Connecting with what’s important (June newsletter)
The Big Idea
Consider this: Taking a step back can actually help you to step forward! I recently finished another round of a leadership program I facilitate with a global organization. The program includes monthly coaching sessions for leaders to come together and chat about various leadership topics. The value of these sessions is that the leaders actually get to take a breath and reflect on what’s going on. I love facilitating these conversations because I also get to reflect on the topic for myself and think about how I'm doing professionally. How often do you stick your head up and look around? Most people I work with tend to just stay in execution mode until they collapse exhausted at the end of the day and then get up and do it all over again. Last month I shared tips about reflecting and journal habits. If a daily or weekly reflection isn't your thing, maybe June or the summer months could be a natural time to step back and consider where you are at with your annual goals, your aspirations and even just to think about what's going well for you right now. And if the next couple of months look super busy or you find it hard to separate what's important from everything else, don't worry! These tips are useful no matter where you are at. Go back to your values Have you thought about your core values lately? They are there guiding your thoughts and actions whether you acknowledge them or not! Putting some specifics words to what is really important can help you focus and better understand why something has your attention. If you haven't done a values assessment, here is a free tool to try: Personal Values Assessment (PVA) - Barrett Values Centre Cut through the noise There are lots of tools out there to help you prioritize. The one that seems to work best for my clients (and is the easiest to understand) is the urgent/important grid, also known as the Eisenhower matrix (US President Eisenhower famously used this approach). Here is a good summary: How To Be More Productive Using the Eisenhower Matrix | Indeed.com The idea is that you focus on the stuff that is urgent AND important first and get it out of the way. Then you schedule in the stuff that is important but not urgent (and is typically the stuff that we put aside even though we really do need to work on it!). The rest we delegate or ignore...which is where most of us probably need to do some work! How much of your time is spent on non-urgent, non-important items? Take the next step Thinking about your core values or how you are spending your time are both super important reflection points. Either one will give you insight that you may be missing right now. If you want to go for gold, put it all together and ask yourself: based on my core values, what can I delegate or ignore this summer? (Giving yourself a specific timeframe to test this out is a great brain hack! So, just try it out for two months and see how it goes.)
Coaching Questions
Here are some questions to help you stick your head up and look around:
What’s important to you right now?
What values are connected to this?
What can you let go of this summer?
What would that give you?
Tiny Habits
If you are new to Tiny Habits or want some support building these habits, click here . Here are some habits to try. Please adapt to fit your circumstances!
After I step outside, I will look up at the sky and take a deep breath (a seasonal habit for you to try!)
After I add a new task to my list, I will ask myself could I delegate this?
After I sit down at my desk first thing in the morning, I will think of my core values (pro-tip: print or write out your core values so they are visible!)
As always, to wire in new habits quickly, we need to attach a positive emotion to the new behaviour. Make sure you smile or do something to send a positive signal to your brain each time you do your new habit.
Summary
Now might be a great time for you to take stock of how the year is going and to refocus on what's important.
1. Reconnect with what's important to you by considering your core values.
2. Let go of things that are neither urgent nor important.
3. Give yourself some time in the next couple of months to step away!
And on that last point - I'll be taking a break from writing newsletters this summer. If you need something to read over the summer - you can view previous posts here. Take care and see you in September! kate







