Working Smarter Using the Eisenhower Matrix

Working Smarter Using the Eisenhower Matrix

by Tim Empringham, MBANo Comments
Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, serving as president from 1953 to 1961. He faced challenges such as the Korean War, the start of the space race, the Lebanon crisis, and a growing conflict with the Soviet Union. One of his famous quotes was: What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important. It was from that quote that the concept of the Eisenhower Matrix was born, a concept which has been talked about in many famous books including First Things First and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey where it became a foundational component of his time management approach. While the concept isn't new, it is just as relevant today as we plan our work. In fact working smarter using the Eisenhower Matrix is even more important today than ever in history. (more…)...
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Stop Firefighting

Stop Firefighting

by Tim Empringham, MBANo Comments
As traditional organizations look to address the new competition and rapidly increasing pace of change in today's competitive marketplace I see some fascinating struggles. Traditional markets are seeing unprecedented changes in their customer's expectations. New competitors who are chipping away at their traditional profit centres. There are even changes in the employee base with the emergence of the millennial workforce and the retirement long-standing organizational leaders. The result is an emerging culture of firefighting which is a drain on everyone in the company. To successfully deal with the unprecedented level of change you need to stop firefighting. Speed Matters - But Only If You Have a Clear Plan (more…)...
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Be Focused On What Matters

Be Focused On What Matters

by Tim Empringham, MBANo Comments
I've had a really great year. For those that know me that might be surprising given all the turmoil and change I've faced over the past 13 months, but let me assure you it's absolutely true. Despite all the changes and challenges I've experienced one of the most rewarding years of my life, and I believe that outcome is exactly because of the challenges I was asked to face. Too often as we cruise through our lives, adding new responsibilities through promotion at work or through the growth of our families at home, we unconsciously continue to add to our load without consideration for our own capacity. When we take on a new role we seldom jetison all of our old behaviours that made us successful previously, and as we add new responsibilities at home we don't think about the things we need to stop doing to be able to be successful in our new responsibilities. (more…)...
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