HBR Guide to getting the right work done.

The Easter break and my birthday snuck up on me this year. Having just started in a new role and I gave neither the holiday or my birthday much thought. I'm back up at Marcus Beach relaxing and planning for the next quarter. I've been using the down time to do some reading. I'm currently reading, "HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done." The book is a series of short articles on time management and prioritisation. I was happy to find out several techniques I had already been using are recommended. Doing your most important tasks in the morning, scheduling time in 90 minute periods and the need to stop multi-tasking.

In my new role good time management determines my success. The more effectively I manage my time the greater my ability to support accountants in embracing the cloud. The more accountants I help the greater the likelihood I will achieve my targets.

I have noticed that after about 2pm my effectiveness is dramatically reduced. I therefore have set myself the goal of making my most important phone calls prior to that time and use the afternoon for urgent-non important tasks. Unfortunately, in the workforce we are often required to address matters that have nothing to do with our long term objectives. Sometimes it's an option to simply not do these tasks, other time they are important to people senior to us even though they will not contribute towards any of the metrics our role is measured by, we need to do them. It's therefore best to acknowledge that our energy levels vary throughout the day and do those tasks that are most important when our energy is highest and using the low energy time to get through those other tasks.

Another article I found interesting was, 'Stop Mulitasking." The evidence clearly shows that a person who does one task at a time is far more effective then an "effective" multitasker. In fact humans can't multitask all we do when we are multitasking is switching our focus between different tasks. Multitasking results in an effective decrease of our IQ of 10 points. This is the equivalent of being sleep deprived and twice the effect of marijuana smoking. That's right mulitasking makes you a sleep deprived pothead!

Another important take away was the importance of sleep. All the studies confirm it, but people still ignore all the evidence that not getting between 7-8 hours sleep reduces our effectiveness by 40%. Could you be sleep walking through your career? Could the failure to disciplined yourself to goto bed at a decent hour be destroying your career prospects? Chances are, you are a sleep deprived multitasker!

Another article I thoroughly enjoyed was, "Get a raise by getting the right work done." Fortunately, I have a performance review coming up and will have the opportunity to discuss with my manager what I need to achieve in my role. (Though because I'm in sales this is fairly obvious.) Another good read was, "A practical plan for when you feel overwhelmed."

The 'HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done' is a very easy book to read and one I would recommend to any overworked over stressed professionals.

Overloaded Circuits: Why smart people underperform

I just got round to reading an article 'Overloaded Circuits: Why Smart People Underperform' on my kindle from the Harvard Business Review's 'On Managing Yourself' 10 Must reads on managing yourself. http://hbr.org/product/overloaded-circuits-why-smart-people-underperform/an/R0501E-PDF-ENG

In my new role as an account manager my success depends on my ability to focus on contacting potential and exisiting partners. Obviously there are plenty of things that can distract me from this core responsibility. Or trying to respond to multiple emails or phone calls at the one time can result in my effectiveness dropping. In the article, one executive had an OHIO policy. Only Handle It Once. There will be nothing revolutionary in this article, but probably a lot of things you're not doing that you know you should be. 

ICAA Conference

Just came back from the ICAA conference on the Gold Coast. It was great to see so many accountants embracing the cloud. Having previously worked in a CPA firm I felt like I was on enemy territory though. Of course I had already crossed that line when I started dating a CA :-0.

Week in Melbourne.

Well it's been a crazy week. I've definitely over ate and am starting to get sick. But I've had a great time. It's really great working with a bunch of "A" players and people excited to be at work. In my new role there is alot of technology to get my head around and I'm learning to use a Mac for the first time. It's a very frustrating experience.

I have to admit I've done my typical thing of being timid of learning new things. I've probably allowed myself to get too worried about learning systems. A marketing email went out and I've been receiving calls and emails all afternoon. Sometimes getting thrown in the deep end is the only way to learn. Basically my role involves me helping accounting firms to start using Xero and get trained up. If I focus on providing good support and focus on their needs, I can't go wrong. Ultimately, as far as I am concerned. Sales really is all about providing solutions to other peoples' problems.

A lot of people don't want anything to do with sales or business because they think it's about taking and making money. Of course people in business want to make money, but you can't make money in a competitive market if you don't have something of value to offer. I am in the fortunate situation to have something of value far beyond the price to offer my clients. Good business is finding a way to serve the needs of others and being able to do that cheaper than what they could do for themselves or elsewhere allowing you a profit margin.

Now I'm going to focus on getting better!

Radio Xero!

First day of my induction at Melbourne