“Ann, I love your Clear Thoughts newsletter. I read every edition. They’re all fantastic, and highly relevant to Medtronic.”
Paul Franson, Clinical IT Development Manager, Medtronic
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“I’ve never been to a retreat that was so focused, so fast paced, and with such clear progress throughout.”
Jay Primack, Managing Partner, Moriarty & Primack P.C.
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“I wish everyone read this book. Ann Latham’s “Uncommon Meetings” is a quick read, packed with substantive ideas on how to get more out of meetings in less time. Everyone who runs meetings should read it!”
Janet Warren, President, MarCom Capital
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“Ann Latham is one of the best business speakers I have heard. She is very experienced, the quality of her thinking is extremely high, and she knows how to deliver her message in an entertaining, concise, and convincing way.”
Dr. Alan G. Robinson, Isenberg School of Management, Author - "Ideas Are Free"
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“On a collaborative project with Boeing Phantom Works, Ann did a tremendous job in identifying the cost drivers, producibility issues, and productivity barriers of a supplier organization, all of which were impeding the success of our project.”
Ed Gerding, Chief Engineer C-17 St. Louis, The Boeing Company
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“Ann can help you identify the crux of a problem and solutions that will work for you. While others may be good, my 35 years of experience tells me that no one is better.”
Perry Walraven, President and CEO, Performance Controls, Inc. a Subsidiary of Hitachi Medical Corporation
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“Ann’s ability to simplify complex issues such that everyone understood their respective roles was a key part of her success. She truly helped us achieve profitable and predictable growth while improving the quality of our methods and processes.”
S. W. Emery, Jr., Chairman and CEO, MTS Systems Corporation
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“I would recommend Ann to anyone who wants to make better plans and decisions in less time and with better confidence in the outcomes.”
W. Lowell Putnam, Chairman/CSO, VCI (Video Communications, Inc.)
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“’Wow’ sums it up nicely. The way Ann works is impressive: she has a great handle on people, makes everyone want to work together, ensures meetings are focused and valuable, and simplifies the challenges and options so all can reach shared conclusions.”
John Heaps, President, Florence Savings Bank
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“You are clearly a gifted facilitator and helped us achieve some important outcomes. The ROI was there.”
Bob Fazzi, President & CEO, Fazzi Associates
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“Ann listens, understands, simplifies, reframes, and provides clear advice. I inevitably leave with a new perspective, better decisions, 3 - 4 specific action items, and the resolve and focus I need to get the right things done. If you are looking for a great coach, call Ann.”
Michael Niedenfuehr, Financial Planner, Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
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“Ann’s book, Clear Thoughts, is the fresh, grounding breath of perspective that every executive needs in order to see clearly despite the daily chaos”
Jane Lansing, VP Marketing, Emerson Process Management
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“Ann uncovers common ground, creates opportunity, and guides the group to new shared conclusions in remarkably little time.”
Laurie Fenlason, Vice President for Public Affairs, Smith College
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“Working with a diverse group of manufacturing and design team members, Ann was able to gain consensus for improvement initiatives, win over even the skeptical, and move the team forward toward production-readiness.”
Dana Badgerow, General Manager, AeroMet Corporation
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“After working with Ann, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of a strategy, plan, arbitration, facilitation, etc.”
Chuck McCullagh, CFO, The Williston Northampton School
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“Ann Latham transformed our thinking about how our organization works. This discovery led us to a strategic model that solves our pain and opens new opportunities. She truly lives up to her brand of ‘uncommon clarity.’”
Suzanne Beck, Executive Director, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
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“Ann is a captivating speaker, providing important principles in an approachable, common-sense way. Our audience enjoyed her depth and breadth of knowledge.”
Aimee Griffin Munnings, Esq., Director, Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship
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“The process that our committee engaged in was outstanding and the outcome of our work is truly exceptional.”
Russell Peotter, General Manager, WGBY - Public Television for Western New England
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“Ann’s work with us helped change the direction of three units very set in their ways and has opened up a myriad of possibilities for growth in the future.”
Joan Schuman, Executive Director, Hampshire Educational Collaborative
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“The time and stress saved by one phone call with Ann was astounding.”
Rev. Johanna McCune Wagner, Director of Religious Life, The Culver Academies
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Every organization would benefit from the material found in Ann’s audio seminar, “Meeting Mastery.”
Chuck Hatch, General Manager, Packaging Corporation of America
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Ten Tips for Achieving Your Goals
There are only 24 hours in a day for each of us. Those who use them wisely, get where they want to go. Those who don't, are left to dream. If you carve out enough time for the right things and then focus on getting them done, you too can achieve your goals. Follow these 10 steps to significant results and less stress:
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Know what is important
Decide what is truly important to you, whether personal or business. What must you do to create value for which customers are willing to pay? What will make you or your company more able to create that value? What will make you a stronger, more capable person? What will keep your life balanced, healthy and sane? Devoting time to these goals will help you get to where you want to go. Devoting time to everything else – the urgent but unimportant, the myriad little tasks piled up at your desk – will only suck up your seriously limited hours. Know what is important and keep it in mind always.
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Know what is MOST important
You can't do everything. You can't improve everything. You must choose. Decide what is most important and focus on the top few. You will accomplish more if you tackle less. Get it done and then move on.
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Clear the unimportant off your plate
Delegate, outsource, find a more efficient method, and simply stop doing things that aren't necessary. Examine your activities. Which ones support your most important goals? Minimize or eliminate the rest.
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Be specific about next steps
Be clear about the specific, concrete steps needed to make progress toward your goals. What exactly will constitute success at each step? Vague tasks suck up time. You don't have to have a completely detailed plan reaching far into the future but you better know exactly where B is before trying to get there from A. Otherwise how will you know you have arrived?
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Assess prerequisites
In order to complete your next task, do you have the knowledge, skill, process and resources required? If not, get them. Otherwise, you are just kidding yourself and the task will remain on your to-do list far too long.
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Schedule time for the important
If a task is important, schedule a reasonable block of time for it just as you would for a meeting with an important customer.
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Remove distractions
Silence the phone, shut the door, turn off the email alert, hang a sign. These precautions should eliminate most external distractions. The self-imposed distractions are tougher. Put everything away except the project at hand. Close unnecessary computer applications. Keep a small pad handy to jot down distracting thoughts.
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Be intentional
Just as you would start a meeting on time with a predefined agenda, start your task on time with a predefined outcome. Note the clock and the reserved block of time. Tell yourself that you need to accomplish X by the scheduled end time. You may wish to set a timer at the halfway point to ensure progress.
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Check your progress
If you are not making progress as expected, what step did you skip? Are you clear about the specific outcome? Do you have the knowledge, skill, method and resources necessary to complete the task? Did you set aside a block of time and eliminate distractions? Did you review the agenda mentally and commit to finishing the task?
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Avoid perfectionism
Keep the purpose in mind and when you achieve it, quit. The last 20% may satisfy your pride but is probably not even noticeable to anyone else. If the last 20% of every task is excessive and unnecessary, you could be wasting the equivalent of one whole work day every week.
© 2008 Ann Latham. All Rights Reserved.