 Whether you're single and going to school, married and with no children, or a parent who works outside of the home (i.e. a physical building that's not your house), we all have times within the day when we are most focused and least distracted. For some, it is early morning, for others, it is after dinner or sometime in the evening. These are power hours.
They don't come automatically. We need to protect this time. No emails, no social media, nothing that would keep us from focusing on our main task/project at hand, whatever that may be for you. In several places throughout the Psalms, we find mention of the mornings. If you've been to this space a while, you know that I've addressed the importance of the mornings on several occasions. For me, it's an ideal time to get my mind and body focused for the day ahead. Psalm 90:14 - Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 143:8 - Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. My best work is done in the first 2 hours of the day (roughly from 7am to 9am). It's when I tackle important work projects, writing, content creation, family activity planning, study prep, and more. (For more details, check out this post about my morning routine.) How can you get started incorporating power hours into your schedule? 1) Identify your power hours When is the best time for you to get (important) stuff done? When are you most focused? You should be able to identify at least one to two hours every day or, at a minimum, every week, where you can focus on miscellaneous but important tasks or activities. Note: It's not about having time or not having time, it's about making time. We all have 24 hours in a day. We invest our time on things that matter. 2) Protect your power hours Once you've identified your power hour(s), set that time aside. Use it only for the most important, beneficial, or high-return activities. If distractions, emergencies, required and/or important meetings come up, adjust accordingly, then get right back on task. 3) Repeat Make it a habit. Use that time slot every day (or at least during the weekday) and you will begin to see a rhythm to the way you work and an increase in productivity. Danny Being available for someone means that you have 'free' time and can fill it with something that is important to that person, if you feel like it.
Making yourself available to someone means that you intentionally commit to & protect that time, for their specific needs. There's a huge difference. Don't tell someone you're available if you're not willing to give them your time & attention. Sounding like a nice person by saying you're available doesn't help anyone. In fact, your co-workers or those under your leadership will eventually see the real you. They'll associate your frequent 'I'm available' with something along the lines of 'I have some free time, I wish I didn't, so please don't contact me unless you have an emergency.' Take-away: I'm available = The time slot is free but I don't really want to fill it. I will make myself available = Whatever is important to you is important to me. As a leader, your team should never question what mood you're in, whether or not you have their best interest at heart, or whether they can trust you. Everything you say and do must be coherent and transparent.
(Related side-note: If you're a parent, you're a leader. If you're a older brother, you're a leader. If you're a teacher, you're a leader. And the list goes on. You don't need a fancy title to be a leader.) Don't be afraid to wear your emotions on your sleeves. You should. If you're happy, they should know it. If you're upset, they should know it. This is the what-you-see-is-what-you-get leadership method. No hidden agendas. No harbored emotions. No need for anyone to ask your assistant if you're in a good mood today. Clear the confusion and have a pulse on the feelings your team is feeling. Everyone on your team should know where you stand on pretty much most, if not all, topics and they should feel safe to talk to you. As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. - Proverbs 27:19 |
ABOUTBiblical, on-the-go, tips for thriving at work. Written by Danny Kovacs, from first-hand wins & losses. This is the digital space where I share free resources and learning moments throughout the week/month. ARCHIVES
August 2024
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