In thinking about 2015 goals, and reviewing all the well-wishing emails at the end of 2014, I ran across an article published in the Harvard Business Review by Sarah Green and Gretchen Gavett and this Bob Newhart skit, "Stop It." If you haven't seen it, take a look.
So, what are the top 5 things that are not serving you well, that you will stop doing in 2015? Let me know. I'm compiling a list and will publish my findings later in the year.
In the article, Green and Gavett wrote Things to Stop Doing in 2015. Here's what they recommend:
- Stop multitasking (it can be done).
- Stop procrastinating, saving work for tomorrow, and waiting to be inspired to work.
- Stop working at an unsustainable pace. It makes leading more difficult, and to do things better, you have to stop doing so much.
- If that’s not possible, at least stop complaining about how busy you are. Everyone will thank you.
- Stop feeling like you have to be authentic all the time. It could be holding you back.
- Stop holding yourself back in these five other ways, too.
- Stop being so positive — research shows it’s not all that helpful for achieving your goals.
- Stop overdoing your strengths (lest they become weaknesses).
- When it comes to evaluating others, stop mistaking confidence for competence.
- Stop giving negative feedback as a "sandwich."
- Stop overlooking the women in your organization. And stop relying on diversity training programs to fix the problem. They can’t solve it.
- Speaking of things that don’t work: Stop ideating and brainstorming.
- Stop trying to delight your customers all the time.
- Stop searching for a silver bullet to your strategy dilemmas.
- That said, stop using so many battle metaphors when you talk about strategy.
- And please, stop using terrible PowerPoints and these equally terrible words in your business communications.
- Stop sitting so much. Seriously.
- Stop getting defensive. (Not that we’re accusing you.)
- And if you can’t stop doing any of these things… stop believing that you have to be perfect.
If you are interested in kick-starting your leadership skills and creating a culture of accountability in 2015, take a look at FACITATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. We have sessions starting January 21st.