Breaking the cycle – Shedding unwanted routines for a better tomorrow 

Hello Igniters!

Welcome back to Insight Igniter, your source of thought-provoking questions designed to fuel your personal and professional growth. This issue you may find a little different in format as I am experimenting with new ways of creating compelling and meaningful content for you, my readers.

I have started to observe a trend in the business landscape where leaders are increasingly doing work below their title. For example, a director is assigning daily operational work rather than driving strategic planning and growth initiatives. This behaviour can have a negative impact on organizational dynamics such as creating confusion in chain of command, calling into question decision making authority, decreasing morale as front-line leaders feel micromanaged and strategic stagnation due to missed opportunities to grow and develop the business. 

For issue 12, I offer a those who find themselves in this position a powerful question and coaching approach that can help you break free from unproductive routines and propel you towards personal and professional fulfillment:

Insight Igniter Coaching Question for July 15, 2024:

What are you doing today that you don’t want to be doing 6 months from now?

I believe this question is important as it pushes you to examine your current activities and habits, identify those that no longer serve you, and align to your title or ideal state of being. Here’s how you can use this question to spark meaningful insights:

1. Self-Reflection: Self-Reflection is the gateway to refocusing on what truly matters. Take a moment to list out the tasks, routines, and habits you engage in daily. Which ones drain your energy? Which ones do you find yourself dreading? Identifying these activities is the first step towards change.

2. Evaluate Impact:  Consider the impact these unwanted activities have on your overall well-being and productivity. How are these things hindering your progress towards your goals? Are they affecting your mental or physical health? What is it costing you from your growth as a leader?

3. Plan for Success: Once you've identified what you don’t want to be doing, it's time to set clear goals and establish a plan to phase out these activities. Be precise, be clear. What steps can you take today to start minimizing or eliminating these unwanted tasks? When can you expect to realize these goals?  What needs to happen to leap into this new way of leading? How will you measure success?

4. Execute: I’m sure we have all heard the phrase “No plan survives first contact”. Implement your plan and adjust as needed to stay on track. Be gentle with yourself if things don’t go perfectly – manage by exception and celebrate your wins.   

 Clarity of purpose and vision are essential for professional growth and realizing business success. This question encourages you to clarify what you don’t want, which in turn helps you define what you do want. By taking deliberate steps to remove unwanted activities, you create space for actions that align with your role, values and long-term goals, charting a course towards a more intentional, fulfilling life.  

Remember, change begins with awareness and a single step.

Stay ignited!

Best,

Stef