SUCCESS ADVICE FROM COACH JUDY
JULY EDITION
Did You Listen To A Word I Said?
Adult ADD and the Workplace
By Judy Sylvia, The Growth Coach (239) 425-2530
Have you ever uttered those words to yourself while speaking with your boss, colleague or employee? You’re in a meeting, discuss in detail an issue, discuss what has been done thus far, outline what needs to be done, make a detailed plan to achieve the desired results and then just as you are ready to take action… it happens. That person, you know the one, the ‘sometimes very frustrating’ one makes a statement or asks a question and you can tell immediately - though they were physically in the room…mentally they had checked out. They didn’t hear a word you said. Sound familiar? It may be all too common in your office or workplace. Or is that person you?
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, known to most of us as ADD or ADHD, is a disorder that encompasses inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. According to a report by Mental Health American of Illinois, an estimated 9 million adults have AHDH. You might easily spot them as they can have difficulty staying engaged in meetings. They move from one project to the next as they have trouble either starting or finishing projects. They tend to lack time management skills and are quite disorganized. All of these symptoms can create stress, frustration and real performance problems in the workplace but don’t worry there is help!
Below are suggestions* by the National Resource Center for AD/DH for coping with many of the symptoms associated with ADHD:
- Distractibility – Problems with external distractibility (noises and movement in the surrounding environment) and internal distractibility (daydreams) can be the biggest challenges for adults with ADHD. These may help:
Request a private office or quiet cubicle or take work home or work when others are not in the office. Use “white noise” earphones, classical music or other sounds to drown out office noises. Work in unused space, such as a conference room where distractions are few. Route calls directly to voicemail and respond to them at set times each day. Jot down ideas in a notebook to avoid interruption of the current task Keep a list of ideas that come to you during meetings so that you can communicate more effectively Perform one task at a time. Do not start a new task until the current one is done
Hyperactivity. Adults with hyperactivity type of ADHD often do better with jobs that allow a great deal of movement, such as sales, but if you have a sedentary job, the following strategies: Take intermittent breaks to do photocopying, go to mailroom, walk to water fountain Take notes in meetings to prevent restlessness. Move around, exercise, take a walk or run up and down the stairs
Poor Memory. Failing to remember deadlines and other responsibilities can antagonize coworkers, especially when working on a team. To improve memory, try these:
Use tape recording device or take detailed notes at meetings Write checklists for complicated tasks Use a bulletin board or computer reminder list for announcements and other memory triggers Learn how to use a day planner and keep it with you to keep track of tasks and events Write notes on sticky pads and put them in a highly visible place
Boredom blockouts. Because of their strong need for stimulation, some adults with ADHD become easily bored at work, especially with detailed paperwork and routine tasks. To prevent boredom, try these: Set a timer (or an hourglass) to stay on task Break up long tasks into shorter ones Take breaks, drink water, get up and walk around Find a job with stimulating responsibilities and minimal routine tasks
Difficulty managing long term projects. Managing complex or long term projects may be the hardest organizational challenge for adults with ADHD. Managing projects requires a range of skills, including time management, organizing materials, tracking progress and communicating accomplishments. Try these for guidelines: Break projects up into manageable parts, with rewards for completing each. Strive to shorten the time allowed on a project to better utilize “sprinting abilities” Ask a coach to assist you in tolerating longer and longer projects, a bit at a time. Find and partner with a co-worker who has good organizational skills Look for work that requires only short-term tasks
If we are honest, there are days when any one of us could be suspect of ADHD. We live in such a fast paced society with “busyness” sometimes rewarded and respected. But busyness does not mean accomplishment. We can be the busiest people out there but may not be accomplishing anything. We all need to be refocused and redirected at times –not just those with ADHD.
One last suggestion “Plan your month, schedule your week and prioritize your day”.
* Suggestions from “WHAT WE KNOW 16 Succeeding in the Workplace”, National Resource Center for AD/HD – A Program of CHADD. Judy Sylvia can be reached at (239) 425-2530
March 2nd Edition
DARE TO GROW!
By Judy Sylvia, The Growth Coach
Growing is the natural order of all living things, including businesses. If something is not growing, it's by default declining or even dying. Besides, if you aren't continually growing your company, odds are one of your savvy competitors is! As an owner, your challenge is to keep your business vibrant and growing at all times...even in challenging economic times. Have the right mindset, marketing, and dare to go for growth!
Start by making no excuses. Even with a tougher economy, you should still be intelligently marketing and growing your business. While you should conserve cash in your company anyway you possibly can at this time, you should not scale back effective and profitable marketing...emphasis is on effective and profitable. As long as your average profit-per-sale is higher than your average cost-per-sale, keep your marketing machine cranked up. Effective marketing pays for itself! However, many owners are forgetting this wisdom and caving in to their irrational fears. They are running their businesses based on fear instead of based of data.
Since many of your competitors are probably panicking and reducing all expenditures, including in the areas of sales and marketing, now is the time for you to hold tight to or even increase your marketing investment. Now is the time to gain market share. Now is the time to be courageous. Don't let your fears and emotions get the best of you. Dare to go for growth!
I realize some of you may feel uncomfortable right now maintaining or even increasing your marketing expenditures. Maybe you have an uncontrollable urge to cut back in all areas. I too understand and battle this fear myself. However, instead of going with my gut, emotions, and fears, I choose instead to go with the numbers and go for growth. It is critical that we track all marketing investments and performance metrics so we can rely on evidence instead of hunches in our decision making. We must know which marketing is effective and profitable. Do you know what is working?
Bottom line, running a business should be more about your brain and less about your gut. Track your marketing and know which lead sources produce profitable sales. Again, while you should conserve cash anyway you possibly can, think long and hard about cutting back on your effective and profitable marketing at this time. Track your marketing data and make intelligent decisions based on the numbers, not your fears or hunches. As long as your average profit-per-sale is higher than your average cost-per-sale, keep your marketing machine cranked up. Effective marketing pays for itself! Dare to go for growth...even in challenging times.
Judy Sylvia
The Growth Coach
(239) 425-2530
www.thegrowthcoach-leecounty.com.
Email questions to j.sylvia@thegrowthcoach.com
February 1st Edition
IT’S NOT ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT – IT’S FOCUS MANAGEMENT!
By Judy Sylvia
There are endless books, classes and thoughts of school on time management. They range from using a certain planner or program to scheduling out each and every minute of your day. Let’s face it – we all have the same amount of time in a given day – 24 hours. That’s it!
I believe it is not so much in how we manage our time but rather how we manage our FOCUS. When we are focused and purposeful, we can accomplish much! With lack of focus, we go through the day, perhaps busy with much activity, but never accomplishing the critical tasks that need to be completed. How many times have you ended the day saying “I didn’t get anything done today?”
Many business owners fail to identify where they should be spending their time – the highest and best use of their time and talents. As leaders and business owners, it is critical that you are able to identify these talents and then focus on the 20% of your activities that produce 80% of your results. Create a “not to do” list of low important tasks that you can give up. Tackle your 3 top priorities each day and put an end to the got-a-minute interruptions. Schedule weekly time to think, plan and re-charge.
Let me illustrate the power of focus. Imagine you are outside on a warm sunny day. You hold in one hand a magnifying glass, in the other hand a dry brown leaf. What happens when you hold that magnifying glass at a certain angle that focuses the sun’s rays onto the leaf? Of course, the leaf starts to burn. That’s the power of focus. The energy is focused and directed - almost laser focus to a small area. In contrast, that same sunny day but with no magnifying glass, the leaf will be slightly warmed just from being outside but there is not enough power to do make a difference.
How are you spending your days? Do you have that magnifying glass focus or are you just slightly warming your goals and activities?
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” … William James.
Judy Sylvia
The Growth Coach
(239) 425-2530
www.thegrowthcoach-leecounty.com.
Email questions to j.sylvia@thegrowthcoach.com
NEXT STEP FOR 2009
by Judy Sylvia
In my last article, “Strong Start for 2009”, I encouraged you to reflect on what worked well in 2008 and what did not work well and further to evaluate whether something warranted continuing in 2009. But more important to start this year off with a clear vision.
So time of truth: did you work on your vision? Did you create your vision for your business? How about your personal life? It all starts with that vision. If you haven’t worked on it yet - start now! For those that have completed their vision, read on!
What comes next? You must take that vision and create a business plan and identify specific goals for how you will accomplish that vision. Many times people get nervous when we talk about business plans and goals. No need for anxiety. They are just tools that act as a roadmap to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. If you know where it is you want to go, chances greatly increase that you will actually get there! How can you plan your trip if you haven’t chosen a destination? Do you see why your vision is so essential?
A business plan need not be complicated. It needs to identify the 7 key areas of your business and how you will implement and improve in these areas. As business owner or manager, you will want to ask yourself, “How will the business improve in these key areas?”
*Leadership
*Management
*Marketing
*Selling
*Operations/Customer Fulfillment
*Customer Service
*Back Office
Establish a vital few, monster size goals in each of these areas. Then you will want to include your team (employees, mentors, advisors, customers, etc) in this critical exercise. Their input and feedback is vital to the success of your plan and goals. Do they agree with your assessment? Would they “buy into” your ideas? Never be afraid to seek their input. Their perspective in the business is different from yours and can provide crucial information.
There are many resources and formats for business plans. It does not matter which form you use as long as you use one. Choose the one that bests resonates with your style and use. The true key to a business plan is the actual process you go through as you develop the plan. Don’t get hung up on the insignificant details. Be sure to review and refer to it frequently. Make it a workable, breathable plan and build in some accountability to keep you on track.
If you aim for nothing, you will hit it with amazing accuracy. Where are you going this year?
January 1st Edition
STRONG START FOR 2009!
By Judy Sylvia
Happy New Year! I believe most of us are ready to welcome a new year. There is something always exhilarating about a new year. It brings with it a promise of new hope, a clean slate, new options, a blank palette in which we can choose to create new opportunities and adventures.
I’ll admit…2008 was a challenging year for many in Southwest Florida. We might want to hurry and close that door tight but I want to encourage you…. Take some time to reflect on 2008. Ask yourself those good questions. What were your greatest accomplishments for 2008? What were your challenges you faced in 2008? What projects are worth taking into 2009? Which projects do you need to leave in 2008 and not look back? What were lessons learned in 2008? Looking ahead to 2009, what are you going to do differently? How are you going to get a strong start for 2009?
I firmly believe it all must start with your vision. Vision is an essential ingredient to any successful venture and life. There is a proverb that I firmly believe. It says: “Without a vision, the people will perish”. If you do not have a crystal clear vision to lead you and guide you into this new year, chances are you will randomly bump along without much success in any area of your life. Most people live life by default, instead of by design. I challenge you to do it differently this year. Design the life you want to live by clearly defining a vision that is aligned with your goals, your true values, gifts and life purpose.
You might be asking… “How do I do that?” Allow me to give you some starters:
- Get away to reflect. It is essential to get away from the hustle, bustle of every day so that you can hear yourself “think”. Ask those good questions. Bring paper and be ready to write.
- List the key areas of your life: your family, your business, your personal growth and development, your purpose, your passions and then ask yourself – “what do I want this area to look like for 2009?” Maybe you want to have more time connecting with a family member? Maybe it is to increase sales and net income? Maybe you want to be able to give back to the community or your church? Maybe it is to get that promotion? Perhaps you want to add new staff? Maybe it is to develop a new skill? Dream big… Don’t settle for mediocre thoughts or ideals – think big, dream big. Be very specific! Just start writing and re-writing each area… bring lots of paper.
- Put it all together… after you dissect each important area of your life, .bring it all together. Write out your vision on one –two pages incorporating what you see for each critical area. Write it in first person, present tense to describe every aspect of your life and business. Ignite your senses as your write it. What does it smell like? Attach deep emotions to it. What does it feel like? What will it feel like when you take that special trip with your family? Will you feel the warm breeze as you walk along the beach? What smells will there be? Use words such as “I am experiencing… versus “I hope to experience or I will experience”. Write it in present tense.
- After you write it, read it at least twice a day! Upon waking in the morning and just before going to sleep are best times. Another great tool is to put your vision into pictures and create a vision board. There are tools to create a vision board online or you can do it the old fashioned way with lots of magazines, scissors, glue and a large poster board. Keep it in a place that you will see it often.
Make a strong start for 2009! Design the life and business you want to live and start with your vision! Wishing you joy, peace and success in 2009!
Judy Sylvia j.sylvia@thegrowthcoach.com
(239) 425-2530
www.thegrowthcoach-leecounty.com
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