EPISODE 31 (50) CLUTTER KILLER - make sure your mess and disorder don't do your down

In this podcast, Andrew describes being a “Silent Sentinel".

A female project manager, Jean, expresses frustration to her supervisor about being interrupted during team meetings and cannot keep people’s attention when she speaks. 

The supervisor suggests that Jean attend an internal one-day learning event called “Persona Impact” to learn about the power of silence. Jean attends the event and discovers that silence can be a powerful way to gain attention and convey disapproval of certain behaviours.

Silence can also effectively indicate that you are fully present, taking notes and paying attention to what is being said. 

Using your voice to speak out against injustice or abuse is also appropriate, but it’s essential to recognise that staying silent is also a choice. If speaking up will cause more harm than staying silent, then remaining silent is the better option.

Also, consider the risks of staying silent when discussing something tricky. Overall, silence can be an effective way to communicate, but it’s important to recognise when to use it and when to speak up. 

Lastly,  be aware of how to use silence in the workplace by experimenting with using silence in painless and thoughtful ways to gain attention.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Abdul, a new employee, receives advice to keep a daily to-do list to manage his tasks. As he starts compiling his list, it grows larger and larger, becoming overwhelming. 

A colleague suggests that rather than listing everything he needs to do, Abdul should focus on what is most important to get done today and how much time he should spend on it. 

To stop being overwhelmed, Abdul should resist the temptation to demand that his list tracks everything he should be doing and instead prune it to within an inch of its life. 

He should prioritise his list by asking if the task needs to be done today, by him, or at all. Keeping a modest, well-kept list can make life at work more manageable.

There are different ways to keep a to-do list, such as computer-driven ones or scribbles on a whiteboard. However, your list will inevitably keep growing.  So it's vital to focus on what's most important. 

Break big projects into smaller tasks but without necessarily always adding these to your daily list. Make sure you prioritise your lists and keep refining them so you can plan. 

If your to-do list is at more than five or six items for the day, you should rethink it. To avoid failure, your list should not be stuffed with goals, minor tasks, and many jobs that need doing. 

Instead, you can just list what you will do next and when there are unfinished ones at the end of the day, think hard about whether to add them to tomorrow's list.

Finally, ask yourself if you spent the intended amount of time on each task, if you got distracted and why?

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

In this podcast Andrew discusses the importance of tackling trivial tasks at work. 

The story follows Edd, who is frustrated when his college education is not being used, and he is given trivial work to do. However, Edd learns that even small, seemingly unimportant tasks can be valuable and help develop skills such as attention to detail. 

Trivial work may be unavoidable, but it can provide an opportunity to shine, as Edd discovered.  The episode also answers three frequently asked questions about dealing with trivial work, including how to ask for help, how to make the work less tedious, and whether to stay in a job that mainly involves trivial tasks.

Andrew suggests that accepting trivial work is essential because many mundane but critical tasks are necessary for individuals and organisations. 

Rather than trying to avoid or make these tasks less tedious, try to improve at doing them to build a reputation for out-of-the-box thinking and persistence.

It is important to remember that even small tasks can be valuable and that avoiding trivial work may lead to being labelled as unwilling to do tedious work.

If you face a lengthy, trivial task, consider sharing the workload with others. Options include hiring part-timers, temporarily borrowing colleagues from other departments, or suggesting automation. 

When it comes to making boring tasks less tedious, try pairing them with another activity that demands more attention, Such as listening to music while working out can be helpful. 

Finally, Andrew suggests that people should be aware of the value of trivial work in developing attention to detail. It may be simple and easy to tackle, but it requires a high level of detail orientation. 

You can learn to be more detailed-orientated yet still hold the bigger picture. 

Finally, Andrew argues that while trivial work may be frustrating, it can provide opportunities for you to grow and develop skills.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew talks about the issue of lateness at work, highlighting its negative impact on career prospects and the resentment it can breed among colleagues.

He says if you are running late, to let colleagues know immediately.  Apologise, tell the truth, offer solutions, and thank their boss for understanding.

To avoid lateness, Andrew recommends adopting a better approach to time management, writing down a list of those affected by your lateness and how, and adopting new strategies to counter the lateness tendency. 

Andrew suggests laying out clothes and shoes ready for the next day before bed and seeking help from a partner or a friend who can prompt you to leave for work on time.

Andrew stresses that lateness is a form of abuse that can harm how others regard you and hurt your career prospects. It is disrespectful and tells others your time is more valuable than theirs. Arriving too early every day can also create a sense of resentment among colleagues.

In conclusion, Andrew urges people to recognise the importance of arriving on time and impacting their career prospects, colleagues, and overall work environment. Being on time shows respect builds trust, and enhances productivity.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Clutter is a common problem for many people, but as Andrew explains, it is not always bad. 

Some of history's most brilliant minds, such as Francis Bacon, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, have thrived in disorder. 

However, clutter can also adversely affect mental health and productivity, especially in the workplace. To address this, it's essential to understand why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively.

According to studies, clutter can significantly affect our cognition, thinking, emotions, behaviour, decision-making, and relationships. 

People tend to keep clutter for various reasons, such as feeling overwhelmed or keeping things as reminders. However, clutter can harm our chances of success at work and reduce overall life satisfaction, especially among older adults. To tackle clutter, it's essential to create a simple plan and avoid leaving it all to chance.

One helpful framework for decluttering is Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain.

First, break your total time into manageable blocks and dedicate a specific time each day to decluttering. Take it slowly and set a goal for each session.

Next, reduce your material by making three piles of things: keep, reconsider, and chuck. Be honest with yourself and ask if you genuinely need the things you're keeping. 

Finally, Andrew says to organise what you've kept and maintain it regularly. Finding a system that works for you and avoids clutter in the future is essential.

In summary, he reminds you that clutter is not always bad but can adversely affect mental health and productivity.

Understanding why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively can create a more organised and fulfilling life.

Using the Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain framework can help you to create a simple plan for decluttering and avoiding the harmful effects of clutter in the workplace and at home.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

In this episode, Andrew discusses the importance of culture in the workplace and how employees can incorporate values into their approach. 

Kellogg's is an example of a company that relies on six core values to drive its culture, including integrity, accountability, passion, humility, simplicity, and results. The company aligns everyone around its vision by reinforcing behaviours and success through a global recognition platform. 

As an individual employee, understanding the organisation's core values and practising them can increase your chances of success at work.

To understand the culture at your workplace, you can ask questions such as "What are our strengths and weaknesses?", "How do we prioritise things around here?" and "What is our duty towards our customers or clients?" 

You can take pride in your organisation through giving back to the community, optimism, quality products and services, decision-making authority, employee development, cost control, and a sense of accomplishment, benefits, and transparency. 

An organisation's response to failure can reveal much about its culture. A culture intolerant of failure and managing through fear will not encourage risk-taking, 

A better response to failure is to use it as a learning experience. When an organisation promotes a culture that embraces risk-taking and uses failures to improve, employees can take risks and learn from their failures 

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew shares insights about the importance of sharing information in the workplace. 

In a story of two teams working for the same company, Andrew explains how hoarding information negatively impacted their performance. A new manager commissions research and presents data to both teams. 

He introduces a solution to the inter-team rivalry problem, which involves regular rotation of team members. As a result, both teams start to work together and share knowledge, leading to exceeding their sales quota.

Andrew answers some of the most common questions about sharing information in the workplace. Before sharing information, he suggests asking, "Is this helpful and motivating for the team? Also, "Do we have the authority to share it, and could doing so potentially breach any regulations?" 

Andrew explains the benefits of sharing knowledge in the workplace, such as encouraging fresh thinking, creating a learning culture, and providing a better customer experience.

Andrew acknowledges the risk of losing one's job or career prospects from irresponsible information sharing. 

He recommends checking the organisation's information-sharing expectations to protect its reputation. However, responsible sharing has personal benefits such as gaining respect from colleagues, becoming more visible, and supporting better decision-making. 

Andrew encourages rejecting the approach of "my knowledge is power, and so I must hold on to it" and instead encourages being generous with information.

Andrew emphasizes that sharing knowledge is power, and work is all about collaboration. Regular rotation of team members and information sharing helps retain collective knowledge and improve performance. 

Responsible sharing of information has personal benefits and supports better decision-making.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew explains the power of using “Yes, And” in communication to build on ideas and to promote active listening. 

The story illustrates how the team leader uses “Yes, And” to generate more ideas during the meeting. 

Saying “Yes, And” is not simply agreeing with others but accepting and expanding their ideas. 

Andrew highlights that saying “Yes” instead of “No” creates an environment for positive thinking and progress. The “Yes, And” attitude allows people to find common ground, accept and expand on ideas, and offer new thoughts that support the idea.

 Andrew suggests using “Yes, And” at work to promote innovation and inspire people. It could make a big difference and can be a recipe for personal success.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

We hear Gerald S complain about work. He thinks deadlines are unfair and that Nolan, the team leader, has it out for him.  His colleague asks questions and tries to understand but suggests that it might be time for Gerald to find a new job if he hates it so much.

Whiners like Gerald can be harmful to the workplace. They have a negative focus and are always looking for sympathy. 

Taking responsibility for your needs and wants is essential to avoid sounding like a victim. Focus on positive thoughts, help others, and avoid blaming others for your problems. 

If you need to talk to a whiny co-worker, use "I-statements." For example, "I feel like I can't help with that right now" or "I wish I had more time to talk, but I have a deadline." 

If that doesn't work, could you talk to your boss about the problem as an organisational issue, not a personal complaint? 

Remember not to get trapped in a whiner mentality yourself. Stay positive and avoid making everything seem like a disaster. Instead, focus on solutions and things that are going well.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew discusses two stories in this episode, highlighting the consequences of covering up mistakes and how to handle mistakes at work. 

The first story recounts the Ford Pinto case where the company launched the Pinto car despite knowing it had a design flaw, and how settling burn victim lawsuits would save the company more than remedying the fault. 

The second story features Sheila Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com, who fired an employee, regretted it immediately, and later rehired the person. Marcelo learned that wrong decisions could be reversed, apologising does not indicate weakness, and taking responsibility for mistakes is essential.

Andrew advises handling mistakes at work, including the need to admit mistakes, accept the consequences, and avoid making excuses or inventing stories to explain the mistake. 

He emphasises that apologising is essential and can save one's job, showing maturity and professionalism. 

Andrew suggests spending time repairing relationships and identifying specific learning from the mistake. It's also essential to avoid blaming others and owning up to the error to demonstrate confidence and take cues from your behaviour.

Andrew also shares advice on forgiving oneself after making mistakes. 

He suggests being honest about what happened, apologising to those affected, and asking for forgiveness.

Excessive guilt can be counterproductive, and moving on from the mistake and identifying specific lessons learned is essential. 

Finally, he notes that it's easier to come clean and take responsibility for mistakes than to cover them up, and hiding mistakes can have severe consequences.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY