“What I really need is more time” says everyone always!
Working with our clients and meeting people at events over the last few weeks so many people say to us “what I need is time”. Time to think about what we do, time to think about how we could do things better and time to actually get things done. And when you love what you do, the passion to do as much as you can makes us even busier!
I’ve just spent a weekend with close friends, all of us from different professions, but all at times have been just too busy. But for 24 hours it was just the three of us with no interruptions. We’ve known each other for over 20 years so we can talk and talk and talk and hold nothing back. We decided to go for a 10 mile hike, and I don’t think any of us realised how great it would be.
So why I am telling you this and what does it have to do with needing more time? During our 10 mile hike in the New Forest the conversation turned to how busy one of my friends was. She loves her job and wants to be the best she can be (and she is awesome btw). We started just talking about how we can’t add more hours in the day, so how do you change some of the things you are doing to get better results and to look after yourself? With all the suggestions her first response was “I can’t do that because…”.
We’ve all been there – when everything feels as important as the next. But really is it? In our work at The Culture Club, it’s all about having precious time to stop and think about what you are trying to achieve. Challenge the things you are doing today – what can you stop doing tomorrow and no one will notice? What have you not been doing, but you need to? Whether that’s in a workshop, team planning session or team training. This time is so valuable.
I know none of this is rocket science, so why do we forget to do it?
So I’d ask that you all take time to stop and think about how much planning, thinking, pondering, debating time you give yourself in your day to day life. Because it will never be enough. But by making sure you add it in you’ll come up with ideas, changes and ways of doing things that will improve what you do and how you do it.
And in case you’re wondering, all three of us left with things to think about and how we’d challenge ourselves to do things differently. One, challenged herself to be bolder – she spoke up about a change she wanted to see at her workplace and has created a positive change (and the respect of her peers). The “too busy” friend is planning a diary that includes planning sessions and thinking time in her week. And I’ve stopped making excuses for not writing an article for the Culture Club website!
