Become a Specialist

by Monty J. Sharp, Certified Comprehensive Coach http://www.workteamcoaching.com

Many clients come to me wanting to learn how to manage their time more effectively. The vast "mountain" of tasks they are trying to accomplish each day is overwhelming. Some are angry. Some are extremely stressed. Some are simply incapacitated by the daunting challenge. All of them ask the same question:

"How can I manage all of this?"

I would like to suggest a different perspective. Instead of trying to think of "how" to manage it, try thinking first of "what" it is you're trying to manage. Move from being a generalist to becoming a specialist.

The first step is to take inventory of what you are trying to accomplish each day. Start by asking yourself these questions:

--What do I really want to do? We often think, "If I don't do this, it won't get done." That motivation comes from a sense of obligation rather than desire. This can (and often does) lead to feelings of resentment. Learn to say "no" to things you don't really want to do. Specialists have a real passion for what they do.

--What am I expecting of myself? You get only 24 hours each day like everyone else. Give yourself a break! Look at what you're try to fit in to each day. Is it reasonable? Specialists have a keen sense of what they can accomplish and the time it takes to accomplish it. They don't "overbook" their schedule.

--What do I do best? If you can't cook very well, stop trying to be the chef. You'll just get "burned" and no one will like what you "cook" anyway. Specialists are talented in a narrow field. By limiting yourself to doing what you do really well, you get even better at it.

--What will I delegate? Managers are often guilty of having their "fingers" in everything. This only drains time and energy away from those tasks that only you can do. If you can't trust others to accomplish things, you've got other issues to deal with. Specialists are very good at what they do because it's all they do. Brain surgeons don't treat in-grown toenails.

The next step is to do it. Answering the above questions will help you define your specialty area. Start small by eliminating a few tasks that don't fit into your specialty area. Once you begin, you'll find it easier to continue to narrow your focus by automatically screening out those tasks that don't fit. You must be willing to give up the idea of being "all things to all people." It's much better to be proficient at a few things than to be mediocre at many.

The final step is to stick with it. You must remind others (and yourself) daily what your specialty is. This will help keep you accountable to maintain your focus. I requested of one of my clients, the CEO of a large Marketing / PR firm, that she place a sign on her desk that read, "Neurovascular Marketing Specialist". This obviously generated lots of questions from her staff, which, in turn, gave her the opportunity to educate them on what her specialty area was, and more importantly, was not. Effective and fun.

By learning to become a specialist, you'll be able to lessen the sheer number of tasks to be accomplished each day and turn that "mountain" into a "molehill".

Copyright (c) 2002, Monty J. Sharp ==========
Vision to Venture, LLC is an executive coaching company dedicated to providing an interpersonal approach to high performance Executives, managers and work teams. Our highly effective and balanced approach to leadership development, teambuilding and action learning get both business related as well as human results. Visit us at http://www.workteamcoaching.com
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