In today’s competitive and ever changing world there is one commodity that most of us need more than anything else: more time. Most managers I talk to in my seminars work up to 50 hours a week. When quizzed, most of them complain that they could do with more time. This lack of time leads to frustration, stress and illness, which in turn reflects on their family and quality of life. The secret to having more time is to look where our focus is, decide what’s important and be disciplined to say NO to what is not.

Each of us has concerns in many areas. Our health, challenges at work, not enough quality time with our family, politics, cost of living, crime and violence, bills etc. When we look at the list of our concerns, it is evident that we can do something about some of these concerns but there are many that we can do nothing about. For example, we can do things to improve our health by eating better and exercising regularly but can we do anything about the politics of the day? So we find ourselves with two lists.

One with the concerns we can do something about and the other with concerns we can do nothing or very little to change. In spending more time and energy on those things that we can work on and less on the time wasters, we become more productive. Being more productive means becoming less reactive. On the other hand, when we are reactive, we waste precious time and we give energy to things outside our control. When we give energy to something, we give it power. My question is: where do you want to spend time?

Jane, one of the participants in our leadership seminar, told her story. As part of the sales force in a big department store, she was surrounded by other sales people who were constantly complaining about the conditions brought about by a change in management. Everyday she was confronted by people whining and criticising. Although she was not happy about the new style of management, Jane realised that whining about it would be a total waste of time. Instead, she focused on what she could do about it and called a meeting with the new manager to discuss the group’s grievances. The manager was impressed with her ideas and invited her to the next management meeting. As a result she could take part in the company’s decision-making and bring about positive changes.

Let’s have a look at what happened in this story. Firstly, Jane recognised that complaining was doing nothing to change the situation. Then she became proactive and took action by communicating her frustrations but, more importantly, she brought some solutions to the problem. In doing so, she was able to change a situation of concern into a resolution by using her influence.

By contrast there is Bob who worked as a manager in a fast food company. Although he had many years experience in the field, he was critical about everything and everyone. Blaming was his game. Whenever something went wrong, he looked for somebody to criticise. He did not realise that blaming is a waste of time with negative results. Needless to say, he did not get the support of his staff and, in the long run, even customers were not happy. Business dwindled, he became stressed, sick and eventually got the sack.

The difference between Bob and Jane is that Jane did not waste time on things she could do nothing about. Instead, she became proactive by using her influence to make things happen. Bob on the other hand, was very reactive and spent his energy on unworthy things, thus wasting precious time. In the process, Jane expanded her influence whilst Bob closed his area of influence.

Next time you feel that you’re not getting the results you’re looking for, remember to be self-aware. Make a list of your concerns, take out those you can do something about and call it your list of influence and focus on those things alone. Be disciplined and leave out the rest. You will soon notice how things turn around, leaving you time to spend with your family and friends for more leisure, more fun time. The result being a more balanced human being.

*Sylvie Stanley runs, with her husband Hugh, Quantum Vision Ltd, a training company specialising in leadership and change management in the workplace. Email: [email protected].

<B>by Sylvie Stanley </B>