Have you ever thought about how you could always work at your best? When you are at your best, doing what you need to do, what does it look like, feel like, sound like?
Wouldn’t it be nice if you were always effective at 100% of your capability? I thought I would try to capture what my best felt like. I completed a short exercise where I started writing my ideas about my productivity. I started with the sentence, “I am at my best…” and captured my ideas on being my best. Here they are.
I am at my best…
- when my energy level is high (mornings)
- when my attention is focused
- when I have a clear goal with a clear deadline
- when achievement of the goal supports a bigger purpose
- when I am in a comfortable and quiet environment
- when I am not overwhelmed or behind in my tasks
- when I can be creative
- when I have time to think about strategic options
- when I don’t worry about what others think
- when I plan my actions in advance
- when I am intentional with my actions
- when my attitude is positive
- when my work reflects my personal values
- when I over-prepare
- when I am helping others
- when I am listening
- when I take time for exercise
- when I am learning
- when I have data I trust
- when I am working with people I trust and respect
- when I truly value the people I am with
- when I embrace failure as a process required for success
- when I tackle the hardest tasks first
This was a great reflective exercise for me. It defines what is required of me every day if I want to be at my best.
Your list is different. Take a blank piece of paper and challenge yourself to define when you work at your best. What does it feel like for you?