Leadership Thought #410 – 22 Things You Could Do Wrong Today

We are all a work in progress; sometimes we get things wrong. We also know that life is about our habits and behaviors. All time represents a series of moments and actions stitched together that only exist in the present. We can reflect on what we have done and think about what we may do in the future, but we can only ever control now. Part of my job is observation. Sadly, my best case study often involves me, and where I need to improve. I consistently surprise myself with the mistakes I consciously make and later regret, even though I am improving. I am also certain my human experience isn’t unique. You may also catch yourself doing some of the following wrong things on any given day:

1. Eating something you know isn’t good for you;
2. Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol;
3. Not exercising enough or at all;
4. Not allowing enough time for sleep;
5. Doing something dangerous or reckless behind the wheel of a car;
6. Attempting to multitask and prioritizing your tasks badly;
7. Not listening to what someone else has to say;
8. Missing a deadline at work or home that you agreed to and/or set yourself;
9. Not allowing yourself enough time to do something well;
10. Avoiding doing something necessary that you don’t like doing;
11. Spend too much time in front of the TV watching something of no real discernible value;
12. Getting annoyed at something inconsequential;
13. Being impolite or exhibiting bad manners;
14. Closing your mind to an alternative point of view;
15. Rushing to judgment about someone or something you don’t know well enough to judge;
16. Deciding without enough facts or understanding of the situation;
17. Treating attractive people better than everyone else just because of the way they look;
18. Buying something you don’t need;
19. Lying or not telling someone how you honestly feel;
20. Saying yes when you should say no;
21. Being unaware of or unthoughtful about your body language and tone of voice;
22. Blaming a mistake or misstep on someone or something else.

As with all things, awareness is the first step. I suggest you print this list and keep it in your purse, briefcase, or wallet. I also like to tape it to my desk and put it in my glove compartment. Briefly review it several times throughout the course of the day. When you knowingly do something on the list, put a check mark next to it. At the end of the week, see how many check marks you have and which items are your biggest weaknesses. Rethink how you could have handled the situation differently. No rationalizations are allowed. Over time, you will notice that the number of check marks will decrease. Don’t strive for perfection, just incremental daily improvement. After a month, I guarantee you will notice a substantial difference in how you feel and how others respond to you.