskill for myself and my family and my long-term personal career management. Now, much of that also helps my current employer as it should. But, I am never placing all of my eggs in my current employment basket.
Posted by: Howard Cox | October 14, 2006 at 07:10 AM
Time management with folks is a bear these days, especially busy executives who are driven by the need to speed up incessantly. I've found that what often works best is a baby-step approach to completing goal/tasks and reaching outcomes (The way a mouse eats a round of cheese...one very small bite at a time). Actually completing very, very small actions once a week gives many folks a felt sense not only of completion but of immediate victory and a can-do self-image, which is both rewarding and self-motivating when so many feel inundated with tasks in a Sisyphean-like work environment.
Posted by: PeterV | October 13, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Great idea to make this a goal. Upon reflection, I realized that I do this for helping others in the company. Whether by forwarding a blog or soundbite, or asking questions about mission or strategy, I want to contribute, outside my responsibilities, to the greater good.
Making goal will help me focus in on the how, where and why do I best help the company.
Posted by: Scott | October 13, 2006 at 11:32 AM
This is helpful! A weekly reminder to do some very specific personal development. Helps me to think carefully about my own goals. Thanks!
Posted by: mark | October 13, 2006 at 07:41 AM