There are many ways to do fine work. Some people can always be relied on to commit themselves fully and put in a shift. There are several definitions for this phrase. The one we are using here is:
To prepare properly, be fully present and perform superbly when doing a piece of work.
Imagine that you want to follow this approach. You may aim to do a counselling session, run a workshop, lead a project or do another piece of work. This can involve focusing on the following themes.
You Can Prepare Properly
Before Putting In A Shift
Great workers set things up to succeed before doing a piece of work. They make sure that: a) they really want to do the work; b) they have at least a 7+/10 chance of achieving the goals; c) they do what they can to increase the chance of success.
You will prepare properly in your own way before doing a piece of work. Bearing in mind what you can control in the situation, one approach is to explore the following themes.
What are the real results I want to achieve? What is the picture of success? What will be the benefits of achieving these goals? What will be happening that will show I have achieved the picture of success?
How can I play to my strengths when doing the work? What are the key strategies I can follow to give myself the greatest chance of success? How can I anticipate and manage any challenges?
How can I translate these strategies into a clear action plan? How can I rehearse following these strategies and also managing any challenges? What else can I do to increase the chances of achieving success?
Imagine that you have taken these steps. When appropriate, you may move on to the next stage.
You Can Be Fully Present
When Putting In A Shift
Great workers have their own ritual for clicking into action. They may follow a certain routine, repeat their chosen mantra or follow their own approach for being positively engaged.
They are alive, alert and use their antennae to focus on what is happening. Some have the ability to helicopter above the situation to see patterns whilst also being hands-on and doing superb work.
Such workers concentrate fully. They also recognise that it may only be possible to maintain this state for a certain period of time. They therefore manage their energy properly by aiming:
To rehearse properly, follow their ritual for moving into action and be fully present;
To pursue their chosen strategies, get some early successes and perform superb work;
To build in times for rest, reflection and rehearsing what they are going to do next.
Imagine that you have taken these steps in your own way to be fully present when putting in shift. When appropriate, you may move on to the next stage.
You Can Perform Superbly
When Putting In A Shift
Great workers aim to deliver high professional standards when doing a piece of work. They aim to do this when working as an educator, medic, technical specialist, leader or in another role.
They perform superb work but also keep reading reality. They focus on: a) what is happening; b) what is going well; c) what can be improved and how.
They also buy time to think when faced by challenges. They aim to clarify the real results to achieve, the possible options and the pluses and minuses of each option. They then pursue their chosen route.
Such workers finish properly. They continue to put in shift, do their best and keep improving. When appropriate, they may add that touch of class when achieving the picture of success.
Let’s return to your own work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may follow elements of the putting in a shift approach? How can you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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