Why We Still Need Books

There are lots of reasons to read things online.  It's a fast way to consume information.  With smartphones in almost everyone's hand, reading has never been easier.  We have:

• Google Plus posts
• Articles on news sites
• Blog posts
• Facebook posts

And so it goes.  Many people will also advocate for reading online since "online" is now increasingly mobile.  I can read the New York Times on my iPhone while on the train.   

• And while I'm waiting in the line at the grocery store...
• And in the five minutes before my next meeting starts... 
• And while my kids are finishing up their volleyball practice... 

This is all good.  Or, is it?  Having long been a digital learner, I've advocated for as much reading as possible but recently I had an experience which caused me to shift slightly.  The fact is, if I'm honest, I really haven't been reading contemplatively at all.

Let me explain. 

Confession here: I hadn't read a full book in about six months.  Don't get me wrong- I've been reading like crazy since I'm a doctoral student.  Articles, snippets, textbooks, etc.  Lots of reading. Research.  Writing.  More research.  

But not full books and certainly not for pleasure. 

And then something changed.  Somehow I heard about Brad Lomenick's The Catalyst Leader.   The book is really good- down to earth advice from a man who is humbly leading an organization that impacts lives.  What was more surprising was that I really had to discipline myself to read each day.  

You may now be thinking- what's the big deal?  The guy read a book, ok... but be honest with yourself and look in the mirror.  How many full length books have you read in the past two months?  

Turns out, some 75% of Americans have read a book in the past twelve months.  That's good. I just wasn't one of them.  Here are some benefits of complimenting your online reading with full length book reading:

1. Daily book reading slows you down.
2. Book reading imprints a book's idea more firmly in your head than a blog post or tweet.
3. Full length books make you more contemplative.

If you aren't yet a full length book reader, here are my suggestions:

• Choose a reading time.  This is probably best done early in the morning or right before bed.
• Go for a little each day.  Like a diet, some is better than none and it makes sense to chip away a little at a time.
• Reflect on what you're reading.  This could be in a journal or via your blog.

We still need books.  They teach us amazing things, connect us to amazing authors and just might help us become amazing people.   

5 Counterintuitive Ways to Stand Out at Work

A young man approached me about 9 months ago and wanted some career advice. His first job out of college was surprisingly hard and the people he worked with were surprisingly ... um, imperfect.

He was surprised that work wasn't easy.

So it goes for many young people entering the workforce today.  A 2010 American Management Association survey found that 42% of new workers lacked the basic skills needed to excel in today's workplace: critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.  Sometimes, these are called the "4 C's" of the new workworld. 

As I manage both new and seasoned workers every day, I find that there are actually some counterintuitive ways that a person can stand out and really be recognized in the right way.   

Here they are:

1. They volunteer for difficult tasks.   Yes, they actually don't mind doing something difficult for the sake of the organization.  No tough task is permanent and great workers realize this.  

2. They admit when they make a mistake.   We all make mistakes.  I had to call my boss recently because I had miscommunicated on something, big time.  The only thing to do was admit it, fall on my sword and move on.  I actually see it as a sign of pride when someone never makes a mistake- no one is that good.

3. They take feedback and don't get defensive.   There's nothing worse, nothing, than an employee who gets defensive and combative when you try to provide feedback.  Why?  Because defensiveness reveals a lack of self awareness and that leads to someone losing thier job.

4. Their email inbox gets emptied regularly.  You'd be surprised how few people actually get to zero on a regular basis.  (see what the experts say about email here)

5. They work extra hours without complaint.   Bosses don't want to hesitate when something difficult (a project, event, etc.) requires more time than usual.  The team member who doesn't mind putting in a little extra time is a gift to any boss.  

You'll note that I didn't mention anything about passion and nothing about amazingly great ideas.  Nothing about having the latest gadget to make you more productive.  Those are important too but these five steps represent a foundation.  Like your house, a foundation isn't that sexy but without it, you're in trouble.  

 These are just five steps and there are probably many more.  Which counterintuitive things would you add to the list for workplace success?

Photo courtesy of fdp

My Interview on Productive Magazine

It's no secret that I love Nozbe as a todo list and project manager.  When Michael Sliwinski invited me to be on the cover of their back-to-school edition of Productive Magazine (sponsored by Nozbe), I was humbled and thrilled.  

In the interview, we discuss school, productivity and how educators can help students be more effective in their daily studies.  Enjoy!

The Seven Signs of a Productive Person

If you've ever interviewed someone for a job, you probably found yourself wondering if the candidate is genuinely productive.  You might even ask yourself:

• Does she clear out her email regularly?
• Does he maintain a neat workspace?
• Do coworkers rely on her to "get the job done"?

I recently interviewed a number of highly qualified applicants and then checked references.  In each call, I wanted to get a sense of two critical factors:  fit and competency.  In other words, would they mesh with the cultural atmosphere of our workplace?  And, just as importantly, can they get the job done?  While I always factor in like-ability (are they likable?), it always seems to come back to both fit and competency.  

In my work at school, character and values play an important role as well.  These additional qualities will vary depending on your industry, etc.

In all of the interviews (and after years of hiring quality folks), I've found the following as signs of productive people:

1. They write things down.  In meetings.  During the day.  You get the point.
2. They come prepared.  They are rarely late and have the tools they need.
3. They do what they say.  You never have to wonder if they will do what they said they would.
4. They follow up after meetings.  You get their personal notes and emails as tokens of their follow up.  (I wrote about the value of personal notes here.)
5. They maintain a neat workspace.  Not perfectly neat but tidy and professional.  
6. They prepare better than the next guy.  They want to be ready for the workday and for the events that matter most.  They take five minutes to get ready, etc.
7. They maintain an achiever mindset.  They enjoy accomplishing things- big and small.  

While these are just seven signs that I can think of, there are probably more.  Note that I didn't list any ephemeral qualities like passion, humility, character or even vision. Each of these is definitely important but the seven habits (or signs) are all doable and can be practiced by anyone and everyone.  None is dependent on an IQ of 130 or higher.  Not one requires a lot of money.  No new iPhone model is necessary for any of the signs listed.  (that's a relief since my contract isn't up!)

Look around you at work, in your church, and in your neighborhood.  Who is the productive one who is always on the move and getting things done?  Chances are, they are probably practicing more than a few of the signs mentioned above.

Question: which of the seven signs do you practice regularly?  Which can you improve on?

Photo courtesy of fdp.

How to Write Emails that Get Opened

You've done it.  Me too.  You send an email and put a lot of thought into its content and then you wait.

And wait. 

And wait... until the person on the other end responds.  

The longer you wait, the more you get frustrated.  The more you get frustrated, the weaker your relationship with the person on the other end.   

Email, once a way for people to draw closer together, has become a ubiquitous mode of communication. Everyone with a smartphone gets their email on the go and everyone I know has at least two email addresses.

We did a survey a few years ago at work which confirmed what we had thought- everyone is checking email but few are using it productively. 

The Problem with Email 

How many emails are in your inbox right now?  If it's more than one screen worth, there may be a problem.  My garage is like that- there is too much stuff in it and as a result, I not only don't want to go in there but I've forgotten what's in the back corners.  I'm not stewarding it very well which is my bad.

• Once email populates in your inbox beyond what you can handle, it's like that messy garage and you'll probably avoid it.  
• Additionally, too much email conditions us to think that a messy inbox (like a messy garage) is the norm.  It doesn't have to be. 
• Finally, email can be a problem when people check it sporadically.  Imagine if you called someone on the phone and they only picked it up every other day?  Or only once a week?  That's how many people tackle email. 

How to Write Emails that Get Opened 

So how do you write emails that get opened?  I learned a key lesson in this from one of our basketball coaches.  As someone who runs a successful business when he's not coaching, he gets flooded with hundreds of emails per day.  This guy knows how to cut through the crowd and get an email read!   

His ninja trick is this: in the header line, he will write "Conference call this week / IMPORTANT".  The use of IMPORTANT really makes a difference in the subject line without being annoying.  I always open the email and I've started doing it myself.  Not for every email but for the ones that are super important and must get read.  

One way not to get an email opened is to require a "read receipt".  I find these very annoying and don't recommend them.   

Want an additional trick for getting an email opened?  Be brief and stick to just one topic.  Like a neighbor who lives in the house next door, if she talks for half an hour every time you see her, you might start to avoid her altogether. People will start to do this with your email if you are long-winded or cover multiple topics in each email.  

Email is here to stay.  It's imperfect, to be sure, but with the tricks outlined above, you'll be more likely to get certain emails opened and get your most important work done.  

What tips do you have for getting more emails opened?

Photo courtesy of FDP

Interview with Erik Fisher, Time Management Expert

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Erik Fisher of the Beyond the To Do List.  Erik has been one of the most successful interviewers of the most productive people in the world.  When you can get David Allen to be on your show, you're sort of a big deal and Erik is definitely that.   He's also a super nice guy.

Erik is the Community Manager for Social Media Examiner and his first book, Ready, Aim, Fire!  A Practical Guide to Setting and Achieving Your Goals is ready for a sequel (hint: due on Amazon very soon!).

You can follow Erik on Twitter via @erikjfisher.

About the Cast

Interviewing Erik was more than a little bit intimidating primarily because he is actually a "professional podcaster".  Nancy and I held our own though as Erik shared his perspectives on the most productive people in the world. Finally, Erik had some terrific advice for schools as they seek to produce more productive students.  

Enjoy the cast!