SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best
Laura Stack
Format: Hardcover, 272pp.
ISBN: 9780470599150
Publisher: Wiley
Pub. Date: August 9, 2010
Average Customer Review:
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Description and Reviews
From The Publisher:
To be successful in the business world and reach your full potential in life, it's not enough to be simply competent. Our modern, super-competitive world is full of opportunities for the go-getter, but to take advantage of them, it's essential to become "SuperCompetent." The SuperCompetent person is one that companies fight to get, fight to keep, nurture as team players, and see as future leaders in their business growth.
But SuperCompetence isn't something you're born with—it's something that you can learn, no matter where your strengths lie or what industry you work in. In SuperCompetent, productivity expert Laura Stack identifies the behaviors that build leadership skills, boost organizational efficiency, and blast high-potential producers to the top of their fields. With Stack's Six Keys, you'll be able to consistently improve your performance, develop the confidence that will propel you forward, and achieve breakthrough results in your career.
- Activity: The value and importance you place on your tasks and priorities
- Availability: The ability to master your schedule and protect your time
- Attention: The capacity to focus intently and concentrate on critical activities
- Accessibility: The skill to organize your work flow and quickly find information
- Accountability: The extent to which you assume personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes
- Attitude: The intensity of your motivation, drive, and proactiveness
With worksheets and quizzes that help you evaluate your performance at every stage and invaluable resources for further information, you'll be able to integrate the Six Keys of SuperCompetence into your daily, weekly, and lifetime business practices. From the sales floor to the conference room, from board meetings to informal networking events, SuperCompetent enables you to build your focus, manage your resources, and maximize your ability to deliver at every level.
Reviews
"The Productivity Pro, Laura Stack, should be known as the Productivity Doctor. This book is like a medical clinic for those seeking to become more productive. I know it has helped me, but more importantly, the remedies offered by Laura have benefited the people I coach in my professional life. These people keep asking, 'Jeff, how do you know how to solve my productivity problems?' My secret weapon . . . this book."
—Jeff Bettinger, Director of Talent Development, Fluor Corporation
"This content-rich book is a must-read for even those who thought they were productive. Laura Stack delivers specific strategies that will definitely boost your performance and productivity. Her relevant ideas will take you beyond good to SuperCompetent. This book will change how you think about yourself, your time, your use of technology, and your time with others."
—Lisa Ford, author of the #1 selling training series How to Give Exceptional Customer Service
"Ask executives which employees are most valuable to the organization, and they will almost invariably respond, 'The people to whom I can point at a problem or opportunity and know that they will get the job done every single time.' These are the SuperCompetent people who are in control of their work, not the other way around. Laura Stack teaches us how to stress less, get much more done, and have more fun while doing it. Reading this book will make a positive impact in your work and your life. Fabulous!"
—Joe Calloway, author of Becoming a Category of One
"Laura is a master at her craft and offers innovative ideas on how to squeeze the most out of our daily lives. Productivity is more than just staying busy; it's about achieving success and significance in everything you do. She unlocks the secrets to how we can all do more, be more, and have more each and every day."
—Dr. Nido Qubein, President, High Point University; Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Co.
"Laura Stack knows how to get things done and in short order! Her latest book offers a great work-life-mind balance, which is the key to going from good to great on a personal basis. Read this book and soar."
—Tim Sanders, author of Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends
About the Author
Laura Stack has been presenting keynote speeches, conducting personal productivity seminars, and consulting for corporate and association clients since 1992. As the President and CEO of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., she is dedicated to building high-performance productivity cultures in organizations by creating Maximum Results in Minimum Time® with greater profits. Her clients include many Fortune 500 companies, including Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Microsoft, MillerCoors, Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, Bank of America, and Time Warner.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
FOREWORD BY MARK SANBORN
INTRODUCTION
THE SUPERCOMPETENT ASSESSMENT
PART 1 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #1: ACTIVITY
Chapter 1: What's It All About, Alfie?
Know What Makes You Tick
Luke, It's Your Destiny
Stay Focused On Your Mission
How Do You KNOW When You're Being Productive?
Do you plan your day?
Do you have written goals?
Grab Your Dreams By the Horns and Get Going!
Chapter 2: Why the Heck Are We Doing It THIS Way?!?
Be a “Must-Have” Person
Revisit Your Objectives
Know Your Job Inside and Out
Practice Purposeful Abandonment
Specify the Appropriate Detail Level
Reevaluate Your Productivity Habits
Rattle the Cage!
Chapter 3: Greater Living Through Technology
Schlimmbesserung, Anyone?
Schlimmbesserung!
Schlimmbesserung!
Where Does The Time Go?
Take Back Your Time
Chapter 4: All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull…Something
Take a Break Before You Break
Guilt Starts with a “G” for Garbage
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N (in the Summer Sun)
Quit Banging Your Head Against the Wall
Rest, for Goodness Sake!
Chapter 5: My To-Do List Has 117 Things on It!
Eliminate To-Do List Anxiety
This Task is Dying a Slow Death on My To-Do List
Handling Low Priority Items
Taming the To-Do Tyranny
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #1: ACTIVITY SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #1: ACTIVITY
PART 2 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #2: AVAILABILITY
Chapter 6: You Want it WHEN?
“No” Isn't a Four-Letter Word
Break Habits, Build Systems
Refuse to Let Yourself Be Overwhelmed
Chapter 7: YOU! Off My Planet!
The Six D's of Interruptions
Divert Those Diversions
Chapter 8: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
Let Some Tasks Go
Train Someone
Know Your Limits
Gasp! YOU Could Be the Problem
Create Your Outsource Team
This Looks Like A Job For…Superman's Sidekick!
Chapter 9: Pick Something and Stick to It!
Take Control of Your Scheduling Online
Block Out Time to Work
Keep Your Calendar Up to Date
Sorry, My Schedule is Full Until March 2139
Chapter 10: Stop the Meeting Madness!
Refuse Face-to-Face Meetings When Unnecessary
Cancel Meetings
Limit Attendees
Multiply Your Hands
Avoid Meetings on Fridays
Distribute Your Agenda Early
Set Your Meeting's Length Yourself
Use Online Scheduling for Outside Parties
Allow Enough Breaks
Be Considerate of Those in Other Time Zones
Strike a Balance on Scheduling
Immediately Inform the Meeting Leader of Conflicts
Confirm Everything
Journal Your Meeting Notes
Scheduling Meetings
Develop Effective Teleconferencing Guidelines
Sorry, He's In a Meeting
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #2: AVAILABILITY SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #2: AVAILABILITY
PART 3 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #3: ATTENTION
Chapter 11: Don't Open That!
Control the Reflex
Take Back Everyday Activities
Schlimmbesserung Revisited
Chapter 12: eBay and Yahoo and YouTube, Oh My!
It Starts at Home with the Television
How Now, Technogeek?
Chapter 13: The Harder I Work, the Behinder I Get!
Multi-Tasked to Overwhelmed
If You Think It, Ink It
Metacognition: Get Above It All
Stop the Self-Sabotage
Chapter 14: Socializing for Success
Separate Your Business and Personal Lives
Get Into a Regular Social Media Routine
Embrace Third-Party Applications to Automate Manual Processes
Decide What You're Trying to Do
Connect, Listen, and Contribute
Back to Work, You!
Chapter 15: Blackberry/Crackberry
No Nosing in on Family Time
Call Your Doctor Immediately If You Develop Anti-Social Tendencies
Do Not Drive or Operate Heavy Machinery
Break the Addiction
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #3: ATTENTION SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #3: ATTENTION
PART 4 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #4: ACCESSIBILITY
Chapter 16: I Know I Have a System Around Here Somewhere…
Paper Planners
Desktop Software
Web-Based Applications
Handheld Devices are Tying My Hands
The Solution—a Hybrid Method!
Find a System That Works For You
Chapter 17: Um, What Was I Supposed to Do Today?
Things to Do
Appointments and Meetings
Prime Your Productivity
Chapter 18: You're the Boss, Not Your Inbox!
Best Practices for Email Organization
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude
Chapter 19: We Don't Need No Steenking Rolodexes!
Contact Information: What is Your Name Again?
History: Where Were You, and What Did You Say?
Where's that Card Again…?
Chapter 20: On the Road Again…
The Plane is My Mobile Office
Pack Efficiently
Don't Check Your Briefcase or Laptop
Have a Plan Before Your Trip
Embrace the Smartphone (in Moderation)
Use a Jump/Thumb Drive, Just in Case
Simplify with a Docking Station
Access Your Computer Remotely
Load Up a Phone Card
Pick Up an Extra Set of Chargers and Connectors
Use the Latest Tools and Technology
Get EVDO
Get Personal Broadband
Carry a Pocket Folder or Portfolio
Finish One Trip Before Starting the Next
Spending Money Means Saving Time
Preparation is the Key to…Preparedness
A Second Saved is a Second Earned
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #4: ACCESSIBILITY SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #4: ACCESSIBILITY
PART 5 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #5: ACCOUNTABILITY
Chapter 21: Accept the Credit When It's Due—and the Blame, Too
Master the Necessary Knowledge
Fine-Tune Your Behavior
Get Feedback
Hone Your Ethics
Conquer OCSMD
So…Are You Off Your Butt Yet?
Chapter 22: The Squeaky Wheel…Makes Things Better
Create a Process to Simplify the Task
Complete the Task in Less Time
Focus, Focus, Focus
Don't Forget About Technology
Try to Change the Scope
Streamline Your Life
Chapter 23: Crack That Whip!
Procrastination: Can We Talk About This Later?
The Early Bird Gets the Worm; the Tardy Bird Gets…Eaten Alive
Find a Reasonable Work-Life Balance
Working on Mundane Tasks and “Not Fun” Things
Put Perfection in its Place
Give Yourself a Deadline
Just Do It!
Chapter 24: Let's Get On With It!
Successful Decision-Making Tools
Slippery Activities
Get a Move On!
Chapter 25: Tweaking Timewasters
The 80/20 Principle
The Two Pains
Keys to Productivity
Time-Wasters to Watch Out For
Always Running, Always Running Behind
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #5: ACCOUNTABILITY SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #5: ACCOUNTABILITY
PART 6 SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #6: ATTITUDE
Chapter 26: If You Stew In Your Own Juices, You'll End Up Overcooked
Get a Grip
Give Yourself a Break from the World
Don't Worry, Be Happy
What Do You Mean I'm not In Charge of the World?
Chapter 27: Never, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever Give In
The Qualities of Perseverance
Practice Does Make Perfect
When the Going Gets Tough…
Chapter 28: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Unleash Your Creativity
Refuse To Accept the Status Quo
Take Calculated Risks
Resistance to Change
Chapter 29: Why Can't You Just Read My Mind?
I'm Okay, You're Okay?
Dealing with Difficult Personalities
The Twelve Dysfunctional Productivity Personalities
Focusing on Teamwork
Play Nice
Chapter 30: Hello There, Pollyanna!
Perky is as Perky Does
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #6: ATTITUDE SUMMARY
ACTION PLANNING WORKSHEET
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #6: ATTITUDE
CONCLUSION |
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