Our habits, both good and bad, aren’t always intentional, but they always define our outcome. Recognizing the power that lies in our habits gives us a major opportunity to take control and utilize them for the better. If we apply some intention, we can engineer our habits to support our success. Here are some habits that can be of particular benefit to LOs:
Perform a Daily Overview
Being organized and prepared are crucial to long-term success as an LO. Taking time each day to perform an overview of the tasks ahead can be a big help in staying on top of both the immediate to-dos for the day and what’s to come in the near future. You can do this the night before or first thing each morning. Decide on a time where this fits most naturally into your routine, so that you’re more likely to stick with it and see the benefits. It won’t require much time, maybe just 5 or 10 minutes, but reviewing your schedule, identifying priorities, and checking in with your goals, will set you up for a more efficient day ahead. Personally speaking, I use a to-do list that I structure each morning from the notes from the day before. Every persons system may be a little different, but that’s what I’ve found to work for me.
Ask More Questions
Curiosity is a quality you see shared among high-achieving professionals. It’s influential on how they approach challenges and problems, how they learn, and how they interact with everyone around them. You may or may not be naturally curious — and if not, the best way to cultivate greater curiosity is the get in the habit of asking more questions. Just that simple act will encourage more creative thinking, teach you more about the people around you (especially prospects and clients), and it will have a positive impact on how people feel about you. Asking more questions demonstrates a higher level of interest in the people you interact with, and it makes them feel valued. The key to asking good questions is intent. Making sure that you are genuinely trying to understand someone’s needs/requests (and not just listening to respond) will deepen the connection you have with that person.
Take Breaks
We don’t work at our best when we’re stressed and overwhelmed, and this is why functioning at optimal efficiency is so important. If you want to be at your best, taking breaks can be incredibly beneficial. Some of us look at taking breaks as counterproductive, but it’s actually the opposite. Scheduling strategic breaks can help you avoid an afternoon slump, supercharge your last couple hours in the office, and give you a valuable reset when you need it throughout the day. When you make taking breaks a habit, you’re keeping your mind and body in top form.
Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress on the way to a goal or target will often help you get to that endpoint faster. It works to increase motivation, accountability, and resolve, and it also gives you an opportunity to catch yourself before you go off course. When you’re regularly tracking your progress, it keeps your goals top of mind and not just something you check in with occasionally. The method you use to track your progress may vary some depending on the specific goal —but having a system in place to do so from the start is a great idea.
I wrote about using your routines to support your success recently, and it’s a good companion piece to this article. You can find that here.
Habits are often small actions that we’re not entirely aware of, but they can have a big impact on our day-to-day. When you take control and use your habits to fuel your success, it’s a powerful strategy.
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