I learned a valuable less from my 13-year-old son last week. We were hiking in the woods on our very hilly, rocky farm. He stopped near a cliff and starting hurling some rather large rocks over the edge, seeing how successfully he could get them to smash on a large boulder at the bottom. I got tired of watching him do this after about 20 minutes and suggested that we move on. He protested and kept on his constant picking up, carrying and hurling rocks.
Finally after some time I said "Do you realize you have been picking up rocks for more than half an hour? This is the very same task Dad asks you to do every weekend to help clear the fields. You always moan and groan , do it for about 2 minutes, then find an excuse to quit." His reply was, "But this is fun!"
This hit me like a rock. How many tasks we dread can be turned into something fun? I know this sounds like quite a challenge and some things are just not fun at all. However, I bet with some creative thinking there are possibilities. Try turning on some snappy music and dancing with the vacuum cleaner (a la Mrs. Doubtfire). Write a secret message in the dust on your dresser and erase it when you clean it. Write that dreaded report on brightly colored paper. Everyone in my office recognizes notes from me, they are on neon post-its.
For managers, setting up contests for your employees can create some fun and increase motivation. If you are a sole proprietor, you can set up a contest just for yourself. Simply set your goals and choose a prize for completion.
The idea is to make achieving goals and objectives fun. So, make your work fun and get it done.
About the Author
Jean coaches professionals and small business owners to discover, design and live their just right lives. Through customized coaching sessions, she provides support, focus, and momentum to keep clients on track and progressing. She can be reached at jean@justrightcoach.com or visited on the web at www.justrightcoach.com. Subscribe to Just Right Coaching Clips newsletter by email: justrightcoaching-subscribe@topica.com