Eight Strategies To Improve Your Work Life Success In 2022
Notice the new phrase I am using instead of “work life balance?” The phrase “work life success” seems so much more positive. I was inspired when reading the definition of life balance shared by Christy Wright in her insightful read, Take Back Your Time. She writes, “Balance is something you create and feel and become in your life. It is being confident in who you are, the choices you’re making, and the life you’re creating.”
As I read her words again, I reflected on what strategies I think will best help me achieve such success. I invite you to use any or all of them to achieve your desired level of work life success this year as well.
Challenge The Complexity Of Implementing New Ideas
I wish that I could say I get excited about every new idea that comes my way, but I don’t. My resistance to change starts to surface, and I begin to discount my ability to make the idea a reality because it would be too hard to execute.
A great approach to jumpstarting action on a new idea comes from the book, Effortless by Greg McKeown. He suggests asking the question, “What if this could be easy?” It forces you to come at execution not from dread, but from a state of calm and clarity. I was amazed how quickly I was able to create some new slides for a presentation by starting with this question.
Turn Down The Noise In Your Head
Is there anything that isn’t changing right now? It seems like every day there is a new issue or challenge surfacing either in our world, our country, or even in my local community. Add in differing perspectives about the pandemic, the economy, and politics (Yep-it’s another big election year), and it’s a challenge to stay focused for even a few minutes.
I’ve become hyper intentional about setting healthy boundaries with how much news and information I consume each day. I’m even “growing away” from some of the potentially toxic or draining relationships in my life. When I feel a sense of overwhelm or helplessness creeping in, I stop and make a list of what’s within my control and what isn’t. My goal is to create more space and positive energy to work on what is within my ability to change.
Narrow Your Focus
The ongoing disruptions in our society are creating so many new challenges and opportunities. Unfortunately, our time and energy resources have limits. Spreading ourselves too thin only leads to mediocre results in any of our initiatives.
I really like the solution Charlie Gilkey offers in his book, Start Finishing. He suggests that we should never have more than five projects going at one time. A project is anything into which we are investing significant energy (physical, mental, emotional, financial). He even challenges us to make a list and then reduce it using some powerful questions like, “Which of the items on the list are you most likely to wake up for two hours earlier, stay up for two hours later, or steal time elsewhere to work on it?”
I plan to use this strategy not only once a month, but even when I am planning my day. I’ve already noticed how it keeps me from getting off track.
Create (And Protect) Your Strategic/Creative Time
Exploring creative solutions, being innovative, or even creating strategy for the future takes LOTS of time. With so much disruption swirling around me, I sometimes falsely rationalize that I need to take care of the “squeaky wheel” first. Too often I find that I run out of “oil” before I fix all the wheels!
Since late last year I have started militantly protecting my first work hours and I I challenge you to do the same. Identify a daily time block and a longer weekly block of time where you focus solely on creativity, strategy, or innovation. Don’t limit its effectiveness by letting phone notifications, interruptions from others, or an unsupportive external environment distract you. Put it on your calendar. Call it a meeting. Leave your normal workspace to help your brain shift in thinking. Take a walk. Do whatever it takes to rekindle that creative energy that has helped you be so successful in the past.
Find A Peer Coach
When speaking at conferences, I love asking the question of attendees, “What is most beneficial for you about being here?” Their response is usually, “I like the chance to learn new ideas from others.” Imagine if you could create that type of environment more often. One in which you could openly share your struggles, wins, and questions with others who want to help you succeed.
Commit to finding someone who you could talk openly with once a month. They don’t have to have the same professional responsibilities as you. They should simply be someone who wants to jumpstart their own professional or personal growth. Schedule a monthly call like you would any other commitment. When you meet, have 3-4 questions you want to answer together. They could include:
I started doing this about four years ago. It’s become an invaluable part of my professional and personal growth plan.
Cultivate Your “Non-Work” Side
I find that when I let my job consume so much of my time and energy, I can lose objectivity. I start looking for my job to provide a level of fulfillment it was never designed to meet. I put too much dependence on the relationships associated with my job to nurture me. And when the job doesn’t deliver… I’m not the spouse, parent, or friend I should be.
Make it a higher priority to engage in activities that have nothing to do with work. Invest more time in a hobby where you don’t have to be great at something. Spend time with people outside your normal circle. Read books or articles that have nothing to do with work (I’m currently reading all about cryptocurrency!). In short, take some pressure off work to give you the fulfillment you want from life, and then watch as you begin to have a healthier approach to work.
Ask More And Tell Less In Conversations
I’ve always seen myself as a “problem solver.” People bring me a problem related to my areas of expertise… and I (hopefully) fix it. In our world today, however, so many of the challenges people are facing aren’t easily remedied. The real issues lie two or three levels below the surface. And honestly, I don’t think some people want answers as much as they simply want to be seen, heard 👂 and understood.
As you talk with others, resist the urge to have a quick answer. Be curious and ask another question or two. Focus on the person, not the problem. How, in this moment, can you support, encourage, or guide them to take a next step forward? You’ll earn their trust and deepen the relationship much more effectively.
Create A “Be-Do-Be” Cadence To Your Day
We are a society of “doers.” Being idle is considered a bad thing, even though there is so much research that moments of “sacred idleness” renew us in all kinds of ways. I find that all this “doing” often depletes my energy reserves quickly. With a lack of energy I’m not as prepared to show up well in the next moment for that person or situation that needs me.
Some practical ways to do this include:
How you begin your day. Instead of reaching for your phone, spend a minute taking a few deep breaths. List three things you are grateful for.
Scheduling your day. Leave some space between meetings. Take 2 minutes to look out a window. Take a short walk. Look at some of the pictures on your phone that make you smile.
When you finish a task. Don’t rush into the next one. Stretch. Take a few deep breaths. If it was a difficult task, reward yourself.
More than anything, I want to see each day of 2022 for the incredible potential it has to help me create the life I most want. Keeping this quote from Maya Angelou on my desk should help…
What strategies would you add to this list? Comment below or send me an email. Happy New Year!
