Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Pomodoro Technique - Brief Introduction
1. Work 25 minutes without interruption
2. Repeat pomodoros until the whole task is completed.
Suppose you write an article, just like I am doing it now, with a timer ticking in my computer. You write for 25 minutes and only the half of the article is done. Now, you don't work on other task but keep repeating 25 minutes work until the whole article is completed. In the past, I tried doing different tasks for each 5 or 10 minutes to increase productivity and fight boredom. However, the pomodoro technique of repeating 25 minutes until one task is done seems to work much better than the old system. Maybe it is a human inclination of trying to get unfinished job done the does the trick here.
3. Five minutes' break after one pomodoro and longer break after 4 pomodoros
For every 25 minutes of work, you should have 5 minutes' break. I usually leave my desk and have a cigarette and come back for the next pomodoro. When you had 4 pomodoros in a row meaning you worked for 100 minutes, you should have longer break like 15 or 30 minutes. It is totally up to you how to use the break. During the long break, you should forget about what you did during pomodoros and do OTHER things.
4. Make a todo list for pomodoro system
At the beginning of a day or on the previous day, you should make a list of todos that you will work on based on pomodoro technique. Just list all the tasks you have on your mind. Mark tasks that you want to for one day and make notes beside each task.
The notes you need to write at the end of a task is an estimate of pomodoros necessary to get it done. For example, I write at the end of a task called "write an article for EzineArticles" a number 2. The number means I will need 50 minutes to complete the article. When you are done with the task, write down a sign X for one pomodoro you actually spent on the task. By doing this, you have an accurate record of time estimated and time actually spent on doing a task.
Pomodoro system is one of the most effective task management systems I have ever seen. Try it for yourself to see if it works for you. By the way, if you wonder why the technique is called pomodoro, the creator of the technique was an Italian and he used a kitchen timer in a shape of tomato which is called pomodoro in Italian.
From Ezine articles
Basically, this is all you need to know to use Pomodoro technique. Set a timer to 25 minutes and work on any task until the time is up. The 25 minutes work unit is also called pomodoro.
If you are interrupted by yourself such as sudden urge to do other things, just write down the thing on a paper and keep working on your original task. If other people interrupt you, ask them to call or visit you later and go back to your work. In any case, you should not stop the timer and go back to your work within 15 to 45 seconds.
What if you cannot ask other people to come back later, for example if the person interrupting is your superior? In that case, you just reset the timer. Work done until the interruption does not count as a completed unit or pomodoro. When you go back to your work, you just start a new pomodoro.
Suppose you write an article, just like I am doing it now, with a timer ticking in my computer. You write for 25 minutes and only the half of the article is done. Now, you don't work on other task but keep repeating 25 minutes work until the whole article is completed. In the past, I tried doing different tasks for each 5 or 10 minutes to increase productivity and fight boredom. However, the pomodoro technique of repeating 25 minutes until one task is done seems to work much better than the old system. Maybe it is a human inclination of trying to get unfinished job done the does the trick here.
3. Five minutes' break after one pomodoro and longer break after 4 pomodoros
For every 25 minutes of work, you should have 5 minutes' break. I usually leave my desk and have a cigarette and come back for the next pomodoro. When you had 4 pomodoros in a row meaning you worked for 100 minutes, you should have longer break like 15 or 30 minutes. It is totally up to you how to use the break. During the long break, you should forget about what you did during pomodoros and do OTHER things.
4. Make a todo list for pomodoro system
At the beginning of a day or on the previous day, you should make a list of todos that you will work on based on pomodoro technique. Just list all the tasks you have on your mind. Mark tasks that you want to for one day and make notes beside each task.
The notes you need to write at the end of a task is an estimate of pomodoros necessary to get it done. For example, I write at the end of a task called "write an article for EzineArticles" a number 2. The number means I will need 50 minutes to complete the article. When you are done with the task, write down a sign X for one pomodoro you actually spent on the task. By doing this, you have an accurate record of time estimated and time actually spent on doing a task.
Pomodoro system is one of the most effective task management systems I have ever seen. Try it for yourself to see if it works for you. By the way, if you wonder why the technique is called pomodoro, the creator of the technique was an Italian and he used a kitchen timer in a shape of tomato which is called pomodoro in Italian.
From Ezine articles
Monday, October 3, 2011
10 Leadership Qualities +1
Great Leaders are optimists first and foremost. Their tendency is to interact according to Henry Ford's observation, "whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right." Because the buck must stop somewhere and because the dynamic of authority dictates that all delegated authorities are themselves subject to authority, they understand that being a leader is far more than a title. The ten qualities listed herein are based on these assumptions and are just the beginning of developing the character of a great leader. Here's to a great beginning!
1. Great Leaders are mission inclined and ensure the survival of the vision. By making certain that the principles of that vision are daily implemented, the Great Leader indicates a firm grasp of the mission and visions of the organization and is in agreement with them, making a conscious choice to submit to and support them.
2. Great Leaders are providers, oriented to whatever the individual or team cannot supply for itself. The leader is often called to provide for needs the group is virtually unaware of. It becomes the role of the leader to first identify the need, and then to provide a means of fulfillment.
3. Great Leaders are motivated by the welfare of the team. The motive is never self-promotion, self-aggrandizement. The great leader self-checks frequently. The welfare of the team will always be in line with the greater mission, if integrity is at the base.
4. Great Leaders are always ready to provide the tools necessary for achieving the goals of the team. Individual and team achievement furthers the purpose of the organizational mission. Great Leaders must assess the needs and provide the tools, as well as the instruction necessary to attain and maintain optimum productivity.
5. Great Leaders have great integrity (wholeness, soundness) and assume the role of keeper of ethics. Leaders must articulate the ethical expectations necessary to maintain the wholeness and soundness of the team, as well as the individual members. The two are inseparable.
6. Great Leaders are consistently teachable. Information flows from the top. Zest for information and knowledge will do the same. An eager to learn leader will generate followers enthusiastic about the process as well.
7. Great Leaders are always willing to step aside rather than compromise the team. We have established that the Great Leader is motivated by the welfare of the team rather than his or her own agenda, and as a result, will step aside if necessary to insure it. The same is true of the Great Leader's dedication to team unity and productivity. The leader will never play one member against another as a tactic, realizing that unity of purpose, when grounded in the integrity of the vision, will always lead to increased productivity and progress.
8. Great Leaders do not take control, but accept surrendered control. Seized control will ultimately end in rebellion and insurrection. Conversely, cooperation always follows surrendered control, the voluntary submission to authority. (Note: sub=under, and mission=vision, i.e., a voluntary stepping under, in a supporting capacity, to the mission of the team, the reason for its continued existence.)
9. Great Leaders understand the awesome responsibility of guiding human beings. At any level - - in any organization - - for any reason - - without reservation
10. Great Leaders understand the difference between passion for excellence and passion for power. Passion for excellence is fervor and zeal for fineness and quality. Passion for power is lust and greed for control, at any cost. These two highlight the enormous variance between Authority and Power.
Plus One...
Great Leaders always lead by example. The Great Leader is always willing, at any point, to walk out in front of the group. The Great Leader is never merely an observer. All other qualities will flow naturally from this characteristic at the very heart of Great Leadership.
Karin Syren is a certified coach specializing in Effectiveness-coaching. She has over 25 years business experience and has played key roles in independent creative enterprises, non-profit and Fortune 500 companies. Karin has helped leaders at all levels to increase their effectiveness through increased awareness.
Visit her website at http://www.solushunz.com to arrange for your complementary EffectivenessCoaching consultation.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Four Communication Styles: A Key to Leadership Success
Master the Four Communication Styles: A Key to Leadership Success
By Astrid Baumgardner
Think about the last time you were at a party and had the opportunity to observe a lot of people in action:
- Who dominated the conversation and put a premium on being right and convincing others to go along with his solutions?
- How about the serious person who rather cautiously talked in precise detail?
- And how about the person who was bursting with enthusiasm and could not wait to tell you her great idea?
- Who walked into the room and began by introducing herself to others, spending time with each person to establish a connection.
These are examples of the 4 communication styles:
- Driver: the person who takes charge and wants solutions;
- Analytical: the person who values accuracy and details;
- Expressive: the idea person; and
- Amiable: the person who prioritizes relationships.
While we all have characteristics in more there one area, we each have a default style-the style we go to first. These are tendencies and should not make you feel limited in the way you communicate.
Moreover, no style is better than another. Any style can be effective depending on the circumstances. A strong team will leverage the strengths of each type so that you can work together the most effectively.
In order to be a powerful and effective communicator, it is important to understand each style and figure out how to adapt your default style to the circumstances at hand.
So let's start by understanding each style. Figure out your style as your read the following descriptions:
What are the four communication styles?
1. Driver
Hard-working and ambitious, drivers tend to be the group leaders who value getting the job done with excellent results. Drivers are apt to be decisive, competitive, hard-driving and good at delegating to others. They like to be where the action is and are likely to enjoy taking risks. Their focus is on winning, being successful and making things happen. They need options and prefer it when others are direct.
On the downside, they can be pushy, demanding, dominating, tough and exclude others from decision-making. Under stress, they become autocratic and order others around.
2. Analytical
Quick to think and slow to speak, the Analytic person values accuracy in the details and likes to be right. This is a person who plans thoroughly before deciding to act, is persistent, highly organized, cautious and logical. The Analytical prefers to work alone and has a tendency to be introverted.
The Analytical person is focused on process, tasks and doing things the right way. They prefer a rational approach, logical thinking, solid documentation and careful planning. The down side is that they have a tendency towards perfectionism and can be critical, picky and stubborn, as well as indecisive. Under stress, they are likely to avoid others.
3. Expressive
The Expressive person loves to have fun and enjoys helping others. This person is full of ideas and can't wait to share them with others. Talkative and open, he asks others for their opinions and loves to brainstorm. This is someone who is flexible and easily bored with routine. The Expressive is optimistic, intuitive, creative and spontaneous and may have a tendency to be flamboyant.
Expressives are focused on the big picture. They love ideas and concepts and thrive on bringing visions into reality. They need innovation and look to others to handle the details. On the downside, they can be overly dramatic, impulsive, a tad flaky and undisciplined.
4. Amiable
Amiable is the relationship style. Amiables focus on the feelings of other people and effective collaboration. People with this style are intuitive and care about how situations "feel". They like consensus, avoid confrontation, and tend to be timid about voicing contrary opinions. Amiable people are good listeners, friendly and sensitive and build networks of friends to help them. They are likely to be slow with big decisions and need a lot of input. They thrive on involvement, participation and inclusion.
On the downside, the Amiable person can be hesitant, unsure of himself and dependent on others. Under stress, they acquiesce or yield to the decisions of others.
How to Use Communication Styles to Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Communication
Knowing about the communication styles is helpful in two ways. First, when you know your own default style, you can spot the best opportunities to use that style and build up your strengths. You can also see where you have gaps and where you can improve by learning from the other styles.
Second, once you know about the styles, you can spot someone else's style and adapt the way you communicate in order to get that person on board with you. Eventually, you can learn how to use each style comfortably and maximize the chances that others will follow your suggestions. This is at the heart of great leadership and it is why knowing about the communication styles is a powerful element of great leadership.
Here are some suggestions on how to communicate effectively with each of the four communication styles.
Driver
When you communicate with a Driver, be sure to tell her about progress to goals, the actions to be taken and solutions to problems. Avoid chitchat and focus on the bottom-line. Be clear, concise, focused, relevant, decisive and efficient. When working with a driver, here is what you would say if you encounter a problem that may interfere with getting to successful results:
"I know you are pushing to finish this by tomorrow with great results. Based on my research and investigation, I think there might be a hitch. I have some ideas on how to solve that. Would you like to discuss this?
Analytical
The Analytical person asks for data, information and facts. Therefore, it is important to be precise, specific, thorough, prepared, accurate, rational and orderly in dealing with her. If you want to get the Analytical person's attention, you might say something like this:
"The research and data seems inconsistent with our initial concept. I have two ideas that would improve the quality and timeliness of the project. I need 15 minutes of your time. Can we meet today at 4:00?
Expressive
Expressives thrive on vision, stories and analogies and love to have fun while working on projects. Therefore, when communicating with an expressive person, be sure to focus on the big picture. Deliver your message in a way that is enthusiastic, expressive, friendly, flexible and open to possibilities. Avoid getting bogged down in too many details!
"I've got a fabulous idea to make our project fabulous and knock it out of the ball park. Do you have a minute to talk?"
Amiable
Your amiable friend or colleague cares deeply about the relationship. He is interested in information about others' skills and interests, valuing input from others and welcoming feedback. In dealing with the Amiable person, be sure to be warm, relaxed, involving, caring and inviting. This is the person to go to if there are tensions on the team, whether that is a string quartet or a work group! A way to get his attention is to say:
"I have a strong feeling that there is something bothering you about the team. Would you like to hear my thoughts on how we might help everyone out here so that we can make sure that everyone is on board?
With a better understanding of each style, see how you can master these styles and become a dynamic and powerful communicator and leader!
Astrid
astrid@astridbaumgardner.com
http://astridbaumgardner.com
Astrid Baumgardner, JD, PCC is a Certified Professional Life & Career Coach and Lawyer working with musicians, lawyers and creative professionals to help them achieve authentic success, life balance, better time management and productivity. Sign up for her free newsletter with tips on how you can achieve authentic success at http://astridbaumgardner.com.
(C) Astrid Baumgardner 2011
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Astrid_Baumgardner
http://EzineArticles.com/?Master-the-Four-Communication-Styles:-A-Key-to-Leadership-Success&id=6449990