With yearly reviews behind me and plans coming together for our next big release I’ve been spending a lot of time reminding the engineering team how to stay focused and maximize efficiency. It’s not easy for anyone, and I’m always fighting the same battle. Here are some key tips I share with my team:
- Spend 10 – 15 minutes every morning to ensure you know what your priorities are. Sure, life moves fast and things will come up, but have a plan, do not “wing it”. Convert this into a checklist that you can look at throughout the day.
- Shut off your e-mail. Check it a couple of times a day but don’t live in e-mail. If it’s important people will phone (yes, some people still use the phone) or IM.
- Don’t jump everytime your phone chirps, vibrates, or rings to indicate you have mail. Again, it can wait and if it’s important, they’ll call.
- As a team use daily standups. I am a huge proponent of these short meetings. Keep them focused on each person’s roadblocks and what they’re working on.
- If you ignore my comments on e-mail at least avoid e-mail ping pong (also applies to bug system ping pong). If a conversation goes more than 2 or 3 replies please do the following. Stand up. Walk to the person you are e-mailing. Converse. Repeat until you have the issue resolved.
Remember, these are tough economic times and if you’re not pulling your weight your company will find someone who can.
How do you stay focused?
-John
Advertisement
March 24, 2009 at 9:03 pm
[...] Remember that Twitter is just another tool and that you must manage your usage of it like you manage your e-mail, your schedules, etc.. Stay focused. [...]
February 27, 2009 at 11:03 pm
[...] Tips for Staying focused. [...]
February 17, 2009 at 4:30 am
I use a tool from Micro Logic called “InfoSelect”. It’s available at http://www.miclog.com. It’s an awsome personal information manager that let’s me capture random notes, to-do’s, and meeting minutes… and then search all entires instantly. Amazing product… and free to try, and $49.00 for a 1 yr license. A great way to prioritize and stay focused on the important things. Also helps me have an amazing amount of historical information at my fingertips. People are always amazed at how quickly I can access information… InfoSelect is the secret.
February 15, 2009 at 12:42 pm
On the subject of e-mail, I’ve heard that you shouldn’t check it until the last hour of the day. If you start the day off with e-mail, you’ll end up spending half the day reading them, but if you wait until the end of the day, you’re less likely to waste time with it.
And along the lines of the phone chirping, I usually carry my personal cell and give out my work number to select people (as I’m not in a position where I have my own extention). They’re told that if it’s trivial to call my cell phone and leave a voice mail if I don’t answer (I’ll check that as soon as I can), but if it’s an emergency, they can call my work number. Even after I get to a position where I have my own extention or a work phone, this will be my de facto policy.
And the idea of the voicemail works out too. If your phone chirps or vibrates and it’s not someone that you have professional dealings with, let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. You can check that, and if it’s really important, return their call. If it’s not really important, call them back later.
Some of your ideas are close to Stephen Covey’s proposals. If you haven’t looked into his seminars or books, you may want to. He has some great ideas for focus and organization.
Have a great day:)
Patrick.
February 15, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Great comments everyone. If you have anything to add, please join the conversation.
February 15, 2009 at 1:39 am
The Gentlemen in the above posts have made some important points here:-
It’s true that as we become more connected through technology, we are becoming less verbal. I mean the spoken word is no longer spoken but written. Informality is vanishing from our lives. I have seen people sending chain mails to each other on subjects/issues even if they are just sitting next to each other or just a few steps across. This sometimes makes me wonder.
As technology and Globalisation is making the world a smaller & connected place, humans have started to disconnect from each other.
I personally set aside a 15min introspection time at the end of the day after logging off to re-capture what had transpired during the day and how I could do it much better. Helps to wait for a new day to begin!
February 14, 2009 at 7:38 pm
The main reason why I feel these tools are necessary is to leave the office with a sense of accomplishment. I find it’s important to always have a “backup” accomplishment if everything on my priority list becomes tangled and undoable. My flexibility comes not only in dealing with new situations arising, but also slow downs. I want to feel good at the end of the day so I often look at my backup list if I can’t make headway on my priorities.
February 14, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Leslie.
February 14, 2009 at 2:45 am
Great list. I would also suggest you introduce a pause button in your day at 3 or 3:30 each and every day and and walk, breath, bend, stretch, meet a colleague for a water cooler chat if possible or simply make a cup of tea or find a sunny window and enjoy the warmth of the sun for 15 mins. This pause button in your day for 15 minutes allows you to relax and get energized. Amazing how solutions and creativity will increase and help you make the rest of the extremely worthwhile.
February 14, 2009 at 3:37 am
Thank you Paska. This is a great addition to the list. Once I see what other comments I receive I will update the main post.
Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts.
Best regards,
-John