  This week’s planning hack gets you to consider how you can use color coding to support organization and focus. One of the challenges in today’s work is an overload of data. It is said that “color is one of the first things we take in when looking at an image.” Using color to help sort through the myriad of emails, files and to-dos can create a quick sort. This may help us do things faster and also not feel the “cognitive load” of tasks as much. Consider how you might use color to:
To denote different tasks in my monthly daily tracker, the colors say much more than numbers would. Different colored folders for different tasks and projects – Client files are purple, Writing files are usually blue, Speaking files are yellow, Financial files are red. What could you do with color to help you with your organizing and planning? Best wishes, Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized
Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Pick up a copy of any of her books at Amazon Book Jennifer for a coaching session to explore productivity, teamwork and business issues. Contact her by phone at (416)996-8326 Check out the new 19 Productivity Tips on-demand program. Explore this video based program at your own pace, and join Jennifer for bi-weekly calls as part of your course. Follow the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series on Instagram
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 Leveraging our time is as much about getting organized, as it is getting clear on what’s important. Against the backdrop of complexity, ongoing change and disruption, getting ruthless with our time management can be so important to many. As a business owner, or remote worker, this is especially true. We can’t get our time back. So, when we go down a rabbit hole (whether it’s doing too much research online, following a shiny red object or thinking we just need to learn “one more thing”), the costs can be tremendous. Not just in NOT getting things done, but in terms of our focus, our motivation and also our profit line! Discernment is about getting clear on what’s important and what’s not. It is about being clear of what’s going to provide impact now, later or never. As a remote worker or virtual business owner, we are do often have greater control over our time. Our colleagues and/or superiors may be hundreds of miles away, or several time zones ahead. As remote workers, it’s not always about how we manage our time, but how we get our results. Those who feel the crunch in getting something over the finish line is usually only us (and those loved ones around us!). With this in mind, what is the cost of not being discerning around where your time goes, or how clear your projects are, or what is a more important priority than another? As we embark on new projects, or start a new week, it can be useful to ask ourselves, and our stakeholders:
What questions do you want to ask as you decide one priority to another? Let us know using the comments below! Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized
Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Pick up a copy of any of her books at Amazon Book Jennifer for a coaching session to explore productivity, teamwork and business issues. Contact her by phone at (416)996-8326 Check out the new 19 Productivity Tips on-demand program. Explore this video based program at your own pace, and join Jennifer for bi-weekly calls as part of your course. Follow the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series on Instagram   Week 7 Focus – Resourcing and Past Experience Focus Question: What can you do to leverage what you already have done? Research/Story What helps coaches be successful with their work? As a professional it’s likely that you have already had many accomplishments. These can be leveraged for future successes.In this week’s focus you are invited to think about what pat successes you have enjoyed and created for yourself. Activity Take a few minutes to list the top 10 things you are most proud of accomplishing. As you identify the experiences, note:
 Download a one-page copy of this week's 52 Weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking here. Best wishes, Jennifer Read and download the initial weeks of the 52 weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking  Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT Author of several books including: PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized - Specializing in support to virtual and remote teams, leaders and entrepreneurs Award-winning Coaching Skills Training Join us for one of our 2019 Annual Coaching Groups - Teams365 Leadership Lab for Virtual Leaders and Team Members or Coaching Biz Growth Lab - for coaches and other virtual entrepreneurs (416)996-8326 Stay Connected   Welcome to the first of a series of weekly Wednesday planning hacks. In the spirit of all things planning, doing and tracking, I’m pleased to offer this new weekly series here at the PlanDoTrack blog. Similar to other weekly series I host at my sister blog, Teams365 blog (found at Potentials Realized.com), my hope is that these weekly posts will not only serve as a quick focus area for you, and over time will add up to be a valuable resource. I'll also be doing a live video on each of the tips every week, sharing it over at the PlanDoTrack Facebook page. Let’s get started with the Pomodoro Technique, the focus of weekly planning hack #1. Have you heard about the Pomodoro Technique (often associated with the icon of the Tomato)? As I wrote last January 2018 at the Teams365 blog, the Pomodoro Technique is an invaluable tool in creating focus in today’s digitally distracted world. Here’s what I wrote in Teams365 #1470 on Minimizing Distractions – “Creating "focused work" periods. Whether it's 30 or 60 minutes a day, focused times, which have no immediate distraction allow us to get things done. Many studies find that our immediate productivity can be boosted by giving projects time windows and time frames. The Pomodoro technique is one example of accelerating productivity. It posits that focused activity for 25 minutes can be followed by a 5-minute break. Read more about the Pomodoro Technique from its' creator here.” How might more focused bursts of attention support you and your projects right now? What would it be like to experiment with more focused bursts of time where the rings and bings of everyday digital life are silenced?" Let us know if you get the chance to experiment with this! Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized
Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Pick up a copy of any of her books at Amazon Book Jennifer for a coaching session to explore productivity, teamwork and business issues. Contact her by phone at (416)996-8326 Check out the new 19 Productivity Tips on-demand program. Explore this video based program at your own pace, and join Jennifer for bi-weekly calls as part of your course. Follow the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series on Instagram  With another winter storm day here, many workplaces are giving people the option to work from home. In today's global space a snow day rarely means a day off - it just means we need to get things done from where we are. In some ways this can be more stressful for some, than trying to get into the office. If you do have an unplanned remote work day, take advantage of what may be an even more productive day for you, without the stress of a bad commute! #1 - Make sure you have a dedicated workspace. The distractions when working remote may be different than that at the office. While you might not be getting pulled into meetings like you do, the distractions are real. From being surrounded by a household list of things that could get done, to maybe having kids home from school as well. Find a space where you can work efficiently. Close to a power source, with good lighting and space for you to work. An added bonus is having a door you can close if there are #2 - Set a timer and take breaks. While you may not have the usual interruptions. Itcan be important to take scheduled breaks like you would at the office. Set the timer so you can get into your work. Some productivity experts recommend working in 50 minute blocks, others assert 1.5 hour blocks are even better. You get to decide, but make sure you can get some focused work in, and take breaks regularly. #3 - Stay in touch - As you would normally, stay in touch with colleagues as appropriate #4 - Create agreements around what remote work expectations are. This may involve times for work, remote connection to the office, security around data and connection,and what expectations are in terms of staying in touch. #5 - Use the time to get heavier tasks done. Consider what projects you have not been able to tackle due to interruptions and schedule these in. This might be the day when you finally can check things off your list! #6 - Consider what will help you be even more efficient next time! Days like these can be a blessing, illustrating how much actually gets done in the remote space without as many (meeting) interruptions. What do you need to be even more productive next remote work day. As we say here, winter's not over yet! Let us know what your favorite tips are for working remote, by sharing in the comments. Enjoy Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized
Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Pick up a copy of any of her books at Amazon Book Jennifer for a coaching session to explore productivity, teamwork and business issues. Contact her by phone at (416)996-8326 Check out the new 19 Productivity Tips on-demand program. Explore this video based program at your own pace, and join Jennifer for bi-weekly calls as part of your course. Follow the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series on Instagram  Continuing in the theme of this month around time management and productivity, today our attention turns to Organizing Your Remote Workspace.
As a virtual or remote worker, having an organized workspace can be challenging. Sometimes we may be working out of a space that serves many more people (think – the family or room mates), sometimes we may be on the move, and other times we may be needing to work off-hours. Getting organized in your virtual space is key to productivity success. This may look different for each one of us. Three areas you will want to consider getting organized around includes: · Reducing Distractions · Files #1 – Reducing Distractions – Take note of the workspace you have and the distractions which are common. If you are working in a shared space, what can you do to minimize interruptions from others, or enhance privacy? Could this mean changing your working hours, or flow of work? There can also be many visual distractions, from clutter to the pull of what’s around our periphery. Investing in regular time for clean up and decluttering can do a long way. This could also mean investing in a screen or other item that could serve as a barrier. Consider other elements which will add to your workspace including lighting and a clear and comfortable space to work at. Power sources and chairs may round out the list. #2 - Files Files and materials take all different shapes and forms. From digital to paper based, what are the files you are needing to keep at hand? How can you access them? What can you do to ensure they are secure? What organizing do you need to complete with them? #3 – Email – Email can become an all-consuming entity. While some jobs require that you are on a significant part of the day, can you experiment with windows where you shut down email? Dr. Gloria Mark found that when distracted, it could take us upwards of 22 minutes to get back on task. When you need to focus on “deep work” (reports, analysis, creating, thinking) what windows have you created for yourself? What else is going to help you focus and thrive in your remote work-space? Share with us the one thing that has made all the difference in your working remote. Have a great start to your week, Jennifer Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT Author of several books including: PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized - Specializing in support to virtual and remote teams, leaders and entrepreneurs Award-winning Coaching Skills Training Book a call with Jennifer   Week 6 Focus – Enablers: Resourcing, Partnerships, Mindsets, Strengths Focus Question: What are the things that are going to help you as a business owner/coach/virtual employee? Description The term « enabling » is defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as “making something possible or easier”. What, and who, is going to help make your vision and your key goals possible?Being able to lean into different areas is key for our business, especially when things get busy, or we are tasked with a big project, or one that stretches us.At these times it is important to lean into areas that will help us – or the enablers. That can include:
 Activity Using the following worksheet - Identify the Resources, Partnerships, Mindsets and Strengths, and past experiences, that are going to move you forward with a current project.  Connection to the Workbook and Planner Many of the resources in the Coaching Business Builder and PlanDoTrack workbooks help readers identify and focus on these areas, in particular:  Additional resources that will support you in this area include:
Download a one-page copy of this week's 52 Weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking here. Check out past weeks of the 52 Weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking here. Best wishes, Jennifer Read and download the initial weeks of the 52 weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking  Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT Author of several books including: PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized - Specializing in support to virtual and remote teams, leaders and entrepreneurs Award-winning Coaching Skills Training Join us for one of our 2019 Annual Coaching Groups - Teams365 Leadership Lab for Virtual Leaders and Team Members or Coaching Biz Growth Lab - for coaches and other virtual entrepreneurs (416)996-8326 Stay Connected   Did you know it’s national time management month across North America? With this in mind, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a couple of posts specifically to time management. Over the last year in my writing and publication of Coaching Business Builder and PlanDoTrack, I have been brought back to my roots in the area of personal productivity and time management, an area I have supported many leaders and teams in over the years. I thought it would be interesting to note 3 books I’ve recently read on the topic, in case you are looking to add a little focused reading to your task list: 1. Laura Vanderkam : Off The Clock– I loved Laura’s 2010 book – 168 Hours : You Have more time than you think. Late last year I picked up a copy of Off The Clock – Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done. A quick read, Laura’s got great stories and research around time management. 2. Chris Bailey- I read Chris’ book Hyperfocus last week, and particularly found his writing around productivity and distractions to be very on the mark. As I have written about for a couple of years now, distractions are one of the greatest challenges we have as teams and also solopreneurs. One of the biggest questions I get these days usually revolves around "How can we minimize distractions?". Check out my Teams365 blog post #1470 Minimizing Distractions. 2. Carson Tate – Work Simply –- I love the idea that we each have a “personal productivity” style – consider yours and how it influences your ways of working and being – from how you dress, to how you make decisions. I love her framing of Prioritizer, Planner, Arranger and Visualizer, as well as the tips around Meetings. Given that meetings are such a key challenge for all professionals today, be sure to check out my chapter 9 in Effective Virtual Conversations, including the 8 Essential Meeting Questions to be asking. I shared these a few weeks ago as part of the Teams365 19 for 2019 Productivity tips. Read them here. https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-1836-productivity-tip-9-amp-up-your-meetings What are some of the books you have been enjoying on time management recently? Please share with us using the comments link below. For more on this topic, be sure to check out Section 4 of Plan Do Track where I include several core activities for you to explore around your own time management. With best wishes, Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
 FEbruary has been earmarked as National Time Management month. As such, I thought that it would be appropriate to focus several of our posts specifically to time management and personal productivity, two key themes as part of the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner. Stay tune for posts this month focused on getting your remote workspace more organized (Next Monday February 11th) as well as a number of other time management posts. Our first post of the month gets you to step back and do a bit of planning BEFORE you embark on your monthly activities. As a former project manager myself, I know how important planning is in creating more focused effort! An old project management adage goes "5 minutes of planning can save you 60 minutes of unfocused effort". As much as some things change, many things stay the same, and whether you plan on paper, the back of a receipt or on your phone, planning is planning. To get you started, here are a couple of questions to consider:
If you have a copy of the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner, be sure to check out Section 4 where I include several different tools and resources to support you with prioritizing. Enjoy! Jennifer Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized Author of PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best PRactices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
  Week 5 Focus – GOALS – SMART/Anchored In Vision Focus Question: As you consider your goals right now, what’s the one most important one that is going to move you towards your vision? Description Goals are at the heart of work, and the work we undertake with clients. Goals are also at the core of planning. Why it is important to look at this at when running a business? Goals are central to both planning and trackingGoals and planning:Goals anchor the planning process. An older project management adage is that 10 minutes of planning saves 2 hours of unfocused effort.In particular, goals help us with Focus. Goals help us focus our efforts. In focusing, they help us with distinction on what’s important and what’s not? As a small business, or remote workers, goals help to confirm what is needed for success, and being able to delegate the rest. Goals help us in making decisions and can support shifting fees, services and payments, as we grow a business. Goals also help with prioritizing where we are going to focus our efforts. When we are part of a matrix team, this is critical to understand and know how to support multiple teams.Goals and tracking:Goals also are core to the tracking process. Goals help us:
Research/Story "Goals help us stretch beyond what we think is possible and provide a yardstick to see how far we've come." - Jennifer Britton There are multiple frameworks to support coaches around goals. From SMART-E Goals, to what John Whitmore terms PURE GOALS. The framework I usually introduce to people I work with are SMART-E Goals. As a reminder these are: S - Specific - What specifically do you want to achieve? What will it look like? M - Measurable - How can you track progress? A - Achievable - With some stretch are these achievable? R - Realistic - Again, with stretch are these in range? T - Timebound - What's the time frame on this - next week, end of June, early 2015? E - And most of all, are these goals exciting? If they are not exciting, chances are they might got get done, or may get done only to get them checked off. Activity The entire Coaching Business Builder and PlanDoTrack Workbooks are grounded in goal setting, planning and tracking.At the heart of this is the One Page Plan – page 277(CBB)/page 281 (PDT)This week take time to identify your top five goals for the month (or the quarter). As you are considering the goals consider the following questions:1. What's important about this goal? (it may be framed in the big picture? Short term? Long term?)2. What will success look like?3. What outcomes do you want?4. What might get in the way? (or what could be a roadblock?)5. What resources do you need to be successful? (OR What will help you be successful?)6. When you are successful with this, what's possible?Source: https://groupcoaching.blogspot.com/2016/09/six-coaching-questions-around-goals.html (Originally Published September 19, 2016)Be sure to refer to your One Page Plans on a regular basis. Many professionals like to keep them visible and refer to them often, updating them with time. Connection to the Workbook and Planner The One Page Plan can be found at: Page 277 – Coaching Business Builder Page 281 - PlanDoTrack Download a one-pager to create you own annual analog resource. Enjoy! Jennifer PS - Share your vision and how you engage with these activities on social media. Use the hashtag #dscam2019 (It stands for Daily Steps + Consistent Action = Momentum)  Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT Author of several books including: PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized - Specializing in support to virtual and remote teams, leaders and entrepreneurs Award-winning Coaching Skills Training Join us for one of our 2019 Annual Coaching Groups - Teams365 Leadership Lab for Virtual Leaders and Team Members or Coaching Biz Growth Lab - for coaches and other virtual entrepreneurs (416)996-8326 Stay Connected  |
AuthorJennifer Britton is the blogger behind the popular Teams365 blog, a daily,blog for team leaders and members since 2014. Her latest publication is the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner. Pick up a copy at Amazon. Pick Up a Copy
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