What will you work on tomorrow?

You’re most likely to struggle with disorganization if you wait until the start of each work day to plan out your  day.  Before arriving to work today, did you have a plan?  What’s on tomorrow’s agenda? 

The difference between having a plan and not having a plan is being proactive versus reactive.   To be proactive means to think and plan ahead so that you dictate what is on the agenda and what actually happens as opposed to being reactive - allowing events to set the agenda for you.  You’ll find that when you react by allowing events to set your agenda, you fail to prioritize and get things done in order of importance.  Leaders who are proactive not only write down what needs to get done but they also take control and embrace the “what can go wrong” or “what’s the worst that can happen” approach by having more than one plan.  Doing so tends to eliminate problems before they occur and paves the way for employees with direction.   The working environment becomes less stressful and allows employees the time and opportunity for a more creative and problem- solving approach.  

Here are the top 3 things you can do to be proactive leader:

• Write it down:  Start a “to do tomorrow” list – every time you think of something that needs to be done, write it down
  or add it to your task list.  Take 5 minutes at the end of the day to prioritize your list; this becomes tomorrow’s agenda. 
• Have a Plan B: Plan for what is likely and unlikely to happen and react to  it before it happens
• Take a Time Out: Before putting out a wild fire, take a break and reflect on the values you operate under, your ultimate goal and whether or not the issue really is your fire.  Remember, what may be urgent for someone else who wasn’t proactive may not be urgent for someone who is proactive.  

Did you know that you can actually hear the difference between proactive leaders and reactive leaders?  Here is how each may sound:

Reactive Leaders will say:

Ø       My department sucks?

Ø       I don’t have time to plan

Ø       I’ll try to

Ø       I’m too tired

Ø       I’m not good at that

Ø       I didn’t see that coming

Ø       What will I get out of this?

Proactive Leaders will ask:

Ø       How can my department improve, & how will I get there?

Ø       How can I make time to plan?

Ø       I'll do it, here is how…

Ø       What can I do to increase my energy?

Ø       How can I get better at it?

Ø       What can I do so this doesn't happen again?

Ø       What do I want to get out of this?

Which are you?  Which do you want to be?  How will you get there?

Take Action:    Be Proactive! 

Keep On: 

•     communicate the vision, state direction, involve and challenge the team to go for it!   
•     acting out and aligning your values with your company values and those of your employees.   Walk the talk.
•     delivering the VIP Treatment
•     being the Expert Extraordinaire
•     giving and continue to establish a good reputation
•     copycatting the SuccessfulSUPERvisors of your past
•     telling yourself that you’re a Super SUPERvisor!
•     believing.  Remember, you’ve made the conscious decision to lead

Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action. 

-W. Edwards Deming