AGENDA

We are not without advice about the importance of agendas. In leadership, business, even spiritual literature and you’ll find it all--Maxwell says it’s a success secret, Buffet admonishes never to let others set your agenda. Even in the civic duty of electing officials, responsible voters want to know candidates, “what’s on your agenda should you be elected?” the more focused the response, the more voters believe it is actionable--at least that is the hope. As a leader both professionally and in my community work, I always have one to keep our time together--the meeting--focused, productive. Its benefit is not only felt for the duration of the meeting but also following as a reminder of what transpired, decisions, action steps.  Since we know this about leading enterprises, why don’t we meet each day with an explicit agenda? 

Overwhelmed in personal life--home manager, parent, employee, business owner, sister, daughter, friend, lover--I found myself thinking I need to set an agenda and carry it around to keep myself on schedule and, more importantly, on purpose to feel accomplished at the end of the meeting, otherwise known as “the day.” I tested my theory this week. 

The night before I set the agenda for the next day along with timestamps and little boxes to check and space to write notes to mark my progress or just thoughts. The days are going very well. Did I accomplish everything? Everyday? No. But neither was I disappointed, overwhelmed, disgusted even, at not doing so. See with formal agendas there’s even a strategy for this--”Unfinished Business”--and it gets moved to the next day’s agenda. 

I know it can get moved in perpetuity, but like all good leaders, after meeting I reflect on the agenda against its goals--where was I successful, where did I miss the mark, what contributed to the success or lack, what do I need to do more or less of--basically what’s the status and what needs to happen to make moves on this item?

I’m not sure how long I’ll keep writing and reflecting on my agendas written on lavender-lined legal paper with a colorful “YOU GOT THIS!” encouraging me along the header, but one thing is for sure, I will look at my life as my greatest enterprise and do what I know what works best for its growth and expansion. In fact, that is going on the next meeting agenda. 

Tell me what’s on your daily agenda for your success?