Week 18 of the 99 Skills of the 21st Century Marketplace is Here! This week we focus on three critical Executive Functioning Skills: Scheduling, Task Initiation, and Perseverance. These are essential for navigating complex tasks, making effective decisions, and adapting to new situations. Let us delve into strategies, techniques, and exercises aimed at developing and enhancing these executive functioning skills. By honing your abilities in Scheduling, Task Initiation, and Perseverance, you can engage in higher-level cognitive processes that facilitate goal-directed behaviour, self-regulation, and efficient task management. Ultimately, they can significantly improve productivity, performance, and overall success across various domains, including work, education, and personal pursuits. Join us as we explore these vital executive functioning skills and share your thoughts on the 99 Skills because the 100th is You!
52. Scheduling
A Quote:
"A plan is what; a schedule is when. It takes both a plan and a schedule to get things done." ~ Peter Turla
A Definition: Scheduling is the art of planning your activities so that you can achieve your goals and priorities in the time you have available. When it's done effectively, it helps you: Understand what you can realistically achieve with your time. Make sure you have enough time for essential tasks.
An Example:
Devan is a project manager at Jewel Corporation, responsible for overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. His role requires effective planning, organization, and timely execution to ensure project success and meet client expectations. Devan was struggling to keep up with the demands of his projects. He often found himself overwhelmed, missing deadlines, and experiencing a lack of work-life balance. He realized that he needed to develop strong scheduling skills to effectively manage his workload and increase his productivity.
To overcome this challenge, he focused on developing strong scheduling skills. He implemented strategies such as prioritisation, time blocking, breaks, and buffer time, as well as utilising digital tools for scheduling and reminders. The results of using these strategies helped him to increase productivity, improve time management, better work-life balance, and enhance client satisfaction.
This example of Devan demonstrates how developing scheduling skills can significantly impact job performance and overall well-being. By implementing effective scheduling strategies productivity, time management, work-life balance, and client satisfaction can be improved. Scheduling skills are invaluable for professionals in managing complex workloads, meeting deadlines, and achieving success in their jobs.
A Checklist:
Prioritise tasks based on importance and urgency.
Allocate specific time blocks for different activities.
Incorporate breaks and buffer time into your schedule.
Utilise digital tools for scheduling and reminders.
Communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
Regularly review and adjust your schedule as needed.
Avoid overcommitting and learn to say "no" when necessary.
Focus on one task at a time and avoid multitasking.
Continually learn and seek feedback to enhance your skills.
Reflect on your experiences and make improvements accordingly.
53. Task Initiation
A Quote:
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain
A Definition: Task initiation refers to the act of starting or beginning a task or activity. It involves taking the necessary steps to commence work on a particular assignment, project, or goal. Task initiation encompasses various actions such as planning, organising resources, setting goals, and initiating the first steps or actions required to initiate and kickstart the task. It involves overcoming any initial barriers, resistance, or inertia to get started and move forward with the intended activity.
An Example:
Emily is a product development engineer at Technology Solutions Initiative, responsible for developing innovative software solutions. Her role involves initiating and managing various tasks throughout the product development lifecycle. However, she faced challenges in effectively initiating tasks, which resulted in delays, missed opportunities, and decreased productivity.
To overcome this challenge, she implemented strategies including clear goal setting, task breakdown, prioritisation, time blocking, and accountability. As a result, Emily experienced increased productivity, improved focus, timely project milestones, and enhanced collaboration within her team. Effective task initiation allowed her to start tasks promptly, manage her time effectively, and achieve successful project outcomes.
This example of Emily illustrates the importance of effective task initiation in achieving productivity and meeting project deadlines. By implementing strategies such as clear goal setting, task breakdown, prioritisation, time blocking, and accountability, we can also improve our task initiation skills just like her. It also results in increased productivity, improved focus, timely milestones, and enhanced collaboration within the team. Task initiation is a crucial skill that enables individuals to overcome barriers, start projects with confidence, and set the stage for successful task completion and project outcomes.
A Checklist:
Set clear goals and objectives.
Break down tasks into smaller subtasks.
Prioritise tasks based on importance and deadlines.
Allocate dedicated time blocks for task initiation.
Create accountability by setting deadlines and involving others.
Identify and gather necessary resources and dependencies.
Communicate task initiation to stakeholders.
Overcome barriers or obstacles proactively.
Regularly review and adjust your approach.
Build momentum and stay motivated throughout the process.
54. Perseverance
A Quote:
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." - Walter Elliot
A Definition: Perseverance is the steadfast persistence and determination to continue working towards a goal or overcoming challenges, despite facing difficulties, setbacks, or obstacles along the way. It involves maintaining a strong and unwavering commitment to achieving desired outcomes, often requiring endurance, resilience, and a positive mindset. Perseverance acknowledges that progress and success may not come easily or quickly, but through consistent effort, resilience, and an unwavering belief in one's abilities, obstacles can be overcome and goals can be achieved.
An Example:
Michael is a determined entrepreneur who founded a tech startup called Innovate Tech. His goal was to create groundbreaking software solutions that would revolutionise the industry. When Michael started Innovate Tech, he encountered difficulties in securing funding to support his ambitious vision. Investors were skeptical about the market potential and the competitive landscape. Additionally, technical development faced unexpected setbacks, testing Michael's determination to forge ahead.
Despite challenges, his perseverance led to positive outcomes. He maintained unwavering belief in his vision, adapted to market demands, remained resilient in the face of setbacks, pursued continuous learning, and built a strong support system. As a result, he secured funding, achieved technical breakthroughs, gained market recognition, and experienced significant business growth. Michael's story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to persevere and achieve success.
Michael exemplifies the power of perseverance. Through unwavering belief, adaptability, resilience, continuous learning, and a strong support system, various challenges can be overcome easily. This example tells us how determination and perseverance were instrumental in building a successful startup or for achieving a goal, proving that tenacity and a never-give-up attitude can turn an individual’s dreams into reality.
A Checklist:
Unwavering Belief: Maintain faith in your vision and goals.
Adaptability: Embrace change and adjust strategies when needed.
Resilience: Develop a mindset to bounce back from setbacks.
Continuous Learning: Seek knowledge and growth opportunities.
Support System: Surround yourself with mentors and like-minded individuals.
Goal-oriented Persistence: Break goals into actionable steps and stay disciplined.
Positive Mindset: Focus on solutions and practice self-care.
Gratitude and Celebration: Appreciate progress and celebrate achievements.
Come & Collaborate
Thank you for joining us on this journey through 99 skills at the 21st-century workplace. We believe that the key to success is continuous learning, so we encourage you to keep seeking out new knowledge and skills.
To help you on your path, we are offering a special #DISCovery Session for our readers. This one-on-one coaching session will help you identify your strengths, set career goals, and progress to a personalized plan for success. To book your session, go to a https://go.johnsonodakkal.com/DISCover and use the code "99SKILLS" for a special discount.