Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

#Teams365 #3664: Day 22 - 24 for 24 - When are You at Your Best?

1/23/2024

Welcome back to our final few days of the 24 for 24. I hope that you have enjoyed this series. Today’s tip invites you to focus “When you are at your best”. Are you an early bird and like to get everything done by 1 pm, or are you just rolling out of bed at that time?

There’s been a lot of focus on circadian rhythms and chonotypes- the biology of our own body clock.

Today, take a look at these questions:

When am I at my best?
What times do I have the most energy?
What are the windows of time in which I get my best work done – i.e. you may find that you do best getting things organized late at night when everyone has gone to be, or early in the day when the house is still asleep?

Going hand in hand with chronotypes is the notion of focusing on the productive windows for yourself. As I have shared in other posts, it’s not always about having a lot of white space. Creating boundaries around your work can create an urgency that provides more impetus for getting things done. What do you notice about getting things done in a fast fashion?

Resources you may want to check out include Daniel Pink's book, WHEN

Enjoy experimenting with WHEN you are at your best and how much work you can get completed.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

TEAMS365 #2489 – #FlashbackFriday – 4 Quick Ways to Minimize Distractions With Remote Work

10/23/2020

This week we return to a topic which is still a big one for more workers – productivity in the remote space. Whether we are working “Remote by chance or remote by choice” (as I like to say), minimizing distractions is key to remote work.

Today I’m reaching back to a post I wrote back in 2016, just as relevant today as it was four years ago. Here are four quick tips I suggested for minimizing distractions with remote work:

1. Clear space for where you are going to work - Whether our workspace is a small table which folds back into the wall when we are done, or we have dedicated office space, clearing the clutter can be an important step in creating space to focus and be productive.

Consider where you work - what needs to be cleared? Spend 15 min this week clearing yourself more space.

2. Make sure you have what you need in order to do your work. Small issues can become big issues when working remote. An old laptop which crashes regularly, taking with it your hard work, becomes a liability. Slow internet speeds can also take a toll. While these issues might be minor pain when working remote once a month, if you need to work remote several days a week, the cost adds up. Consider what you might be tolerating in terms of equipment/resources that just aren't cutting it. What's the cost of replacing them? What's the cost if you don't?

3. Consider when you are at your peak for different types of work. Some of us like the early morning to get out thoughts down on paper, while others like to tackle calls first thing in the morning. Consider your style and preferences in terms of when you would like to get different tasks accomplished, and SCHEDULE IT IN.

4. Sometimes we get distracted because we don't allow ourselves time for a break, or we don't allow ourselves to get into the flow of one activity at a time. While there are many tips to time management that we've covered (check out all our time management tips here), months ago I wrote about the Pomodoro approach where you set a timer for a set amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) and work until the alarm goes off). Other time management gurus recommend a 10-minute break every 50 minutes. What is going to keep you focused and at your prime in terms of productivity?

Let us know which tips you try out and what you find useful!

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

A reminder that early next week the Fall 2020 Stand Out Virtually Incubator program will be kicking off, running to December 4th. Looking to amplify your virtual events, and build a stronger business case around them, in organizations or externally? Join us for live group calls, micro-learning modules and some weekly 1-1 coaching! Grab your spot here.

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time™ in the Remote Space
Contact us to discuss leadership, coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

TEAMS365 #2445 – 5 Productivity Tips To Support You As You Get Back To (Virtual) Work Routines

9/9/2020

#1 – Put A Frame Around It. As I shared in one of yesterday’s “Back to (Virtual) Work” Posts, Parkinson’s rule asserts that tasks expand to the amount of time we give them. It can be useful to “put a frame around” bigger projects by putting a framework around the start and end. What are those tasks you want to frame out?

#2 – Related To The First Area Is That Of Boundaries. Framing things out can also relate to boundaries. What are the boundaries you want to put in place? Boundaries can include having:

Physical space earmarked for
Boundaries around when you are on, and when you are off
Boundaries around task time

What boundaries will help you focus?

#3 – Creating time for sprints. Getting things done in faster, deeper dive can be a different way of working. About 5 years ago, I started experimenting with using “sprints” in program design. I take professionals through a 45-minute series of reflective prompts, helping guide them into focus. What are the sprints you want to create around your work?

#4 – Think about meal preparation and batching cooking. It’s likely that your food prep and planning is much more organized than it was this time last year, but perhaps not. Spending time every week to not only plan, and shop, but also prepare, can make a big difference, freeing up valuable time. What are the kitchen implements you have, but haven’t used? This might be an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker. What can you do to incorporate one or two more set-it-and-forget-it meals? One of my favorite video sites is the Seven Sisters….Many of their creations are things we already have in the pantry and freezer.

#5 – Think about creating something different in your routine. Our brains crave, and remember, things that are NOVEL, DIFFERENT or SURPRISING. On a regular basis, what can you do to get out of your routine? Maybe it’s attending a call which helps you think about things in a different way. Maybe it’s about shaking up your routine (moving your workout to a different time of day). Maybe it’s about working from a different location. What can you to do jazz up your routine?

For more ideas and virtual productivity hacks, check out the PlanDoTrack Weekly Planning Hacks. You’ll find them here.

You might be interested in reading a recent post I wrote last month – Maintaining Productivity in the Remote Space

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time™ in the Remote Space
Contact us to discuss leadership, coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

TEAMS365 #2444 – Back to Work Routines

9/8/2020

Whether you are still working from home or back to an amended, socially distant, working routine, this month is often likened to the start of the new year. As you gear up for work, consider these routines:

What are the tasks you want to streamline, automate or systematize – From accounting to processing your outreach, what can streamlined, automated or systematized?

What can be batched? The term cognitive switching refers to the processing needed (and associated) energy when we switch from one type of task to another. As I liken it, there can be a need to switch and reset parts of our brain. Think about the different flow you find when you are working with numbers? Or writing? Or creating something? Or reading something? What are the tasks you want to batch? When do you want to schedule them? Would it be useful to earmark a Friday afternoon to filing and financial info when your brain is tired? Or early morning for really important tasks that need to be completed?

What are the boundaries you want to create? If you are working remote, tech time and work time may need some adjustment to provide you with free space to

Fit in workout time. While our work out time and routine may look different today than it did last year, what are you doing to build in workout time? When does it happen? What will help you prioritize that it happens? Do you prefer doing it early morning? Lunch time (yes, we do need to take a lunch in the remote space)? Or at Night?

Give things a start and end – Just as Parkinson’s Rule asserts, tasks expand to the amount of time we give them. What are the time windows you have given on important tasks? For example, with a writing project, are you giving it a month for completion or two weeks? Some tasks can wind up extending onwards much longer. As you look to your major projects this month, what are the time windows you want to give them?

What else will help provide a frame and focus?

If you want to read more, check out this post: Remote Teams: 5 Things to Schedule Before Fall

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time™ in the Remote Space
Contact us to discuss leadership, coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

TEAMS365 #2430 – Are you making these remote work mistakes?

8/25/2020

Many professionals are now 6 months into the global Work From Home “real time experiment” since countries stated locking down months ago. In my work as a coach, consultant and author around remote work, productivity and high performance, I have had a LOT of conversations in the last six months about what’s working and what’s not. When it comes to remote work, there are several core areas and pitfalls professionals can find themselves in. Are you experiencing, or creating, any of these remote working mistakes?

Not creating firm enough boundaries - Working from home, and remote work in general, can be very fluid at times. Without some of the social and practical cues of office work, it can be easy to flow from one task to another, without firm boundaries. While this may work for some, it can lead to overwork, and work-life friction, particularly for those of us who are not only workers and bosses but also parents.

For many, the routine of life and work may be changing again as some schools reopen – What are the boundaries you want to create around work and life this fall (or spring)?

Not communicating enough or in the way people need - Whether we are communicating with our team members, or our customers, it’s likely that you may not be communicating enough, or in the best way. Just because an email is sent, doesn’t mean that is it read, or interpreted as it was intended, let alone actioned!

Consider the key messages you want to communicate this week. What ways do they need to be sent, on what channels, and what follow up is needed?

Not renewing by working around the clock – Related to boundaries is a major pitfall of not renewing. While our traditional ways of relaxation and winding down may not be possible, renewal is key.

Before you get back into the regular routine of fall, what’s important to build time in for? As you step back to the office, what are the habits and routines which are important to foster?

Not planning – With many feeling that the disruption we’ve experienced due to a pandemic is uncontrollable, it doesn’t mean not planning. Having a clear vision of where you want to be at the 30,000-foot view is still important. Operational plans are likely to have shifted, and contingency planning may have become a way of life. Instead of having one plan you may have a cubed plan – A3.

What are your contingency plans for the next week?

As you consider the way you are working right now - What’s important to note about your planning? Your productivity?

All the best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time™ in the Remote Space
Contact us to discuss leadership, coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

TEAMS365 #2340 – Remote Productivity Tip - Reducing Distractions in the Remote Space

5/27/2020

With the tsunami of professionals who have had to shift over to remote work this year, many are getting into the groove of remote work. Whether remote is your new normal or still something temporary, even with the best of intentions, distractions can get in the way.

As someone who has worked in the remote space for several decades while leading virtual teams and a virtual business, I’ve been writing on remote productivity on a regular basis at the Teams365 blog since 2014, and thought that it might be useful to dip into some of my older posts.

Here are four areas I shared back in 2016, in Teams365 blog post #797 about four ways to minimize distractions when working remote. They are:

1. Clear a dedicated space for your work. Whether our workspace is a small table which folds back into the wall when we are done, or we have dedicated office space, clearing the clutter can be an important step in creating space to focus and be productive.

Consider where you work - what needs to be cleared? Spend 15 minutes this week clearing yourself more space.

2. Make sure you have what you need in order to do your work. Small issues can become big issues when working remote. An old laptop which crashes regularly, taking with it your hard work, becomes a liability. Slow internet speeds can also take a toll. While these issues might be minor pain when working remote once a month, if you need to work remote several days a week, the cost adds up. Consider what you might be tolerating in terms of equipment/resources that just aren't cutting it.

What's the cost of replacing them? What's the cost if you don't?

3. Consider when you are at your peak for different types of work. Some of us like the early morning to get our thoughts down on paper, while others like to tackle calls first thing in the morning. Consider your style and preferences in terms of when you would like to get different tasks accomplished, and SCHEDULE IT IN. We know that as Peter Drucker said, “What doesn’t get scheduled, doesn’t get done”.

4. Distractions can occur when we don't allow ourselves time for a break, or we don't allow ourselves to get into the flow of one activity at a time. While there are many approaches to time management (check out all of the Teams365 time management tips here), one favorite I’ve shared with many professionals over the years is the Pomodoro approach. The Pomodoro Technique recommends you set a timer for a set amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) and work until the alarm goes off). Other time management gurus recommend a 10-minute break every 50 minutes.

What is going to keep you focused and at your prime in terms of productivity?

As you think about your current working situation, what distractions are getting in the way? What’s going to help you be most productive? What’s going to help you do your best work, when working from home?

This was originally shared as Teams365 #797 https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-797-four-ways-to-minimize-distractions-with-remote-work

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

Check out upcoming virtual programs on our calendar

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TEAMS365 #2248 – Working From Home: When You Have To

2/25/2020

This year has already had a number of factors which have made working from home a necessity rather than a perk. Whether it’s been weather or health related, some people aren’t quite set up for a great working from home set up. Today’s post gets you thinking about what’s going to help you keep your work flowing, even if you have to work from home.

Consider these items:

Remote (or direct) access to the key files and information that you need. Do you know how to get into the files you need to keep working? Are they accessible?
A way to keep meetings running: Zoom may be a great option to set up for your team.
A way to keep project work meeting: Co-working is also easy when you are able to set up conversations with team members on zoom. What are the conversations you want to build in on a daily or weekly basis?
A secure and solid connection.
Passwords and access codes
A dedicated work space as free from interruptions as you can have.

What are the things you need access to right away to keep your work flowing?

For more on remote work, please check out the remote work tag.

My 2017 book, Effective Virtual Conversations, explores many of these topics as well. Pick up a copy at Amazon.

Later this month I'll be releasing a new White Paper on Remote Work - Getting Up to Speed in a Hurry. Sign up to receive a copy. It will be send when it is available - likely March 1st.

All the best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder
Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon.
Check out upcoming programs on our calendar!

#TEAMS365 #2115 –Getting Organized in The Remote Space: Systems at the HEart

10/15/2019

This week’s Tuesday blog post continues along the pathway of working productively in the remote space. Today’s topic is about getting organized in remote space.

Working remote may mean a smaller office footprint than you might have been used to, or a more open workspace which is shared with friends and loved ones.

Keeping focused, keeping things secure, and keeping things organized are key for success. In today’s post, I’ll cover five areas you might want to consider as it relates to getting and keeping organized:

#1 – Files – From our paper-based files, to electronic ways, we file and access information, keeping files in check is critical.

#2 – Version Control – When working with other team members in collaborative documents being able to access and work on the most up-to-date documents is key.

#3 – Build in time for planning – Planning often falls to the bottom of the list for remote work. When boundaries are fluid by us working odd hours with our stakeholders across the world, the ability to build in time for planning is important.

#4 – Consider Batching – Remote workers are often pulled from task to task, especially if we become reactive around key tasks coming in via email. A challenge for the remote team today is ensuring that we do make headway on all the different tasks involved such as the more focused, deeper work required for tasks.

#5 – Keep on top of rote tasks – Reporting, finances, filing etc. Dedicating 15 minutes to more rote tasks regularly can help to keep the clutter (physical and mental at play). Physically also filing things in an orderly fashion -i.e. a box for receipts – can also help to diminish the mental clutter created by the open loop of invoices which have not been entered.

One final thing to keep in mind in terms of getting more organized = systems. In PlanDoTrack, I point to the importance of five main areas of systems for entrepreneurs and other remote workers. Consider these areas:

Financial systems – Invoicing, Accounts Payable, Cash Flow, Accounts Receivable etc.
Client and Stakeholder systems – Connecting with and sharing information with others – this might include things such as email templates, contact lists, meeting notes, past reports on collaboration.
Marketing – Websites, Social Media Feeds, Frequently Asked Questions
Content – Do you know what you have created? Do you have an accessible listing of what there is?
Sales – What do you notice about sales? What can generate more? What follow-up do you have with those you have sold to?

I'm adding on the other area you may find useful which is Project Management - What can you do to make your project flow and communication work for effectively? Are thre apps or programs which will help you like Asana or Trello? These are two that we use here to manage our projects.

What are the systems which are going to help you streamline and keep on top of your work?

IF you are a coach - be sure to check out my recent article for the Coaching Tools Company newsletter which was just published on coaching business systems. You can read it here.

For more on this topic, be sure to check out section 3 of both PlanDoTrack (a planner workbook for remote professionals) and CoachingBusiness Builder (a planner-workbook for professional coaches)

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
For those looking for tips, tools and ideas about remote work and support for your remote teams, be sure to check out these tags and resources.

#TEAMS365 #2095 – Remote Working Success Factor: What You Need

9/25/2019

Getting organized and set up with the space and processes you require to work at peak performance is critical for those new to the remote space. It’s tempting to say “I’ll deal with it later”, and it’s likely that later may never arrive. Build in time at the start of your remote work to put into place these items at your new, dedicated work space:

A place with good lighting, privacy and space to work

A place to close the door and have private conversations
Place to secure files – physically and digitally
Cloud based storage for when you need it
Contact list you can access
Back up - where are you saving your files?
Super strong internet
Clear boundaries with loved ones and family about when and when you are not available. What are your working hours? Break times? Just because you are home it does not mean that you can walk the dog, take out the garbage, cook dinner etc. Developing a series of “go-to” phrases for when neighbors ask you to do things that will distract you from your focus can be useful.

What else do you think you will require to help you be at your best in the remote space?

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.
For those looking for tips, tools and ideas about remote work and support for your remote teams, be sure to check out these tags and resources.

#TEAMS365 #2090 – Flashback Friday: Minimize Distractions with Remote Work

9/20/2019

This week’s #FlashbackFriday post takes us back to 2016 and a post I think is still very relevant – minimizing distractions in the remote space.

Let’s revisit Teams365 post 797: Four Ways to Minimize Distractions with Remote Work.

Over the last week we have been focused on remote work. Today's post looks at four ways to minimize distractions when working remote. They are:

1. Clear space for where you are going to work. Whether our workspace is a small table which folds back into the wall when we are done or we have dedicated office space, clearing the clutter can be an important step in creating space to focus and be productive.

Consider where you work - what needs to be cleared? Spend 15 min this week clearing yourself more space.

2. Make sure you have what you need in order to do your work. Small issues can become big issues when working remote. An old laptop which crashes regularly, taking with it your hard work, becomes a liability. Slow internet speeds can also take a toll. While these issues might be minor pain when working remote once a month, if you need to work remote several days a week, the cost adds up. Consider what you might be tolerating in terms of equipment/resources that just aren't cutting it.

What's the cost of replacing them? What's the cost if you don't?

3. Consider when you are at your peak for different types of work. Some of us like the early morning to get out thoughts down on paper, while others like to tackle calls first thing in the morning. Consider your style and preferences in terms of when you would like to get different tasks accomplished, and SCHEDULE IT IN.

4. Sometimes we get distracted because we don't allow ourselves time for a break, or we don't allow ourselves to get into the flow of one activity at a time. While there are many tips to time management that we've covered (check out all our time management tips here), months ago I wrote about the Pomodoro approach where you set a timer for a set amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) and work until the alarm goes off. Other time management gurus recommend a 10-minute break every 50 minutes. What is going to keep you focused and at your prime in terms of productivity?

Let us know which tips you try out and what you find useful!

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
For those looking for tips, tools and ideas about remote work and support for your remote teams, be sure to check out these tags and resources. 