Working as a business coach you would expect that I come across a wide variety of challenges facing businesses today. And I do.
However there is one challenge you all seem to face daily. And that centres around time.
Let’s be honest it is a challenge that we all face. I was reminded while starting to write this , of a standout example this year of how this challenge affects people.
I met a business owner for an appointment. He wanted to discuss business coaching and as you know I had done my preparation. And sent through an agenda. I was prepared but he certainly wasn’t.
The meeting resonated with me, as I did catch glimpses of a former self.
When we met you could see he was distracted. Does that ring true for many of you.
“Ronan I need to send through a tender by 11am this morning or I’ll miss my deadline. Can you hang on a second”?.
No problem. I waited and I observed. It was kind of surreal. The next 30 minutes was a series of interruptions. By phone. Two physical interruptions with people looking to have queries answered.
A quick email here, a quick email there. Another phone call. Quick change of direction as there was a fire to extinguish somewhere.
“Apologies Ronan. Just give me a couple of more minutes. Would you like a coffee?” Sure.
I drank my coffee, while chaos continued.
The 11am deadline was missed. Oh no. Several phone calls. A quick call to the client to apologise for being late. This had happened before but this would be the last time.
Reception calling. We have a delivery problem. Do you have the original order handy?
Paper shuffling, followed by a quick scan. Then a quick email. All very quick I have to say.
11.20am he sat down. But he was elsewhere. His mind was completely distracted. He listened but as he listened he was focused elsewhere. It was obvious.
Another knock on the door. Another urgent requirement. This time it was John. We need a sample for customer X. Do you know where it is?
No. Ask Joe. Already did. He doesn’t know.
Ronan can you give me a couple of minutes.
Coffee was cold now so not much to occupy me now except to read my own notes again..
Back to the desk 3 minutes later. Now where were we Ronan?
Oh sorry. Quick dash to the door to remind John to take another sample to Customer Y.
Just a quick check on the emails to see if the tender had been accepted. No response. Temporary pause to think.
Need I go on?
Now the best analogy I can use for this scenario is that he was in Snow Globe mode. What do I mean.
Well as parents or indeed as kids we all have either owned or bought a snow globe.
Let’s for a second use this as a metaphor for our mind and our thoughts. The globe being our mind. The snow flakes being our individual thoughts.
Now visual yourself shaking the globe up. What do you see. Chaos?
Now picture your own mind and your own thoughts. Are they similar to this business owners? Are they like this often?
Are you so cluttered with different tasks and thoughts that you are literally snowed under with the clutter?
Now I’m not being harsh on this business owner at all. It was like looking at myself at various stages of running a business in the past. And you know what, I lost sight of what was important, very quickly.
How do you control this? Simple.
Back to our Snow Globe. What happens when you sit it on a table and allow it to rest for a while? It settles. And so too with your mind.
If you believe as I passionately believe, that your outer world reflects your inner world. Then chaos in your mind, and thoughts is reflected by chaos in your business.
However if you also believe as I do that time spent literally letting your thoughts settle, leads to clarity. And clarity leads to better business decisions. And better business decisions lead to better plans. And better plans lead to having more time to THINK.
Then why aren’t you planning more time to THINK?
You have the ability, that’s not the issue. You just need the discipline. And for this you need to create a new habit. A habit focused on you. Yes on you. Sound a little selfish? Well it’s not. It’s a must.
What happened to my meeting. I had to ask for a postponement. There was just no possibility of getting a meaningful conversation started. And I knew I could not help him, until we had time to talk in peace. Funny the very reason I had to postpone, is the very reason we should be working together.
Actions,
Buy a Snow Globe. I’m serious and put it on your desk as a visual reminder of the importance you place on letting your thinking settle.
Create a daily routine of slowing down to think. Don’t over do this initially. 5 minutes a day can be a very effective starting point.
Put the time in your diary or your phone and set a daily reminder to do this.
Do nothing other than concentrate on letting your thoughts slow down and settle, like the snow flakes in the globe.
Clear mind, clear thinking. Clear thinking, better results.
Best of luck.
Ronan
Ronan Kilroy Certified FocalPoint Business Coach
Profitability, Productivity, Possibility.
