66: Prioritisation series - The Lure Of Shiny New Things
Jan 21, 2021
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Exploring the balance between chasing new opportunities and focusing on what really matters, the podcast delves into the challenges of prioritization in both personal and organizational levels. It emphasizes the importance of categorizing tasks and maintaining a strategic balance between innovation and current priorities to navigate towards success.
Balancing curiosity and discipline is key for success in prioritization.
Applying 'one in one out' principle helps in managing new opportunities while honoring existing commitments.
Deep dives
The Temptation of Shiny New Things
The allure of shiny new things often disrupts prioritization efforts within individuals, teams, and organizations. These new concepts and initiatives promise improvement, tapping into curiosity and the desire for better outcomes. However, this allure can lead to FOMO and distraction from existing priorities, resulting in unfinished projects and a cycle of constantly chasing the 'next big thing.' The podcast emphasizes how balancing curiosity for new ideas with disciplined prioritization is crucial for sustainable success.
One In One Out Principle for Better Decisions
The 'one in one out' principle, originally applied to managing wardrobes, serves as a practical tool for decision-making in prioritization. By evaluating new opportunities against existing commitments and consciously choosing what to stop or remove, individuals can ensure that the pursuit of shiny new things does not lead to overload or neglect of current priorities. This principle encourages a thoughtful approach to embracing new possibilities while maintaining focus on completing existing tasks.
Conscious Balancing Act of Curiosity and Discipline
The podcast advocates for a conscious approach to balancing curiosity-driven exploration and disciplined prioritization. By recognizing the allure of the shiny new thing, individuals can assess the validity and alignment of these distractions with their broader goals. Making deliberate choices based on clarity and purpose, rather than succumbing to external pressures or internal FOMO, allows for intentional growth and innovation without losing sight of essential priorities. Involving teams in discussions and challenging assumptions can further strengthen decision-making and prioritization processes.
This episode explores the paradox between our curiosity and attraction to explore new possibilities and the value in prioritising and focussing on what really matters. Both are important, but the former can also offer way too many distractions.