What is ‘Your Story about Effectiveness?

What is Your Story about Effectiveness is a one-on-one online conversation with Peter de Kuster. It is one of 12 virtual conversations around our core themes: Entrepreneurship, Passion, Self Promotion, Money, Time, Self, Innovation and Creativity. Further information on how to connect with Peter will be send when you mail him at theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com

Definition

Effectiveness is the skill of setting the right priorities and quickly deciding which task is the most important and most urgent. It includes the ability to delegate tasks and have enough space to focus.

What characterises mastery of this skill?

The effective employee is characterized by getting things done in time without continuous overworking (if in the right working environment). They feel comfortable in trusting their team and colleagues to do their delegated work correctly. Setting priorities and giving clear instructions as well as taking and giving feedback comes naturally for them. Because they decide quickly and reassess priorities regularly, procrastination or poor use of time is unlikely.

What characterises a lack of this skill?

A lack of effectiveness at the workplace can often be observed in junior employees struggling to say “no” to favors and tasks they are actually not responsible for. More experienced employees might reveal their lack of Effectiveness by having difficulties in task delegation. Both senior and junior workers might feel overwhelmed and complain about having too many different things to do. Without realising it, they might prefer to do things themselves or stick to micromanagement. Another tendency might be to fixate on one task, because they struggle to decide what else could be more important. A lack of effectiveness can cause overworking and in the end huge exhaustion or burnout.

The end result of an absence of efficiency isn’t just inefficiency, it’s regret. In order to work through the never-ending to-do list and juggle the multiple demands of others, we have to sort the urgent tasks from the merely important and make a habit of being efficient.

In this virtual conversation, we will:

• Consider what makes getting things done difficult, including emotional and psychological barriers

• Learn specific ways to adapt our approach to the task at hand

• Look at strategies to prioritise tasks and make realistic, more effective plans of action 

• Discuss habits and techniques which can help us to beat procrastination, take tactical ‘shortcuts’ and reassess our overall aims

• Learn how to make the most of feedback in order to become more effective

The format of this conversation is highly interactive and involves a combination of teaching, and reflection. Peter de Kuster aims to create a confidential space where you are welcome to contribute freely and comfortably. If you have any questions about the format of the virtual conversation please get in touch at theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com

Practical

• Dates: Any Time You Want
• Time:  One Hour
• Form: Online conversation with Peter de Kuster
• Price:  Euro 195

Book your virtual conversation by sending Peter an email to theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com

About Peter de Kuster

Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Hero’s Journey & Heroine’s Journey project,  a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing,  MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.