Page 20 - WilmU - Spring 2017

THE NEWS
People love to tell you FRAME YOUR DAY
how busy they are.
I’m busy; you’re
busy. Everyone’s busy.
“Go! Go! Go!” is the mantra of our lives. But what is the point of all of it? What’s the purpose? One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned as a leader is that having a high-paced, packed day doesn’t mean I’m actually accomplishing something worthwhile. So years ago I made a resolution to ensure that my days are not just full of meetings and critical
tasks, but also full of purpose.
A noble idea, right? But how do you pull it off? I admit it wasn’t easy at first. We’re conditioned to default back to that hectic pace of just getting things done. But learning to pause and reflect why we’re even doing things in the first place requires another mindset entirely. Over time, I started forming habits that helped keep me focused on purpose. Those habits continue to support me in making conscious choices about what’s worth my time
and energy and what isn’t.
You have to first answer the million-
dollar question: What is your purpose? For me, it’s making a difference — a fairly standard goal, I suppose. But it’s vitally important to me to know that my life and my work contribute to the world in a positive way.
Once you get clear on your purpose, these four habits can help you live it.
When you first awake, ask yourself this game-changing question: What is the most important thing I must to do today to serve my purpose? It’s great to have a daily to-do list, but that’s simply a list of things that must get done. I’m encouraging you to reflect on the point of those tasks and then identify which is most aligned with your chosen purpose. For example, if your purpose is to lead with compassion, perhaps the most important task is making time to check on a team member who’s struggling with a serious illness or personal crisis. This doesn’t mean you won’t attend the morning staff call and finalize the weekly report. It does mean that you won’t let the busyness of the day distract you from spending a few minutes with that team member. When you frame your day this way, you employ the “big rocks first” approach made famous by Stephen Covey to managing your time. We’re each given the same number of hours in a day, after all. Choose consciously how you use them. Focus on what’s most important, not just what’s easy or comfortable.
HELP OTHERS CONNECT TO MEANING
Help those you work with connect to the “why” behind assigned tasks or collective projects. I try to link what I’m asking colleagues to do with what interests or excites them. This helps infuse their workdays with purpose.
Dr. Susan Sweeney
Not only do I explain what needs to be done, but also why, as it relates to the bigger picture. It’s important to me that my colleagues have meaningful experiences and approach particular tasks or challenges with understanding. It’s not just about why the tasks matter; it’s about why your colleagues matter.
RESPOND TO CHALLENGES WITH CURIOSITY
When the pressure is on during a hectic day, we often react to questions, challenges or setbacks with a defensive “I just want to get this done” frame of mind. As a result, the choices we make are often shortsighted. Instead, I try to respond with curiosity. I’ve always had what I call a “moving map” mind. I anticipate various outcomes that could arise in any scenario, from both micro and macro perspectives. I understand that projects and goals pivot frequently. When they do, I don’t panic — or try not to. I get curious instead. I look at the specific shift or change and try to find purpose in it. What can I learn
18 WilmU magazine
Be Purposeful
An essay by WilmU alumna Dr. Susan Sweeney
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN SWEENEY