Here’s my take on it. Often we set up a hierarchy of priorities in our life. We say God comes first, family second, work third et cetera. You get the idea. Now don’t brand me a heretic for this but it seems to me that if God comes first, it implies that the possibility exists He could drop to second, or third, giving way to my putting other items on my agenda ahead of Him. And, therein lies the compartmentalization of God. God should not come first. God should be over all, well above the vagaries of first, second, third or fourth.

Sound like a sermon you’ve heard? Perhaps, but not likely. Wondering what in the world it has got to do with stress? Everything. Here’s how the questionable reasoning works. I develop the hierarchy, which has God in first place. Family is second. Somewhere down the line is me personally and all I have been given to be my best – relaxation, exercise, quiet, renewal. Obviously that is lesser than God and the things that I am doing “for” Him. Therefore when the need arises for such things around me, I will not follow up on them because the work “for” God is of greater importance, being connected with His name.

What have we done? We have compartmentalized God. We have separated Him and the legitimate and healthy care of people (and me), by several degrees. One is over the other. The other must be of lesser, if not little to any importance. The result, stress, overload and burnout, not being at our best to be available for and effective in those things that we feel passionate about.

The solution? Put God in His rightful place over all. Whatever first, God over that. Whatever second, God over that. Personal care (?) third, God over that. I don’t know what order you would place things in, but placing God over all avoids two extremes. One, we are less likely to misinterpret and say, “No matter what my family or personal needs are, I will ..” or “I am too busy being important and doing important things to care for myself (or allow God to care for me). Second, we are less likely to go to the other extreme and say, “I will forget about other things now. I have to care about me.”

To quote the Bible in this, “God over all, forever praised.” God over all; for some of you, perhaps it a time who’s insight has come.

Often we think it’s about managing segments, little chunks of time measured in hours, half hours, quarter hours or less. Then our attempt at managing our time happens like this:

• We develop a volume of things that we need to do.
• We divide the day up into more and more little segments.
• We search for better positioned segments so we can shove more things into them.
• Meanwhile, we divide all the things to do into priorities.
• Then we put 70% of the priorities in the top priority list and try shoving those in the new little segments we just made.

What we’re really doing is going faster and faster and shoving more and more in. After all, almost everything in our life is a priority, isn’t it? Then for all our efforts we slide down the slippery slope or stress, overload and burnout.

We really ought to manage ourselves and ask, “What are the vital few things that are the truly important?” Those are the things I will get done. It’s not seven out of my list of ten important things to get done. It’s only two. Maybe it’s only one. Start and do those. The others will disappear, fade in significance or step in line to take their turn as one of the vital few later on.

Until we start acting on this for ourselves, we’ll be caught in this race. Somewhere we have to break the cycle and say, “This is where it stops.” Practicing that Law of the Vital Few will make us much more satisfied, thorough and successful.

Often we want to squeeze more and more productivity out of a given period of time, so we shove other things aside, things like renewal and relationships, fostered primarily through pausing. We continue to accumulate a greater volume of things, and our body is saying, “No, I can’t handle this.“ Stress, tiredness, soreness, muscle pain, dissatisfaction and a sense of a lack of well-being become our lot in life.

Adopt the practice of timely management from the Law of the Vital Few. Take your personal best 20% as your springboard for building the future. Where in the past did I have my most success? Identify that small amount of time and duplicate it for today as much as you can. Say, “These are the vital few things that I must do now, and while I am doing those I will delegate, hold to a more appropriate time or give away to others the things that I am not able to do.”

If you are dealing with volume of time commitments placed on you from the outside, then you have to work with the issues of boundaries as well .You may have to set boundaries around people imposing on your time. Let the voice mail get the telephone after certain hours and raise a personal standard that says, “I am not going to work after this hour.”  If it’s sheer volume you may need to look at ways to do it more efficiently. On the other hand you may need to frankly talk to others about helping you. They may be in positions of authority or control to make some changes for you.

It’s not just about time management but timely management of you.

This may be one of the most common areas that executives and leaders wish to work on during our coaching engagements. We live in a world that pushes almost every leader and professional into a crunch for time. There are solutions. They don’t always come easy. People often fear doing what is required thinking they will lose ground and fall behind. But once solutions are put in place and traction is being experienced, leaders find that in fact they can achieve more, do better and actually begin to thrive.

Really, you can read all you want about time management and you can feel the stress until the cows come home. But until you make a major decision to do something about it, you will only amass literature and dissatisfaction. Take action today.

Gary Wood
G.E. Wood and Associates
Personal Effectiveness Coaching for Leaders and Executives since 1998

As an accredited member of the International Coach Federation, we are required to go through a vigorous process of renewal application every three years. Meeting requirements ensures the coach will have continued to develop professionally over time. Here’s what the document says.

The International Coach Federation is honored to confer upon Gary Wood the designation of Professional Certified Coach. The designation is earned by demonstrating knowledge and proficient use of core coaching skills through a comprehensive application and exam process designed to ensure high standards for the coaching profession and the clients it serves.

Why is this all important?

• Proficiency
• High standards

And above all …

• Serving clients.

Let’s talk about joining up, starting up, volunteering, letting you name stand, registering and preparing. As a young leader you may be caught up in a whirlwind of activity. You want to be involved in everything and miss nothing. You’re eager to contribute and available to help out. But, should you be involved in everything or have you bought into a schedule and pace that is less noble than it may at first appear?

There is no doubt that we need workers. And good solid leadership is essential. But being spread too thin may do more harm than good. I think there is a better way. Do you remember Jesus parable of the talents? The master said to the servants who had made a good increase on what he had given them to do,  “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” There are a few things, important things to take care of, not everything, but just a few for those who will be given more responsibility later.

As a seasoned leader I look for young men and women who stick to a task assigned and do it well. They pull together the people to make it happen. They follow through and give it their best. They aren’t off in all directions but remain focused on what they have been given to do. These are the emerging leadership who will be able to handle increasing autonomy. They will make good executive team contributors. They will be some of the best leadership of tomorrow.

What are those few things that would be best for you to put your full attention to? If you are willing many will want to shove you to the front for all sorts of responsibilities. You may need to resist that happening. I have coached many older leaders who are in overload. They share several things in common and need to make similar shifts in their thinking.

a.   They find it hard to say “no” often enough.

Shift from thinking you must respond to every need to realizing you can’t do everything for everybody who asks.

b.   They subtly start to believe they are indispensable.

Shift from thinking no one else will be able to do it as well as you to trusting the abilities and giftedness of others, and allowing them the space to grow.

c.   They buy into the thought that constant activity and busyness is a sign of higher commitment.

Shift from trying to prove something to others to passionately doing well those few things you feel are of highest importance for you to carry out.

Leaders who make things happen do so because they have developed an effective individual pace and over time proven the benefit of clearly knowing what they need and need not be involved in. They practice priority management (which is really all about self-management isn’t it). They don’t major in busyness.

What does your upcoming agenda look like? The leader who carefully and respectfully declines requests while passionately committing themselves to “a few simple things” will most likely be able to sustain a level of commitment that contributes to success and satisfaction.

Key Questions:

1. If you made tomorrow’s to-do list right now, what would the “few simple things” be, that if attended to tomorrow, would actually result in the greatest gain?

2. What are the “few simple things” that you feel compelled to be involved in for this next season? Are they in line with the things you really feel passionate about?

3. What items on your to-do list have become “a few complex, energy draining, and unfulfilling things”? What will you do about this, starting today?

Carefully I walk them through my three part program to deal with burnout.

1. Resolution – Deal with their immediate situation to reduce some of the stress so they can think straight and design a game plan for moving forward.
2. Transition – Find and adopt new strategies for the days to come. You can’t very well solve problems by continuing to do the same things over and over. And finally …
3. Continuity – Make sure the client has made transitions to new ways of thinking and behaving AND that those new strategies have taken root and become the norm.

What do clients get by walking through this simple but profoundly changing step by step process? I’d like to suggest some of the following as reported benefits of dealing with burnout that I have heard. I don’t need to make much comment on them. They are fairly self-explanatory. And they are benefits that everyone experiencing this significantly painful time in their lives would like to have. Here are just a few.

Physical Realm

• Able to start exercising again
• Back aches stop
• Weekly trips to chiropractor stop
• Panic attacks reduce to zero over time
• Get to sleep easier
• Get a better sleep – waking up more relaxed
• Have more physical energy
• Sporadic and strange aches and pains drastically decrease
• Skin irritations stop

Time Realm

• Feel like they get weekends back
• Feel like they get weeknights back
• They once again have choice about what they want to do
• More time to work on projects they care about

Relationship Realm

• More positive relationships begin showing up
• Their mind isn’t preoccupied when with their spouse – totally present again
• Their mind isn’t preoccupied when with their children – totally present again
• Time to enjoy good friends once again

Everyday Living Realm

• Feel more relaxed
• Able to enjoy a hobby if they have one
• Made some long-needed and healthy decisions
• Brought their life into line with the truths they believed
• Discovered or made more personal space – some time to recharge

Opportunity Realm

• Dreaming about possibilities again
• Got to take what they are learning and help others
• Regained the excitement of God opening up new doors

Emotional Realm

• More contentment with their circumstances
• Brighter outlook on life
• Feel like their emotional energy was being renewed
• Sense of regaining control
• Relief from the pressure of worry

Spiritual Realm

• Created the time to connect with God in prayer and the Word once again
• Began to see people (often the source of burnout) through God’s eyes
• Once again connected with God’s people in healthy and enriching relationships
• Developed a core of people who prayed for them daily
• Allowed space for God to work in grace

I think you would agree with me that these benefits of dealing with burnout were worth reaching for. I want to encourage you. Please take the fourth step in my Beat Burnout Plan … Prevention. Prevent the slippery slide into the ways of thinking and behaving that can lead to burnout in the first place. Pursue health and personal and professional effectiveness. Be proactive in the first place and you will reap the benefits that so many leaders, executives and professionals long for this very day.

Some Helpful Resources

Take my Beat Burnout Assessment.

Get and use a copy of my Guide, Beating Burnout, Where to Start.

Participate in a Beat Burnout Call.

Call me directly to discuss and get coaching around your situation.

In coaching engagements, our clients typically realize considerably more than a one percent improvement almost immediately. The point is … they are moving forward, momentum is building.

A one percent improvement is very achievable, even for busy people. One percent a month over ten months is a ten percent improvement. Ten percent is significant, isn’t it? I certainly think so.

Cast in point: The Power of Three

Imagine starting, working on without interruption and moving through to completion, the three action items each week that would make the most significant impact on moving your goals forward. This month you stay focused and practice the Power of Three for a modest one percent monthly improvement. You have managed to achieve the absolute most important things each week for a whole month.

You continue this new habit for 10 months and you have made a 10% improvement in starting and finishing the highest priority items that will make the biggest impact each and ever week. What would that ten percent add up to in new revenues, lives changed, time and resources saved and bottom or top line results?

My Challenge to You

Here is a challenge I’d like to give you.  Make a 1% improvement this week.  And then continue a simple 1% improvement each week for the next month.

What is important enough for you to make one tiny improvement on,  starting now?

A project you are engaged in?

The way you go about handling a certain routine?

Relationships that need attention? (Harder to measure, but do-able.)

Your office systems?

You get the idea.  Small steps build up over time.  Ten weeks means ten percent, and a ten-percent improvement in anything gets noticed.

If you should choose to take me up on this, don’t leave it to chance.  Track yourself.  Be definite.  Clarity leads to results.  And finally, enjoy it.  A small 1% improvement isn’t heavy and burdensome. Celebrate it.

SMART goal setting is a necessity for self leadership. When you look at any sample professional development plans or inquire about creating a personal leadership development plan, you will find setting and achieving goals as one of the core practices.

Here is a goal setting activity that if practiced will accelerate you toward your highest and best priorities. Good goals are critical to better time management and execution. SMART is a popular and well used acronym. Moreover, it’s a helpful tool for moving forward.

1. Using the SMART Goal Setting acronym, analyze goals you have made in the past and how effective they have been.

2. Then develop a new set of goals based on the same SMART goal setting criteria.

Working through a goal setting activity like this will make you much more aware of just how you have done in the past and what you need to make the best goals possible for the future.

A lot of us are goal deprived, preferring, more by default than anything else, to just let life happen to us. This is one of the sure roads to stress and burnout. I once read that less than 3% of people put pen to paper and write down their goals. I am sure much the same could be said for many of our organizations. Interestingly, it is the same 3% who accomplish more than all the 97% combined.

Let’s get started with this goal setting activity. Using the acronym SMART, here are the things to aim for when you write down your goals. Check yourself against them.

Goal Setting Activity – S

Specific Well defined Specific goals define the desired outcome, objective or benefit to be delivered. It defines the specific target you are aiming at. This allows you to focus your thinking and efforts.

No ambiguity– Goals are clear to anyone who has some understanding of the organization.

Clear. Clarity in goal setting is critical. Specific goals let everyone know what, when and how much. Specific goals allow you to measure progress toward completion.  What – What do you really want the result to be?

Where – Define a location if this is important to the goal.

When – A specific date on the calendar

Who – Who is involved?

Why – This is the motivating factor. Why are you doing this? What are the benefits of accomplishing this goal?

Example: An ambiguous goal would be: “I want to begin painting again.” A specific goal would be “I will submit two paintings to the art show on November 10th”.

Goal Setting Activity – M

Measurable A measurement lets you know when you have attained of accomplished your desired end result. For example, numbers are easily understandable measurements – 8 months, 4 days per week, $100,000 dollars, 60 pounds, 2 paintings.

Progress – When you can measure, you know how much is completed and how much farther there is to go.

Celebration – You have a measurement that allows you to celebrate important milestones on the way to your goal.

Benchmark – Here’s where I started and what I measure against. Here’s how far I have come.

Deadline – November 10th is a deadline. You can’t be much clearer than that. Target dates assist you to stay on track. It has been said that a goal without a deadline is just a dream. Because you have recorded the goal, you can point to your completion of it as a success. It builds confidence and locks in proof that you can accomplish what you set out to accomplish.

Goal Setting Activity – A

Action-Oriented Action words are clear. “I will submit “ is a whole lot clearer than, “I should submit”; “If I get two paintings done, I’ll submit” or “I would like to submit”. Many organizations I have worked for, have mamby pampy goals (no, make that wishes!) that will likely get them no where. Action verbs get you somewhere. That’s why we call this a goal setting activity.

Measuring something that is being done is easier than trying to measure nothing being done.

A – Attainable   Some people set goals that are unattainable. I have nothing against big goals. But if there is no way you can accomplish ‘world peace’ in your lifetime, that is unattainable. Making a brief to a UN forum on world peace to be held next year is attainable.

A goal should be a stretch, just beyond our immediate grasp, or just beyond employees and volunteers immediate reach enough to pull us forward and challenges our comfort zones to accomplish. It provides a sense of excitement, anticipation and desire to reach the goal.

Set right – A goal set too high or too low (less than the normal standard performance) doesn’t hold any relevance. It will be dismissed and ignored. A goal that is set right will start you thinking on how you can make it happen. You begin to increase your capacity for reaching the goal by adding skills, attitudes, experiences and resources (both human and physical) that can assist you to get there.

A – Agreed Upon – All stakeholders agree what this goal should be.

A – Acceptable – If you set the goal, your motivation for reaching it is much higher than something dictated from the outside. It is ‘acceptable’ to you, in line with who you are as a person and how you best perform. Tomorrow we will conclude this goal setting activity.

We cover much more detail in the courses, programs and coaching that we assist our clients with. Those who pay attention move further in a shorter period of time.

Goal Setting Activity – R – Realistic

There are people, resources, information and time to make this happen. It can be a reality. ‘Realistic’ is not a substitute word for ‘simple’ or ‘easy’ and you may have to stretch to make it happen, but it is within the realm of reality to accomplish.

Keep in mind that to one person this may be totally unrealistic, while to another, the thrill of knowing that it just might be possible moves them forward. (I love seeing that light come on with a client.) Many scientific breakthroughs and new product developments have been made in this way. It required a steep learning curve but the end result was achieved. Witness the US program to put a man on the moon in the 1970’s.

Be sure in your own mind that this goal is possible, even if people have to push the barriers of what is now known in order to get there. It was Henry Ford who said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

The key is that you believe it can be accomplished and you are ready, willing and able to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Keep in mind that a whole series of smaller goals can add up to a spectacular result over time. It’s all in the strategic approach you take.

R – Relevant   The goal must somehow relate to who you are or who your organization is and where it is going. Will it contribute to furthering your mission and the vision you have of the future?

Goal Setting Activity – T  

Time Framed; Time Bound; Time Structured Enough – You have allowed enough time to achieve the objective and not so much time that the goal drifts off into lack of momentum and obscurity.

Set the time – There is nothing like a good due-date or deadline. They are specific, clear and totally capture your focus. Have a starting point, ending point and fixed ‘reporting’ times along the way. Reporting or ‘checking in’ overcomes the tendency to just let life happen and get caught up in the daily ‘stuff’ of life, business or ministry. Example: First painting to be done by Aug 15. Second to be done by Oct 31. Submit both to the Art Show by Nov. 10th.

Break larger goals down into more manageable chunks. As in the example above, two paintings represent two projects.

What have you noticed as you went through this exercise? Maybe you thought your implementation of goals was poor but you discovered your action was off because your goals were ill-defined. That’s a very important point to note. Whatever you learned, take the time to make the adjustments you need to get you on the path to success. And I do wish you every success in setting SMART goals in life, work and leadership.

There you have it …   a SMART goal setting activity or methodology to begin using for yourself.

Where do you find them? Everywhere. In responsible public office. Running a store. Heading up a service company. Managing sensitive data. Navigating the boardroom. Flying the globe. Everywhere. You may be one of them.

Many alcoholics deny they have a problem. They loudly proclaim that they are in perfect control. But to everyone else the opposite is apparent. At times and in certain situations they seem to do a good job of cover up. But you can be sure somebody is suffering because of their behavior … including themselves.

Let’s be personal. That individual struggling with alcohol may be … you … It’s a huge and growing problem and in fact the alcohol controls you. Those around you all know it. You’re the only one denying it.

So if by some strange chance this simple post is a wake up call for … you … please seek help. This is not something you can solve on your own. Perhaps some of these steps will be of some assistance.

• Tell the truth. You’ve lied for long enough. You are the one who is drinking. It is your problem to solve. Alcohol controls you, not the other way round.

• Don’t lay blame, refusing to do anything about your problem because you are so busy blaming others for something. It’s an excuse. Only you can do something about you.

• Determine to do whatever it will take to solve this problem and nothing short of whatever it will take.

• Get to the bottom of it. You started drinking heavily for a reason. You must get back to causes, facing them head on, examining them carefully and taking action needed to put them to rest once and for all.

• Reach out to those who love you and care for you. Allow them to be your support structure as you do the work needed to beat alcoholism. Tell them the truth … always.

• Reach out to experts and organizations that can help. Alcoholics Anonymous comes to mind. There are others as well. They’ve been helping people dealing with this problem for a long time. You’ll find people who care and have expertise.

• Don’t assume that people will not respect you because you reveal you have a problem with alcohol. Assumptions stop far too many people from doing what’s needed. In fact people will probably admire you for the steps you are taking to find solutions.

Please, take action today. Be willing to do whatever it will take to put this struggle with alcohol behind you. We need you at your best in your home, in your business and as you lead in our communities and country.

Having a reserve means we don’t have to keep being distracted and drained by the need. Rather, we will eliminate problems and pressure and have the unencumbered ability to reach our potential best.

Imagine a well. If it has just a little water in it, what happens? You start being very careful with using the water you have. You keep checking the level. You may start worrying. You constantly search for emergency sources. Now imagine the well filled to the top with water. Notice how you feel now. Concern has decreased dramatically. Our lives can be like that almost empty well. We live beyond the limits of what we have on hand. There is little left to draw from.

Consider Phil, struggling to juggle work and family. Phil wanted things to be done right. He’d give 110 percent to any project he put his hand too. He was noticed. More projects and offers of promotion came his way. His experience and expertise were sought out. You’d think this success would energize him, but the opposite took place. Phil’s discretionary time eroded. Since work had to be done, his family had reluctantly slipped into the discretionary category. Phil had little time for his family, little time to spend with God, no time for himself and constantly lived in the future, longing for a day when it would be different.

Several trips to the hospital later, with panic attacks, missed work and a deteriorating approach to people around him, I received Phil’s call. Over time we strategized about the future he saw and how to bring it into the present. Phil needed to carve out some time to actually relax and figure out where he was going.

After gaining some real clarity about his tending towards being a perfectionist, he started by saying “no” to new projects until he finished a project already started. He cut the number of projects back to reflect a more comfortable working pace. This moved him closer to balance. Phil began praying more and he physically started booking his family in as priority time. He concentrated whole undistracted days on unfinished business, cleaning up his long to-do lists.

Bits of discretionary time started to appear. This gave him a little time to relax and think about the offers coming in and just what he and his family really wanted from life. Clarity led to an intentional, but flexible strategy being developed to cover the short, medium and longer term in his life.

What did Phil get that was so important? Time. Once that was carved out, he could think clearer, act smarter and begin to enjoy his wife, family and himself again. Having a reserve of time improved how he looked at people, his health and his approach to living. Talking about it garnered the respect of others around him. Now, things have changed. No offer or activity could convince Phil to deteriorate that reserve of personal time he now guards so closely.

We live in an extremely noisy world.  Most often people who describe themselves as in overload, a few steps removed from burnout, don’t experience much quiet. Their lives are often busy, full of people, and quiet is usually a relatively scarce commodity.  You know what it’s like going from one activity to the next throughout the day.  It doesn’t afford much time for pause or reflection, and when it does, that is relatively short-lived.

Even if it seems quiet, it’s often hard to turn the brain off.  It just seems to keep working.  We wake up and the brain is active, we go through a busy day with brain in high gear, we go to bed thinking and working through situations of the day.  And oftentimes we can’t get to sleep because the mind keeps on working while we gaze anxiously at the time (sometimes measured in hours) go by on the bedside clock.

So how do we find time to be quiet?  It might not necessarily be easy, but we need to begin to make the effort to build quiet time into our lives. It’s like anything else that’s important, we’ll find a way to do it.

Something you will have to get over right away is the thought that somehow you shouldn’t be taking this time. You don’t feel guilty about other important events that are scheduled into your work and life routine.  And you shouldn’t feel guilty about this either.  Because it is during this time of quiet that you are going to begin taking, that you will make a decisive victory against overload and burnout.  You will have clearer thoughts about how to work, lead and live more effectively and productively.

This quiet time is extremely important.  It is as important as any other item on your calendar.  It needs to be treated like any other important engagement you might have. You might say that being quiet will be your first line drawn in the sand.

I’m going to ask something big of you right now. I want you to block out one or two consecutive hours during the week when you can have a period of quiet.  It is going to be a very purposeful quiet.  Put that on your scheduler.  Next I want you to block a full day sometime in the next month for a personal retreat.  And thereafter I want you to block out one full day for a quarterly retreat.

Don’t worry, this time doesn’t need to cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.  Make them simple, purposeful times. You need to clear out the clutter of noise and activity and take some time to think about you. Write down or work with your coach on some penetrating questions you might want to ask yourself during that time. Then take lots of time to think through them.