You Will Need Your Wit

Wit is a form of intellectual humor. A person who is a wit is someone skilled in making witty remarks. It can be an observation or saying that is short and to the point or the wit of the quick answer and capping comment: the snappy comeback and neat retort. Many years ago now while working late, preparing a very important presentation, my project manager brought up a great point; energy and wit are more important than perfection. He said; "You will need your wit tomorrow, let's go home and get some sleep." He was right. You do well to guard that wit of yours!

What The Other Person Hear

When we are talking about relationships in general and our professional leadership role in particular it is not primarily a question of us; what we do. It is a question of what the other person feel about what we do. It is not what you say but what the other person hear that is important. Learn to take the perspective of the recipient and your communication skills will automatically increase significantly.

Time To Rest

At times the most important thing you can do is to rest. When you have been going for ten days straight without a pause, for example. Take a rest and just watch TV or smell the roses for a couple of hours. I kind of like the Indian expression; "I am waiting for my soul to catch up with my body." There is a wisdom about the balance of life in that statement. Take a deep breath, stop and take in life for a moment instead of just continuously chasing after it.

It Is Your Yardstick

People judge us pretty much on the basis of our actions. Act like a winner and people will treat you like a winner. If you act like a loser, people will treat you as one. If you act confidently, people will see you as a confident individual. In effect, you set your own yardstick. How do you measure up? What does it say on your yardstick? What would you like it to say? Start acting that way and you will see changes in how others treat you in return.

Creative Use Of Procrastination

There are a lot of smaller, inconsequential tasks that need not get done at all. If you leave them undone they usually go away. I did an experiment once and decided not to read e-mails where I was just carbon copied to. I put the mail in a separate folder and did not look at it until a few weeks later. I found out that of many hundred e-mails there were only two minor issues I did not yet know about. All other important information I had received through other means. I saved at least four hours of reading time in the experiment alone.

Make Firm But Flexible Plans

Always have goals for your life and subsequent plans in place. That is sound advice! However I like to add a word of caution here; never be so rigid that when a great opportunity comes along you; 1) don't recognize it and 2) don't act upon it. Keep your eyes and ears open. Plan for the unknown. You don't know what you don't know and yet it might be the greatest opportunity for you, so let your plans be firm but flexible.

The Principle Of Forced Efficiency

When you schedule your appointments and activities tighter together you automatically tend to get better organized and more efficient. Then you structure your meetings and tasks in order to get through them in time for the next. This is the principle of forced efficiency. Hence the saying: If you want something done, ask a busy person. You can pick up the pace and let the law of forced efficiency work for you.