(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)

 

You are more likely to be effective and productive when all the resources you need to accomplish a task are at- the-ready. You’ve probably noticed how unproductive it is when, halfway through a task, you discover you’ve got to stop your work and go get a missing something.

This shows up in cooking (oops, no onions), in repairs (wrong size wrench), in writing (where’s that dictionary?), in sailing (I forgot the map!), in selling (what does this potential customer really want?), or in any activity where being prepared trumps not being so.

However, some people never put anything away after they use it (“because I might need it again”) and end up with clutter which hampers accomplishing other tasks.

At-the-ready requires only a little forethought and a little preparation. By doing that you will find that things are not in the way, hampering your efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Coaching Point: Look at your desk. Is what you need at-the-ready or is there a bunch of stuff in the way?

 

Copyright 2010 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.