When you toss a coin, the chances of it coming up 'heads' are fifty-fifty, yet tests show that people call 'heads' almost 80 percent of the time.
Since we are in the habit of calling 'heads-or-tails', it seems that the 'heads' choice comes to mind first. It's just the most prominent!
We tend to let the same choosing process dominate other parts of our life too, but with far greater consequences than 'just losing the toss'.
For example, if you leave your desktop littered with unfinished business or your inbox full of unanswered e-mail, you are very likely to deal with the most prominent item or task regardless of its importance.
Being prominent or highly visible is also the main reason that interrupting someone is such a good strategy to further an agenda. You simply make yourself prominent and hey presto, you become number one on somebody else's to-do list!
Our minds are designed to deal with one thing at a time, and what is visible usually gets our attention first.
So here are a few tips to improve your odds of being more effective, and to help you make better choices:
- Tidy up your desk/workspace every day
before you leave for home. Throw away the junk and the stuff you'll never get to, file the items you intend to get to, and make a note on your task-list to do something about them at a future date. You'll be amazed at how much more productive you become the next morning - a real overnight miracle.
- Stop letting your inbox rule your day.
If you are accumulating hundreds of unanswered e-mails it's just the same as piling up your desk with paper. You will waste hours every day re-reading and trying to prioritize items. By setting up file folders and deleting, you can work from a clean inbox too!
- Control the people interruptions.
Stay on your own agenda by having an uninterrupted ninety minutes at the start of every workday. Ask your colleagues to repect this time - it will soon become a habit for you AND FOR THEM too. And learn to say "I'll get back to you later, what about over coffee at eleven?" This sends the right message, it's social and most of the time your colleagues will be off interrupting elsewhere around the office at the appointed time.
- Think positive thoughts.
Remember that 'we are what we think, and all that we are, arises with our thoughts'. So keep happy and constructive thoughts top of mind. Remember that what is most prominent tends to get our attention and having a sunny outlook will make you and those around you shine.