Stop, Drop and Roll

I know that’s a saying used for fires, but it also can be used as a solution for today’s busy and distracting workplace.

Somehow the connection came to me this afternoon, and I have linked Stop, Drop and Roll to some of our main concepts of Structured Time and Workflow Management. 

Stop = Focal Locking

I don’t really know how this happened, but I ended up with a Friday afternoon with no meetings, no appointments and no projects that were due yesterday. So I decided to use my time to think about business development and used focal locking on that concept. I was able to stop thinking about all the other things I do and focus only on business development. I even dug out some of my previous plans that are still good!

Drop = Meetings, Distractions

Once I decided to focus on business development, I was able to turn away from my PC, drop the urge to immediately respond to incoming emails and focus again on this one area, business development. Putting a time lock on for thinking and dropping everything else, even for a few hours, was so productive, and I still felt like part of the 21st century even though I didn’t answer an email for 2 hours.

Roll = Plan

Now that I was able to focus and time lock, I emerged with a plan. I actually was able to brainstorm (with myself) and came up with some things that I think will work. Had I not used this Window of Opportunity for thinking, stopped all the busyness and dropped all the self-created distractions, I would still be thinking about my plan (and not have one) days later.

It’s funny because in my recent research with former colleagues on what they would do with surplus time, they all said “think, plan, analyze”. I know what they mean now and can add my name to the list.

Next time you need to think, Stop, Drop and Roll with the concepts of focal locking, time locking and planning.

Your thoughts?

Johanna Lubahn is Managing Director of Call Center Services for Cohen Brown Management Group, Inc.