It's Not Only Cows That Get Confused...

It's that time of the year again, and farmers used to complain that cows get confused with milking times.

Daylight savings is starting or finishing in many countries, and businesses and systems that are time dependent are often thrown into confusion.

First there is remembering that clocks are either advanced (start of daylight saving) or turned back (end of it) - and that means all clocks from watches to alarm clocks, electronic devices, mobile (cell) phones etc have to be reset. Many are automatically adjusted, but it is still necessary to check.

It might be disappointing that you cannot tape your favourite television program, but what of other more serious consequences if automated clock changing does not occur?

This was the case at Gatwick Airport in England, when the computerised time change did not occur (as reported in the Daily Telegraph). The scheduled rewind of the computer clocks did not occur, and passengers were inconvenienced and staff stressed when trying to cope with the turmoil. Fixing the problem was more complicated than it should have been, given that we have been living with the notion of daylight saving for over 20 years.

What safe guards and checks do you have in place for your simple, expected changes?

How to Get People to Use Your Existing Systems

Many managers complain that their staff do not use their existing systems - compliance is always a problem.


So, how do we get people to use the systems we have in place?

Put simply:
If we want people to use our systems make sure that they are easy to use. The systems should be appropriate for the task and have some degree of flexibility so that people can enjoy using them (at least in some way). The flexibility might be the order in which things are done, or it might be the manner in which people complete the task. Allow people's individual personalities and preferences to come through.

Why do we need flexibility in systems?
There are three very clear reasons why people don't use existing systems.
1. Not everyone is the same;
2. People don’t do the same thing the same way every time; and
3. It is unlikely that the system CAN be used all the time.

You see, poorly designed, irrelevant, overly complicated and/or rigid systems are likely to be difficult to use and will not reflect the needs of the users.

In designing systems that people are likely to use, is the system
1. Necessary - don't burden them with unnecessary stuff
2. Obvious - to the user not just the designer
3. Appropriate - make it easy to use
4. Relevant - it must serve a sensible purpose
5. Flexible - allow them to enjoy using the system
6. Understood - the purpose, use and application of the system
7. Agreed - design it with the user in mind, talk to them

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How to Bring Order into Your Life

There are any number of systems that people suggest we use to bring order into our lives and move from chaos to calm.

The difficulty is choosing the right system for each of us

When you can't find your way clearly around completing any task, think back to when you did something well. How did you do it?

We really do know what to do
We all have our own natural way of doing things. It might not be the same as the way that other people do the same or similar thing, but it obviously works for you. When you know what your natural way of doing things is, you can start to apply that same method to all things that you do.

For example, some people like to have everything in order BEFORE they start to work on a task. Others are happy to get stuck into the task and organise as they go. Another approach is to have a clear plan but remain flexible so that they can respond to any changes as they arise.

Think about how you do the things that you do efficiently. It should be something that you know you do easily and efficiently, that your friends and colleagues tell you that you do well. Take it apart - think about how you do it.

• Do you use a checklist (written down or in your head)?
• Do you talk about it with others to help you sort out your ideas and actions?
• Do you plan each part of the task or do you just respond to what is happening as you complete the task?

The more detail that you can identify about how you do anything, the more likely it is that you can see the patterns that you use whenever you complete any task. Once you have noticed your patterns, think about where else you can use this same approach to complete any task.

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Calm in a Storm

I'll admit it. I am not always calm, despite my appropriate branding of
Calm from Chaos (see http://www.sharonnephillips.com). People who know me will vouch for that. It can take a lot for me to lose it, but I can lose it along with the rest of us.

And you know what? I lose it when things don't go according to my plans. I plan well, I know that I can guess where things will fail and I build in safety nets around those predictable failures.

But, when things don't happen the way I expect, I get stressed and disappointed and sometimes angry and frustrated. That's when I lose it.

When I let go of expectations, and go with the flow knowing that I have done my best I can remain calm - that's why people can recognise me as easy going and "in control" (while I KNOW I am NEVER fully "in control").

Can you let go so you can let yourself be calm?

What do your secrets stop you from doing?

We all have secrets.

Sometimes they stop us wanting to stand out, to follow our dreams or to form deep, close relationships with others because we are scared that they might find out about our deepest, darkest secrets.

What would happen if we let go of the fear of someone finding our secrets out? In this age of the Internet, of surveillance and scrutiny, it is likely that if someone wanted to, they would find out our secrets anyway. And we all have a past.

So, if you let go of the fear of being found out, what would you be able to achieve? If you could own all of your experience as gifts that have shaped you into who you are, would you reach out and grab your full potential?

Finding calm in turmoil is a gift.

Managing Relationships

Relationships can be the most satisfying or disturbing things in our lives. Friends can support us through thick or thin, yet some people are the cause of some of the most caustic situations we have the misfortune to experience.

What if there was a simple rule to follow to help us form strong relationships? Would that be like finding a gold mine?

Consider this: Do you treat your relationships as a privilege or a right?

If you approach relationships as a privilege you are likely to honour them more, and take time and care to get it right (or at least better).

If you consider your relationships to be your right you are likely to take
them for granted and get upset when things don't go the way you want or
expect. You are less likely to try to patch things, or be understanding.

Which do you prefer?