The Accountability Minute:Business Acceleration|Productivity

You may find this hard to believe… Most business professionals have a difficult time understanding exactly how to stop wasting time.  When you’re self-employed, it’s easy to take a “short break” to surf the internet, check email, return a call, talk to a peer who stops by your office, or read blogs, but those “short breaks” can easily turn into hours of wasted time each day.  This includes unneces...

How Can You Be An Even Better Delegator and Accelerate Your Results?  When overwhelmed with too much to do or you realize you aren’t spending enough time in client acquisition / revenue generation activities, you just might need to consider being a better delegator.  Some Questions to Ask Yourself as it relates to delegation are: ·         Does delegating make sense for me to grow my business? · ...

Many simple and effective resources get created when I'm coaching my one-on-one clients.  An issue or situation comes up and I create a resource tool to help them get an even better result.  In this example, my business owner coaching client wanted to better hold his support team accountable, so I created a performance assessment tool. This enhances regular communication with each team member...

Today, we are talking about Step #7 of the 7 Steps to Effective Communication that Gets Results, which is to Learn How to Talk Business.   If you are trying to get someone to open up, then use open-ended questions rather than yes or no interrogations.  When reviewing your own tactful manner, analyze how you approach people.  Do you bully them with close-ended questions, or do you ask them in a pos...

Today, we are talking about Step #6 to Effective Communication that Gets Results, which is to Recognize Communication Issues that can be caused by Technology.   With the advent of new technologies coming out all the time, also comes new technology-related barriers in communication.  Sometimes messages can be misunderstood because of cell phone static, for example.  Additionally, when communicating...

Today, we are talking about Step #5 to Effective Communication that Gets Results, which is to Never Assume Anything.   Assumptions are another common problem, whether they are self-fulfilled assumptions or merely assuming that others see things in the exact same way that you do.  Never assume—the fact of the matter is that most people do not see things the way that you do, nor do they have the sam...

Today, we are talking about Step #4 to Effective Communication that Gets Results, which is to Learn How to Use Tone and Body Language Together.   In working to improve your own communication, beware of a defensive posture or negative voice inflection.  Once a person goes on the defensive, the conversation tends to spiral into oblivion.  Make sure that you use a friendly and welcoming posture, with...

Today, we are talking about Step #3 for Effective Communication that Gets Results, which is that it Recognizes Problems in Communication.   What are some of the most common barriers in effective communication?  For starters, there is language, or word usage.  One cannot always assume that what sounds benevolent to you would strike others the same way.  People can easily misinterpret or even distor...

Today, we are talking about Step #2 for Effective Communication that Gets Results which is to Speak Clearly and Concisely.    Speaking clearly can sometimes be a problem since not everyone actually takes the time to improve in diction or word usage.  For the best results, practice speaking in front of a mirror and recording yourself for playback.  The last prerequisite is respect.  Never disrespec...

Communication is everything in business and in all of our relationships.  So, how does one communicate even more effectively?  Simply put, say what you mean, say it clearly, and say it with respect.  Over the next 7 days I will share with you the 7 steps to effective communication that produces results.   Let’s start with Step 1, which is that it Establishes Trust.    Some people naturally distrus...

Should you stay or should you go?  I think there was a song that has a similar title to this….. When you think about the things you do or want to do, you can choose to make even better choices, so you can experience even greater success. Let’s say that are you in a networking group or association that doesn’t provide you the results you really want.  Get out and find one that does! You can always...

Have you ever considered that NOT succeeding at something important to you...  ... even for a REALLY good reason...  ... is not the same as achieving your goals?    Successful people know you can have whatever level of success you desire and the quality of life you truly want by making some adjustments to the way you are currently operating in your professional and personal life.    All that most...

Growing up, did you ever hear: "That attitude will get you nowhere!"   Well... the truth is, as much as we didn't want to hear it then and likely don't want to hear it now, it is still the truth! Your attitude will determine the creativity, energy, passion, and purpose in which we grow and build businesses and relationships.   As entrepreneurs, if we don't know how to step...

Today we are talking about principle #10 of the 10 principles for Eliminating Distractions, which is to work when no one else is around .  This can sometimes be the greatest distraction elimination available.  No clients, no co-workers, no phone calls.  You can sometimes accomplish more in 2 hours with no one else around than you can in 8 hours and a full office.  Take advantage of alone time when...

Today we are talking about principle #9 to Eliminating Distractions which is to learn how to cut off excessive conversation .  Just as I mentioned in the previous principle, everyone appreciates productive conversation.  If you find yourself in a conversation with someone and it's not progressing to a point or conclusion, work so you can get to a solution.  Again, this should be done politely...

Today we are talking about Principle #8 to Eliminating Distractions which is to ask for what you want .  There is nothing wrong with asking for what you want. It's appropriate for all situations, but it must be done with tact and friendliness.  Busy professionals appreciate concise, focused conversation and you can show them you respect their time by not wasting it needlessly.  Clear and conc...

Today we are talking about Principle #7 to Eliminating Distractions which is to eliminate noises .  Listen to soothing instrumental music if you feel you need to listen to something, but talk radio or lyrical music will distract you from focusing on the task at hand. Even alert sounds from your computer can be distracting; like the sound you hear when you receive an incoming email. Other distracti...

Today we are talking about Principle #6 to Eliminating Distractions which is to remove computer desktop ICONS .  All of those things you love doing, like playing solitaire, just remove the icon from your computer desktop.  Out of sight, out of mind is typically a good policy.    This goes for apps like Facebook or YouTube, for example. If these aren’t moving you and your business forward to achiev...

Today we are talking about Principle #5 to Eliminating Distractions which is to remove desktop clutter .  You know what I’m talking about. Magazines you say you're going to read on your lunch break and the picture of your sweetheart taped right to your computer monitor; these items need to be moved out of your immediate and frequent field of vision.  It's OK to have personal items near y...

Today we are talking about Principle #4 to Eliminating Distractions which is to stop spending so much time on social media to see what other people are posting, especially if you don’t need it to do it to directly generate revenue .  Just don't get on it - because once you do, you're more likely to get sucked into it.  If you have to get your fix, do it at the end of the work day or a se...

Today we are talking about Principle #3 to Eliminating Distractions which is to screen your calls .  It's ideal if you have someone answer every call since real-person response is a vital part of a successful business.  If this is a resource available to you, establish a schedule of when you are available to accept calls.  Outside of those times, you'll need to arrange a screening proces...

Today we are talking about Principle #2 to Eliminating Distractions which is to discourage walk-in traffic .  Granted, if you're a manager it may be more difficult to do this; but when you set specific times when you're available to talk and accept walk-ins, and times that you don't - it will help you to focus and complete tasks more efficiently.  Ideally, scheduling appointments is...

Over the next 10 days we are going to talk about applying 10 principles to help you reduce and eliminate distractions from your life.    Today we are talking about Principle 1 which is to honor your calendar and task list.   Honoring your calendar, doing what it has in it, will help you stay laser focus on the ‘right’ activities (assuming you have the “right” activities on your calendar) and elimi...

When working with business professionals, I find that they need to have a good idea of where they are at against their goals, so they know if they are on track or off track.  If they are off track, they have to figure out ways to fill the gap, so they achieve their goals. In an effort to help them stay laser focused on what they need to do to ensure they are in the highest probability position to...

Today we are talking about strategy number 5 to help you overcome difficult issues, which is to Pinpoint Personalities.   Everyone has a unique personality and perspective; the more that you can understand those around you – where they are coming from and how they see the world – the better you can anticipate their responses to situations and build them up positively. If you know, for example, tha...