The Art of being Focused

“You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” he said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”      – Obama 


Lesson learnt. Turns out we can all learn a lesson or two trying to find ways to focus more and get things done.

Everyone has their own way of being focused  however we can always learn and try out ways that others follow. Getting laser sharp focus is attainable .

You can choose to train your brain, to get more focused or continue with your life. Another way to focus, is to ensure your work area or environment.

To increase your focus remembers to:
•Prioritize- This will allow you to focus on the work that needs to get done first. You can also use the Pomodoro technique to get it done.
•Get it done- Focus on what need to get done and get on with it . Get off the internet, emails, phone calls and chit-chat and get working.
•Keep your goal handy- Don’t get complacent while working on the list, keep a written list of your goal in a visible area and browse through it often. Are you among the 84% that don’t have goals? Figure out a way to be among the 3% 
•Take pride in your work- Be responsible, take ownership and be proud of what goes out with your signature in it. And you will focus automatically.
•Be available for criticism- Being present for a positive or otherwise feedback will help you focus more on areas that need improvement. It can definitely turn you into a more focused professional and deal with your shortcomings better.

Focus is the ultimate art to reach your goals.

(Pic Courtesy: Google Images)

To read more about project management and know how to get into the domain, read my book Stepping into Project Management (Welcome to the #PMOT World). 

 To connect with experienced Project Manager's from all over the world, get mentored or shadow for a day see the SIPM Community.

Is on sick leave

Is sick and I should be back with regular posts from October 12.

There is some good news as well- The book Stepping into Project Management is now available globally through Amazon as well. Or you can buy it directly from here.

The second book draft is on and I will be letting you know more about it as I try to finish off the chapters.

I have been spending my time, more on the new tablet playing games and listening to some great music  as it's been kinda tough sitting with the laptop for a stretch.

Till then, stay happy and healthy!!!

How to find your mentor?

To help you guide you through finding your mentor and pointers for your sessions, download the excel file here. 

How great leaders inspire action

Feeling like a leader recently?

Do you walk the talk? Do yo know where you are heading? Are you sure you know your followers?

Listen to Simon Sinek talk about for 18.35 minutes how leaders actually inspire action and  you will think differently.

Do you have what it takes to be a Project Manager?

Most people looking for a change in their job profile aren't sure, if the role of a Project Manager is something for them.

It is a demanding job and to be successful at it you will need to develop a set of required skills. So how do you know this role is for you? Is there an assessment that allows you to find out if you have the required traits?

Yes. It turns out there are some good tools out there.

Dr. Harrison of Harrison Assessments says “For most jobs, suitability factors are about 50% of the job success factors. Therefore, effectively measuring suitability is an essential part of assessment”. Unlike most behavioral research which examines the norms or average traits for people in the job, the Harrison research focuses on the traits that differentiate the high performers from the low performers.

So, can everyone be a Project Manager? Can you?

There are no rights and wrongs here. There is no way I’ll tell you that if you have set your mind and heart to it- you cannot do it. Project Management is such a vast domain, enough for anyone who puts their mind into it. From the very creative to the methodical you are all welcome.

If you are willing to spend $75 (USD) and take the test, you can email directly at pmreports1@gmail.com to request for an assessment.

Another way of knowing more about your compatibility with the profession is by taking the Myers-Brigs test by clicking here .

Based on the study Project Teamwork, Personality Profiles and the Population at Large: Do we have enough of the right kind of people? ; an observation has been made and conclusion drawn based on your MBTI category (see figure)

According to this study there are certain groups of people who are considered more suitable for the role of a Project Managers job based on their personality type. Once you know your personality type by taking the MBTI assessment, you can find yourself in the figure above.

As displayed by the colors, the personality types marked in “green” are the ones best suited for the job like the INTJ, ISTJ, ESTJ and ENTJ.

Don’t be disheartened, if you are not in the right group as there are always exceptions to rules and you can always develop the skill or traits you need to be successful Project Manager. Also, trust me when I say this, there are very few Project Manager’s who will take this test and give up on their careers if they don’t fall into the right category.

The third route is to find a mentor, someone who is ready to guide you and take you under their wing. It is essential to look for someone who has enough experience in the field, understands what you expect from your profession, makes you comfortable to discuss failures and is equally happy to rejoice in your successes. Having a mentor makes all the difference in the world.

This is an excerpt from the book Stepping into Project Management (Welcome to the #PMOT Circle). To buy click here.