Think like a Janitor to Crush It at the Office: A 4-point Action Plan
Getting his critical goal done = maximum satisfaction
Today, I participated in an all-day workshop that helped attendees focus on how they can bring their best to the workplace – every single day. I really enjoy these types of workshops. While some may see workshops as fluff or unproductive activities, I choose to see them as an opportunity for growth. Great workshops reaffirm my approach to consistently performing at a high level. And this was a great one.
During the workshop, I reflected on how I make sure each day is a successful one at the office. I changed my approach over this year that has increased my productivity and effectiveness that I want to share with you in the form of a 4-point action plan:
Set your intention for day first thing in the morning
Setting my critical goal up to seize the day!
You wouldn’t construct a building without a solid foundation. The same goes for your workday. Setting an intention for your day first thing in the morning is critical to success. And you need to write it down. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that writing your goals down increase your success rate. It also just makes sense.
I think one drawback of writing goals down is that it can be taken to an extreme by having too many goals for the day. I’ve done this myself. I used to write down 6-10 medium sized goals I wanted to accomplish by day’s end. More often than not, I would end up feeling disappointed that I did not get all of them done.
Think like a Janitor
I remember during my MBA program, the former CEO of Oracle Canada came to speak to my cohort during the last few days of our spring term. He advised us MBAs to think like a janitor. What? Well, the logic is in the details. Janitors, he argues, have the best job in the world. They have to do one thing well day-in and day-out – keep their building clean. Unlike many in the business world who are inundated with emails, meetings and last minute projects, janitors can get their one goal done and clock out feeling accomplished.
Applying this principle to work has been a game changer for me. By writing down one critical goal for my day, I’ve found that this has been a much more sustainable approach. I’ve also found that I end up accomplishing more in a day compared to when I would have a mile (kilometer for those in the Commonwealth) high list of goals to tick off by end of day. Once I had completed that one critical task, it lifted a weight off my shoulders and I was more effective at tackling the other work that followed.
Ask yourself: How are you going to make an impact today?
Here I am at the workshop today, reaffirming the values that allow me to make my impact.
This is the flip side of the coin. In addition to setting your intention for the day, it’s equally important to write down how you will make an impact. For me, the impact I want to make comes from the following:
- Approach my work and colleagues with confidence
- Think outside the box when looking for solutions to complex problems
- Be open minded to different approaches and communication styles
- Be adventurous in what I choose to take on
- Act with integrity
When I keep these in mind, I find my intended impact comes naturally.
Check-in with yourself throughout the day
The great thing about lunch, apart from eating and networking, is that it gives you pause in your workday. You can take that time to review your intention for the day and how you plan to make an impact. If you find you are not on track with meeting that big, critical goal by end of day, it’s time to make some adjustments to your approach and deprioritize other tasks.
Reflect at the end of the day
At the end of the day, it’s time for a reflection. The one question you should ask yourself is:
Did you put points on the board?
This is a sports reference and is completely relevant in the business world. If you can take an inventory of your day and see you made progress towards a big project you are working on or simply towards bigger and better things, then you are putting up points and you can be proud of that!
How do you define a successful day?