“To diagnose how sustainable you are right now, make a chart to determine whether your overall energy balance is positive or negative, and what might be sapping it,” she suggests. “Start with three columns: Gain Energy, Lose Energy, and Mixed. Then, fill in people, activities, and things that fit into each column. Maybe signing a new client and problem-solving with your team go into the first column, your needy colleague goes in the second, and responding to emails goes into the third.
“Once you’re finished, take a look at the chart and assess whether the way you spend your time causes you to gain or lose energy overall,” she adds. “If it’s the latter, ask yourself what you can change so that more of your energy is spent in positive and productive ways.”
“Once you commit to developing these five skills, you’ll be well on your way to living in your Smart State instead of your Critter State,” Comaford promises. “And while some of them may seem simple, they’re each hugely important. Your ability to focus, plan, motivate yourself, interact with others, and more can often mean the difference between success and failure. Ultimately, in business and in life, your Smart State is where you need to be to lead, to grow, to innovate, and to prosper.”
For more information, visit www.smarttribesbook.com and www.christinecomaford.com.
