We often say “That person is smart”. “Now that’s a smart move”. We essentially admire smartness. What does being smart mean. How does a ‘smart mindset’ make us more productive? Especially in communications? Smart means many things and today with the technological revolution the word has a completely different connotation. However when a human being is referred to as ‘smart’ it has very different connotations which includes ‘intelligent’, ‘clever’ etc. In management and especially in defining goals SMART is deemed to be goals which are ‘specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely’. Post pandemic with empathy being the most critical differentiator, how does one develop this mindset and stay focused. How does a smart mindset add value in business, how does it bring out your best self?
Time, the most precious resource
Wake up and smell the coffee!
We only have 24 hours in a day and business life is all about deliveries and deadlines. Consulting work needs quality time to get quality outputs. Thinking is an intense process; research which is the cornerstone of all planning needs time. Yet we need to have a work life balance, which is more critical in the ‘new world’ today, therefore sleep, de-stress activities, family time, rejuvenation all take more of a front seat now. How do you re-focus into a ‘smart mindset’?
Logical prioritisation is the key. There are things that are important but not urgent, while there are things that urgent but not important. And then there are things that you should do and there are things that others must do. Your time utilisation should be dictated by your priorities. You must reflect on your long term goals but also take into account your short term goals. Keep time for unexpected work and emergencies. Where you want to go is one thing, but how you get there is another. The most difficult element of optimum planning is change which is the only constant. You may plan well but you need to have the mindset to be able to change/reboot at short notice and think on your feet.
Change is required at the core of your psyche. Take the right things to do at the right time. Become organised; change your mind to a smart mindset!
If you take care of small things, big things will take care of themselves
They say that God is in the details. Anyone who develops a smart mindset must learn to manage our most valuable resource time efficiently but should also develop the ability in understanding and managing the small details. This does not mean micro management but having a deep understanding of the strategy and also creating a monitoring system of its execution. Many strategies fail because of poor execution. It is also important for you to deeply track desired impact versus what you have planned. Leadership or ownership is full of tasks. One small change can make a big impact. Teams are critical for achieving big tasks. While leading the team so that they are on the path is a big thing, sparing that valuable 5 minutes to chat to a team member, connect and motivate is a small thing which creates a big impact.
Evolution into a smart mindset may sound difficult but it can work wonders for you and your organisation. It’s also developing the ability to be able to juggle between important tasks and new priorities. A conscious effort in this direction will make you change and to manage time and priorities more effectively. Soon it becomes a habit and you find followers in your team who will emulate you. Work output reaches a new paradigm and you transform into a successful leader who leads by example, always has time to smile or interact with his followers with confidence and a sense of calm. Knowhow must Show how!
“You’re in charge of your mind. You can help it grow by using it in the right way” Carol Dweck
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