If you have ever been to training on maximising productivity, or effectively using your time, you will probably be familiar with the four-box urgent/important concept from Steven R. Covey’s the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. (I am just going to admit now that a copy of this book has been sitting on my bookshelf at home for 8 years, unread!)
Learn Once, Apply Everywhere You Can
When I learn something new, I like to figure out where else I can use it in my life. If I learn a new skill at work, where can I use it in my pursuits outside of the workplace? So it was no suprise to me that when I was sitting in the productivity training the other day my brain was in overdrive. I decided I would like to be productive both at work and outside of work – so what principles was I going to take from the work environment to every day life?
Our discussion around urgent/important was one I immediately recognised as having a direct link to the work I do coaching clients to live happier and more fulfilling lives, as well as what goes on in my own life. I noticed almost immediately that by working with a life coach, people can find ways to get off the “urgency treadmill” (zones 1 & 3) and start putting more effort into what’s really important for them (zone 2). This picture shows these zones with some explanations.
Here are some thoughts that I had from a life coaching context:
- We spend most of our lives in zones 1 and 3, reacting to the world around us – the people, the situations, and the environments we find ourselves in
- Living in zones 1 and 3 can be exhausting and we end up in our beds at night wondering to ourselves what we accomplished, hoping that we will accomplish more tomorrow because it is a new day and we have new hope
- We have sleepless or wakeful nights because our brains are going at 100mph with flashbacks and premonitions that come in the form of nightmares or dreams
- We may even keep a pen and paper beside our beds to capture that random panic thought or to do that comes into our heads in the middle of the night
I’ve had days, weeks, and months like this, feeling like I was living my life according to other people’s demands, exhausted and worried about what people would think if I didn’t do what they asked. All-in-all, not a very happy, productive, or fulfilling lifestyle.
But I also know that I can’t totally get away from zones 1 and 3. In fact, I don’t want to. The adrenilin high I get from doing something that’s both urgent and important, and the sense of satisfaction I get through helping others with something that’s urgent but not important is something I don’t want to eliminate entirely. But it is something I want to have more control over rather than it controlling me.
Why Coaching Matters
And this is where life coaching comes into play. With the work I’ve done on myself as I have learned to be a coach, as well as the journey I have been on with my clients, I have been introduced to tools and concepts that help me take that control and operate more in zone 2, such as:
- Determining and understanding my life purpose – why I am here and what I want to contribute to the world
- Clarifying what values I hold dearly and that form the basis of the decisions I make
- Having a conversation with someone who helps me see things from a bigger picture perspective
- Becoming clear on what I want, what will make me happy, and how I’m going to get there
If the real joy, happiness, fulfillment and contribution happens in zone 2, working with a life coach is more likely to get you there. By knowing what’s important to me, I’m able to pursue those things. I’m able to prioritise and make concious choices of what urgent things I get sucked into. Do they serve me and my bigger picture, or are they more about someone else and their story. What part do I want to play in their story (and for how long)?
Share Your Insights
This is why I think it is important to know what’s important to you. Happiness and fulfillment await you in zone 2 if you are willing to focus on them. Are you clear on what’s important to you? Are you able to sort through the chaos and lead a fulfilling and productive life? What sort of things lead you astray? Share your thoughts below.
Your First Stepping Stone
If you want to understand what coaching might do for you, contact me to arrange a free 1-hour session so you can experience it for yourself.