We Have Four Dogs

Also, what makes a great leader?

We have so many dogs. Four dogs is a lot of dogs. There are days I can’t believe we’ve done this. The barking, the fur, the dog toys, 16 paws pounding across our floors.

I’ve come to believe that no one ever sets out and decides to have four dogs. It’s just something that happens to you. Mark my words, if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with four dogs too.

With this many animals in your life, it forces you to economize.You can’t give each pooch a bespoke doggy experience. There’s enough chaos as it is, you have to implement systems.

One of the systems we rely on is batching. Batching is a productivity method that involves grouping similar tasks together to complete all at once. The brain works best when it focuses on one thing at a time. We only have a certain amount of cognitive capacity and a certain amount of attention. Batching helps you avoid multitasking and increases the amount of time you have to focus on tasks.

So, what does batching look like with four dogs? One obvious example is when it comes to walking them. They get two walks a day, so we have to batch walk the dogs or else we’d do nothing but walk our neighborhood all day. So my wife and I take all four of them out at a time (of course, these days she’s taking two out at a time because I broke my ankle).

What else? They get meds all at once. They get fed all at once. Treats come in one batch. We try and schedule vet visits for them all on the same day.

I know this all is obvious. Of course this is how you’d live life with this many dogs. If that’s the existence you've chosen.

But look at your own life: what could you economize by batching? Do you check your email off and on throughout the day? Do you have meetings haphazardly in your schedule? Do you prepare a new meal each night? You could do each of these in batches as opposed to doing each one individually. By doing this, you reduce the mental load of shifting between different types of tasks, and create a workflow that allows for deeper focus and concentration.

How It Works:

1. Identify and categorize your routine tasks into distinct groups 

2. Allocate dedicated time blocks for each task category based on your peak productivity periods 

Pros

• Reduces the cognitive load associated with task-switching, leading to increased focus.

• Saves time by consolidating preparation and process for similar tasks.

• Can improve quality of work by allowing for a deeper state of focus on similar tasks.

• Makes it easier to measure progress and maintain consistency across tasks.

Cons

• It can get boring. Like really boring. You can get tired of working on similar tasks for extended periods of time.

• Can be inflexible, making it difficult to handle urgent tasks that arise spontaneously.

• Not all tasks are conducive to batching, which limits the method’s applicability.

Who It Works Best For

Batching can be good for people who handle a variety of repetitive tasks, such as administrative professionals, writers, content creators, and customer service representatives. It also benefits those who find that frequent task-switching disrupts their productivity.

And it’s great if you’ve lost your mind and filled your home with four dogs.

On Leadership…

I’m not always the leader I want to be. Some days, I just want things done, and I want people to do them without needing to drive consensus, negotiate, or manage tasks. I just want people to do all the things. So, I muster some energy and motivation, enforce the systems we have in place, direct people, or send off a Slack message or two about priorities and status.

But great leaders don't just manage; they inspire.

Think of a person in authority from your life who truly affected you, who helped you achieve more than you thought possible. These people possess something extra: they have a way of altering reality, making you believe you can accomplish something extraordinary.

That’s the type of leader I want to be: someone who not only gets things done and helps others do the same but also elevates people and fosters an environment where success is not just achieved but celebrated collectively. So, today, I will explore five key behaviors I believe are found in the best leaders.

Five things great leaders do to inspire their teams

1. They recognize people

2. They emphasize purpose over profit

3. They practice self awareness

4. They are positive

5. They take the win

Recognition

Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can't use it up or run out of it.
Susan M. Heathfield

People generally like to be acknowledged for their work. When employees feel appreciated, they're more inclined to work well with others and communicate effectively. Building a culture that values recognition creates a supportive atmosphere for the team. Plus, it doesn’t cost much to give someone a shout-out for a job well done. Here are some easy ways to do that:

• Publicly acknowledge someone’s work in a team meeting.

• Send a quick one-on-one note to say thanks.

• Create a shout-outs section in your company all-hands.

• Send a small gift or token of appreciation, like a gift card, book, or other personalized item.

• Create a formal recognition system with awards for specific achievements.

Finally, great leaders adopt this policy: Take the blame and give away the fame. When things go wrong, a leader should assume responsibility and not shift the blame onto team members. Conversely, when things go right, a leader should attribute the success to the team rather than taking personal credit.

Purpose Over Profit

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

We all know that companies want to make money and employees need to get paid for their efforts. Yet, the difference between just doing a job and loving it often depends on the impact one feels they are making. Great leaders don't just focus on profits. They clearly outline their organization's values, vision, and purpose. These need to be clear in the leadership team's minds, and they need to be written down, displayed in the office, included in emails, and a natural part of day to day conversation.

We all get distracted, and that’s not always bad, but regular reminders of our company's mission help us stay focused on our primary purpose.

Self-Awareness

Metacognition in a nutshell is thinking about one's thinking. It’s a form of self-awareness that involves monitoring your own thinking, knowledge, and performance.

Everyone likes to think of themselves as a great listener. We may think we are super intelligent, considerate, or aware of our surroundings.

But, that’s not always the case.

The most effective leaders recognize they don’t have everything figured out. They practice a little metacognition and avoid acting superior to others. Being objective about ourselves and others is crucial. It helps us decide whether to moderate our own behavior or to discuss someone else's behavior change respectfully. In doing so, we can also recognize their abilities and understand their feelings. A little self-awareness goes a long way.

Positivity

Being positive in a negative situation is not naive. It's leadership.
Ralph Marston

As a leader, it's critical to have a positive mindset to effectively work through difficult situations and keep your team on the same page.

You don't need to act like a cheerleader to give people hope or inspire them. Often being a positive leader means simply avoiding a negative mindset. Negativity can be poisonous in the workplace, lowering morale and productivity, and spreading to others, which creates a bad atmosphere. Good leaders keep their thoughts positive. This helps them boost their team's morale, especially when things get tough. Positivity is infectious and motivating. Research shows that being happy and optimistic can improve performance and success.

Leading with positivity involves being open and possessing a significant amount of emotional intelligence, but it’s the best way to genuinely earn your team's trust.

Take the Win

When we fail to acknowledge and celebrate small victories, we get discouraged and the flame inside us starts to dwindle.
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We all have goals. We have big things to accomplish. Either individually or as a team we have objectives to hit. But great leaders acknowledge the little wins along the way. They recognize (or create) milestones to reach along the path to a final destination.

These little wins may be small and quickly achieved, but they hold great significance. They are the initial successes that give a hint at future achievements. And when they are acknowledged by leadership, they reinforce the value of every team effort. This boosts morale, encourages commitment, and can trigger a chain reaction of continued enthusiasm.

It's also so very important to genuinely appreciate these small wins without diminishing their value or constantly focusing on future challenges. Don’t undercut your achievements with thoughts of upcoming difficulties.

In conclusion, effective leadership is much more than strategic decision-making; it involves inspiring and nurturing your team's spirit. Great leaders create an environment of recognition and positivity.

Like I said, I am not always the leader I want to be. But reviewing these principles will help keep me on track. I hope they help you too.

On Gratitude…

What are you thankful for today? For me, it's a cozy fire on a cloudy day, a quiet morning to write, my lovely wife, my amazing children, my terrible dogs. It can feel onerous at times to catalog the things you are grateful for, but it only takes 2 minutes to do, and those 120 seconds can invigorate your entire day. So, I’ll ask again: what are you thankful for today?