Do you ever wonder, “How can I be more efficient?” “How can I make more profit here?” or “How can I impress my boss?” You need to be efficient and sharpen the saw. Check out my 3 tips on How.
“…..SHARPENING THE AXE/SAW”
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” –Abraham Lincoln. Whether it is an axe or a saw it means the same.
I was using my little chain saw the other day. After I finished the job, my son yelled from the upstairs office window. “That saw is quite dull isn’t it?Take it to the shop and I’ll get someone to sharpen it for you.” Two days later using a sharpened saw I was amazed at the improved performance. To be efficient we need to sharpen the saw before we start a project.
I was reminded of how we set out to do a project wanting to be efficient and do a good job, only to discover that if we had prepared better, the job would have gone better. If I had taken time to sharpen the saw I would have completed the job much quicker and easier.
WANT TO BE EFFICIENT? ORGANIZE!
I enjoy cooking and baking! However I hate looking for the recipes I want! My old index recipe box broke. So I stuffed all cards into a bigger box to organize later. The later became three years! I asked my Mom at Christmas time if she would be willing to take on the job. In three days I had a beautifully organized file of my favourite recipes that I wanted to keep and use. I now can easily, in a short period of time, find what I want, when I want! It took three days of organizing but now it takes about ten seconds to find the recipe I want. I just had to be efficient and sharpen the saw! (Notice my excellent delegating skills)
AFFIRMING THE TEAM IS SHARPENING THE SAW
As a boss have you ever considered sharpening your ‘team saw’ by affirming? I am talking about more than…”Well done Esther.” Rather, “Esther, I have noticed on the last 2 company projects that you always looked for another way through when the team encountered a challenge. I like that in my employees.” Affirmation increases productivity. Furthermore, when a leader or boss affirms individuals, production increases dramatically. Especially in these challenging times, affirmation is needed. A phone call affirming an employee accomplishes a lot. Affirmation also energizes; therefore it increases the desire for efficiency and sharpens the saw for the project.
HIRING A PERSONAL LIFE COACH IS SHARPENING THE SAW
“Do I really need to take the time to do that?” “Take coaching? I can do this on my own” . “I don’t need to take time to assess this do I? I just want to get on with it!” “Should I invest the money?” These are all excuses from stopping us from ‘sharpening the saw’. I know because I have used them as well. However, when I really want efficiency and productivity, whenever I want to sharpen the saw, I am never disappointed in what a good non-directive coaching session can do.
-Karen Moilliet April 28, 2020
Very thought provoking .
Thanks Nancy