Reevaluating Productivity Strategies: Setting Realistic Goals and Managing Distractions

In our latest episode of The Coaching Confidential Podcast, we sit with our client Shalani to explore the challenges of maintaining productivity in a remote work environment. Listen as Shalani, an experienced professional working in Corporate America, gets coaching on recalibrating her goals and creating a more focused work routine. Inside this episode there are great insights for anyone looking to boost their productivity! #CareerDevelopment #ProductivityHacks #ProductivityCoaching

An essential takeaway from the session is the importance of setting achievable goals. Shalini outlines her primary targets, which include revenue benchmarks and client acquisition, emphasizing the aim to achieve at least 75% of these goals. The conversation highlights a common challenge: the allure of over-ambition. Both Shalani, and her coach, Vimla reflect on the fine line between setting high goals and setting oneself up for frustration and stress.

As the session wraps up, both Shalani reflects on the insights gained and enthusiasm for applying these strategies in their daily routines. They agree to check in after a month to assess progress and discuss further adjustments.

For those listening with a coaches ear, be sure to tune into the post session wrap up where your hosts, Lisa & Vimla discuss some of the ICF competencies obvious in this session.

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Transcript

Lisa| 00:05

Hello and welcome to the Coaching Confidential Podcast. In this podcast, we bring you insight and unscripted real life coaching session, and today we are at episode 23. So Lisa, what's today's episode about?

Vimla | 00:20

So in this episode, uh, we'll hear you Vimla coaching your client Shalini, who is a professional in corporate America, working in the life sciences industry. She brings this topic of increasing her productivity and, uh, leaves with a lot of really interesting observations.

Lisa| 00:47

Yeah. Awesome. So, without further ado, let's listen to the session. Welcome, Shani. Thank you for being coached on air for us. It's lovely to have you here. Uh, before we get started, would you like to introduce yourself, please?

Shalini | 01:09

Sure. Thanks Vimla. Thanks for inviting me to the show. It's, I'm excited and it's nice to be coached. Uh, <laugh>, it's, it's, it's the, I officially, I think it's the first time I'm being coached and, uh, just a brief introduction about myself. Um, I'm an industrial engineer by education, did my MBA and I heard being in supply chain industry for almost 10 to 12 years, and slowly, uh, as I've been working with the same company and they moved into life sciences. So right now I'm into life sciences and, uh, my current role is in sales. So I have to sell, uh, services for my company. Um, and we provide services to pharma, pharma and biotech companies. So that's, that's my current role. But I've played various roles through my career and, uh, done marketing, sales, operations, little bit of strategy, risk management, uh, sustainability. Uh, the current one, <laugh> is sales. So that's, that's, um, really interesting. Uh, but I want to be more, uh, productive in my work. So that's how I thought, uh, let me get coached a little bit.

Lisa| 02:32

Lovely welcome. Wow, you've, you've been places, you have so many roles.

Shalini | 02:40

Yeah. You can say Jack of many trades, <laugh>.

Lisa| 02:45

That's amazing. You know, that's what, you know, sometimes in the startup world, that's what's needed. Uh,

Shalini | 02:52

Yes, yes. And it's good to be, uh, entrepreneurial. Like I love working with, uh, smaller companies. In fact, I've worked with one through my career, so I've not moved to bigger firm ever. <laugh>.

Lisa| 03:07

That's lovely. Awesome. Alright, so, uh, before we get started coaching, um, you mentioned that you have not been coached before. So is it okay if I say a few things about coaching?

Shalini | 03:20

Yes.

Lisa| 03:22

So coaching is a safe space. It's a space of exploration, reflection. It's a space where, um, things might emerge, right? And, um, coaching is a little bit forward facing. So it's, uh, a little bit of, we take stock of what's here, where you, where you are today and where would you like to go. Um, I like to say that coaching is, uh, confidential, but we are recording for the purposes of a podcast. So it's only as confidential as that. Uh, so, you know, if at any point you feel like you don't want, uh, something to, um, be, you know, pub very public, then public, you can let me know. We can modify absolutely where we are going, or we can stop the recording or,

Shalini | 04:22

Sure. Yeah.

Lisa| 04:24

I also like to say coaching is a nonjudgmental space, so I'm going to stay away from positive, negative, right, wrong, yes and no. And Okay. The invitation is for you to do that too, and we'll see where we go.

Shalini | 04:39

Got it. I'll try to keep that in mind.

Lisa| 04:42

<laugh>. Awesome. All right. So what's a topic for today?

Shalini | 04:46

So, um, I wanted to talk more about, uh, productivity, um, like improving productivity in a day-to-Day work or in our daily lives where, um, there are so many distractions and, uh, while we have a couple of goals, but we, we try and achieve too many things, get over ambitious <laugh> and ultimately don't end, end up being productive enough.

Lisa| 05:16

<laugh>. Mm, lovely. Uh, so our topic is productivity. Uh, if I'm hearing accurately, you're, it's more like a personal productivity, like an everyday personal productivity at work or in personal life.

Shalini | 05:35

Yeah. Um, as work is a major part of day-to-day life. So we can, we can keep it to work for now, <laugh>.

Lisa| 05:43

Okay. So productivity at work.

Shalini | 05:47

Absolutely. Yeah.

Lisa| 05:48

So around productivity at work, what's the goal?

Shalini | 05:55

Uh, to achieve better results and, uh, to achieve the goals of which are being set, um, for the year or as the sales targets?

Lisa| 06:10

Hmm. When you say better results, do you, does that translate to meeting the sales target,

Shalini | 06:21

Meeting this to sales targets? Uh, yes. Like there are four or five goals. Suppose, um, meeting a particular amount of revenue, target, getting new clients, opening new doors. So there are like four, five different targets, right? So achieving these better in terms of either the quarterly or half yearly marks or the annual marks is what, um, what I'm aiming to do with better productivity.

Lisa| 06:59

Hmm. You used the word better twice. Better productivity, better results. So how do you define better?

Shalini | 07:07

Um, whatever I'm doing, it should be an improvement over that. Like, um, right now if I'm able to achieve 50%, I should be able to do say 75, if not a hundred, at least 75. Yeah.

Lisa| 07:27

So meet at least 75% of your target.

Shalini | 07:32

Yes.

Lisa| 07:33

Okay. Um, so our topic is productivity. A goal around productivity is to meet at least 75% of the targets, like revenue targets, uh, new relationships, new alliances, target, and, um, you had mentioned one more thing, um, which is it's fine. You know what you mean, <laugh>. So at least 75% of your goal, whatever your targets are. Yeah.

Shalini | 08:12

Yeah.

Lisa| 08:13

Okay. So that's something that might happen eventually, like that's not gonna happen today.

Shalini | 08:24

Absolutely.

Lisa| 08:24

So if we bring into focus, like we bring our attention closer to, to, to, into focus today. So at the end of our conversation, what could be a goal around the topic of productivity?

Shalini | 08:43

Um, probably to, um, what do I say, be more focused in my day-to-day work. Also get less distracted, uh, be more output oriented.

Lisa| 09:07

Hmm. I love that word, output oriented. <laugh>, what does that mean to you? <laugh>?

Shalini | 09:16

<laugh>. So suppose I'm looking for new targets, right? I'm on LinkedIn and I keep going deeper and deeper into, uh, finding new people without actually ending up, um, on say, fi final five or Final 10, whom I can reach out to. Mm-Hmm. So I get too engrossed and get too diverted in, um, in the search. Mm. So I might not reach the output that I have said for myself. Mm. Like, that's,

Lisa| 09:47

So it's almost like, uh, when you say out output oriented, uh, you mean that at the end of a day, uh, let's say you're spending, you're going to spend two hours on LinkedIn, at the end of those two hours, you need to walk away with five, um, contacts or five Yeah, yeah.

Shalini | 10:10

Five key people whom I would be reaching out to for some new business. Like Yeah. Just taking one case. Yeah. So,

Lisa| 10:20

Yeah. Um, so similar to that, what's a goal for us? Like you and I, we are gonna talk for say, 30 minutes or so. What's a goal?

Shalini | 10:42

Uh, so how, like, how do I define it? How can I be more productive? Like, how do I keep myself focused? Should, um, do you think that would be No, that is not a goal, right? <laugh>?

Lisa| 10:56

Sorry. It's, it's a goal. We we're, I feel like we are already getting into that space of, uh, being outcome focused. So what's an outcome? Let's not call it a goal. What, what would be an outcome of our conversation?

Shalini | 11:14

So at least three or four key points that I should keep in mind, uh, for not getting distracted. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> or to, to keep my focus, right? Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. So to continue with my focus.

Lisa| 11:32

Yeah. So like a tentative strategy?

Shalini | 11:37

Yes. Okay. That's better. Yeah. <laugh>

Lisa| 11:42

No, you said it. I'm just reflecting back, uh, sort of a strategy, maybe strategy is not the accurate word, but something like a strategy. Okay, lovely. So you've brought in this idea that, um, you know, your goal, you know, what you want to accomplish, and an obstacle is, uh, distraction so far accurate?

Shalini | 12:18

Yes.

Lisa| 12:18

Okay. Um, so I guess logically, like, uh, you know, earlier you mentioned you're an engineer. Um, for, for our audience, I wanna mention, I'm also an engineer. And actually Shay and I go back long ways. We went to the same undergrad college of, although different fields, different spaces. Um, so if we use our engineering brains, like, it's like, um, you have, you know, your outcome, you clear on what's the outcome you want, and you sort of know what's an obstacle. So maybe the next logical step is to remove the obstacle.

Shalini | 13:07

So you mean to say, okay, like remove the distractions and just not get distracted or keep, keep, uh, keep going back to maybe my worksheet or, uh, target sheet and keep looking at it again and again saying, this is what I want to do and this is what I have to achieve. <laugh>,

Lisa| 13:31

That's one like, um, you know, logical, uh, way of looking at it. Like if you're, if you know what's an obstacle, then you would remove the obstacle. But I wanna propose that there is something else going on here.

Shalini | 13:49

Okay.

Lisa| 13:50

Um, I'm gonna assume that you've probably already tried the engineering approach to remove the obstacle and see what happens, but it seems like the obstacle is very sticky. It's not going away.

Shalini | 14:03

No, it's not <laugh>.

Lisa| 14:05

<laugh>. Yeah. Yeah. So let's, for a moment, not think about the obstacle.

Shalini | 14:20

Okay.

Lisa| 14:23

What else is happening?

Shalini | 14:26

Um, the, the another point which I have, like another thought which I have is I get over ambitious. So, mm. I want to achieve like, much more than I can do in a couple of hours or in a day or in a week. And because of that, I end up doing many things, but ultimately not closing any of them at the end of the day or end of the hour or end of the week. So I get over ambitious and in the process, beat myself up for not achieving anything. <laugh>.

Lisa| 14:56

Mm mm

Shalini | 14:59

Mm-Hmm. So I think that's, that's another issue. And that's, that's true for many of us. Like, um, we, like, I've seen that in many other colleagues or friends who become over ambitious, but somehow, uh, that is what has been, um, troubling me of late saying I'm too ambitious and like I set maybe higher goals for myself. So, but I don't want to like, reduce the amount of goals <laugh>, I didn't know what to, what else to do then.

Lisa| 15:33

Amazing, amazing <laugh>. So, so going, going back to that, you know, our left brain s logical rinse, uh, the reality of what can be accomplished is different than the dream or the want or the ambition

Shalini | 15:57

Of accomplishing. Yeah.

Lisa| 15:59

Yeah. So going back to, you know, our engineering approach, we would recalibrate, but you don't want to do that.

Shalini | 16:07

I should do it, right? <laugh>,

Lisa| 16:10

There are no shoulds. So this is a non-judgmental space. So let's get curious about recalibration seems to be an obvious step, but there is like, um, like, um, like, you know, like you said earlier, I don't want to recalibrate. I don't want to reduce the goal.

Shalini | 16:33

Yeah. Because, uh, okay, another thing which drives me to really work is being under some pressure or some kind of, uh, you know, stress. If I'm not stressed, I might not work as much <laugh>. Mm. Like when, when there is, when I take on too much, I quickly, I become very efficient because then I want to finish everything, all everything at, at a given particular, uh, in a given time or at a particular, in a particular time period. But if I'm too relaxed, then I'm like, Ugh, I'll do it later. <laugh> like, oh, there, there's too much time. Right? Then I keep stretching myself. Yeah. That's, that's another reason why I want to keep myself, um, in line of achieving more or setting higher goals. So more goals so that, you know, I'm under that stress and I keep performing.

Lisa| 17:24

Mm. Okay. I'm gonna call you out.

Shalini | 17:27

Okay. <laugh>, what am I doing?

Lisa| 17:30

<laugh>. So it seems to me what you're doing is, um, adding 10 things to your plate so you can actually accomplish five, let's say.

Shalini | 17:44

Yeah, maybe.

Lisa| 17:45

So your honest goal is actually five. The 10 is just like a teaser. Like, if I have 10, I will definitely do five. So you already know that that 10 is not a real goal. The five is the real goal.

Shalini | 18:01

Maybe <laugh>. Yeah, <laugh>. Yeah. So I, yeah, I, so what, what I'll say is I don't, so if I have to achieve like five difficult things, I will add on five softer targets so that I get some cushion. And then I, along with these software targets, I'm able to achieve the difficult ones too. But many a times I don't end up achieving any, like, not even one or two to get five. Hmm. So that, that's what is happening.

Lisa| 18:44

Hmm.

Shalini | 18:44

So I, I'm in that vicious cycle, or I don't know. I'm, I'm stuck there. Yeah. I'm thinking if I don't, if I don't press myself enough, I might not even, uh, get to working. Forget achieving the goals

Lisa| 18:59

<laugh>. Mm.

Shalini | 19:01

And when I press myself like enough, then I end up doing maybe seven different things, but not achieve, end up achieving even two. So that, that's where I'm stuck.

Lisa| 19:16

When did this strategy start

Shalini | 19:20

Or when did I realize it's happening? <laugh>. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.

Lisa| 19:23

Yeah.

Shalini | 19:24

Probably it started much earlier in my career, but yeah. Uh, past five years, six years, I think. Mm-Hmm. No lesser four years probably. Mm-Hmm. Yeah.

Lisa| 19:39

And when did you realize it's not working? I,

Shalini | 19:47

So, uh, oh, past three years? Probably, or maybe, yeah. Yeah, that's correct. Past couple of years. Mm-Hmm.

Lisa| 19:58

<affirmative>. Yeah. Um, so I'm guessing going back to a logical brains at its time to change the strategy.

Shalini | 20:09

Okay. Yeah.

Lisa| 20:11

What do you think?

Shalini | 20:15

Hmm. Uh, I can try something else, but what should I try is the question, because it's almost like addiction, right?

Lisa| 20:25

<laugh>. Yeah. I <laugh>, yeah. The,

Shalini | 20:27

I, I can't move away. Sometimes it's, it's so Yeah. Feel, feels like, oh, uh, I, I'm not able to move away from that in my personal life I've been able to achieve it. Um, but in my work life, I'm not able to. So I don't know where am I stuck? Like, Mm-Hmm.

Lisa| 20:46

<affirmative> in how, in your personal life, what's the strategy?

Shalini | 20:51

So I'm setting lesser goals and, uh, I'm contented with whatever I'm able to achieve in the day. Um, and instead of setting 10 things up for the day, I'm setting only five things. And if I achieve only three or four of them, I'm kind of, I'm like, okay, I'm good. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. I, I don't need to beat myself up. Yes. Somehow I've reached that budha state in my <laugh> personal life, but <laugh>. So you, in my work life, I've not achieved that yet. <laugh>. Yeah.

Lisa| 21:23

So in your personal life, you have recalibrated?

Shalini | 21:27

Uh, yeah.

Lisa| 21:29

And how did you recalibrate in personal life?

Shalini | 21:34

Mm. How did I do that? That's a good question. <laugh>. I did, we don't, uh, like, maybe I did not pay much. He'd do my super ambitious self <laugh>, and I was like, it's okay. Like, I, I'm trying to train my mind or brain to say that it's okay if I don't end up cleaning the whole house today. I will do only two rooms, or it's okay if I don't do full two hours of exercise, I'll at least achieve 30 minutes, right? Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. So I'm just probably, that's what I'm trying to do. Mm-Hmm. What would you call that? Like retraining the mind.

Lisa| 22:19

Recalibration.

Shalini | 22:20

Recalibrating. Yeah. Yeah.

Lisa| 22:23

Yeah. You know, you brought in this word of before and now again over ambitious. What makes you over ambitious?

Shalini | 22:41

How do I say that? I don't know. <laugh>.

Lisa| 22:45

Like, there must be a reason. Like there's something that's, uh, somehow over ambitious seems to be, um,

Shalini | 22:57

Yeah. So some people have told me that probably that's how it stuck to me saying I'm over ambitious or I want to do 10 things. I want to do too much in a small timeframe. And, uh, that's how I think it has stuck in my mind that probably I am over ambitious.

Lisa| 23:15

Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.

Shalini | 23:17

Well, I should not let other people define me, but

Lisa| 23:20

<laugh>, yes.

Shalini | 23:24

Sometimes, uh, it's not them defining you, but sometimes, like some people just show you the mirror, right?

Lisa| 23:32

<laugh>. Yeah. So do, do you feel like that is an accurate representation? That you're over ambitious?

Shalini | 23:38

Yeah. Like, thinking of it, I do realize that sometimes I do get over ambitious Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, um,

Lisa| 23:47

And, uh, and

Shalini | 23:48

Many a times I do achieve better when I'm over ambitious. Like, I realize that too, that, and that's why it's like, it works like addiction for me, right? That I get a high out of achieving better. And so I want to be over ambitious so I can achieve better and better. But, um, off late, I don't think that's working. <laugh>? Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Maybe it's the mid-career. What do you call it? The mid-career? <inaudible> work.

Lisa| 24:17

<laugh>. We, I don't know that, um, um,

Shalini | 24:22

Mid-career crisis

Lisa| 24:24

Or maybe mid-career wisdom that some strategies that worked before

Shalini | 24:30

Are not going to work now. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe. Yeah.

Lisa| 24:33

So hypothetically, for example, you know, when you first start your career, you are actually, your tasks are not as intense or time consuming as when you keep growing, right? Like, when you keep growing, you're working in the unknown, unknown, you're working with bigger projects, bigger tasks, Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> or things that actually need a lot of emotional energy, attention, time, energy, a lots of other things, resources from you. So maybe what worked for a certain type of tasks, um,

Shalini | 25:10

It's not going to work for right now, for this particular, yeah.

Lisa| 25:14

Maybe the tasks have changed. Yeah.

Shalini | 25:18

They have, like, I've done various roles, so the tasks I've teach,

Lisa| 25:23

Yeah. Maybe the previous tasks were more, um, how do you say, not as intensely demanding of your energy compared to now these tasks.

Shalini | 25:42

Yeah, yeah. Probably that, that's the case. So,

Lisa| 25:48

So maybe

Shalini | 25:48

Hence use,

Lisa| 25:50

Maybe that's you work then. So now for these intense or demanding tasks, maybe there has to be a little recalibration,

Shalini | 25:58

Recalibration of what I want to achieve and what goals do I set? Okay. I can, I can consider that <laugh>.

Lisa| 26:14

Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.

Shalini | 26:15

Yeah. But, um, so over achievement or over ambition is one thing, but distraction is the other thing I do. I do feel that I off late, I get more distracted than I used to, um, earlier. Maybe it's just the digital age <laugh> and there are too many distractions, right? Mm-Hmm. So, yeah. And work from home is another big distraction.

Lisa| 26:43

Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.

Shalini | 26:44

Yeah.

Lisa| 26:45

<laugh>. Yeah.

Shalini | 26:46

Yeah. Kids pets, doorbell ringing something on the stove. <laugh>.

Lisa| 26:53

Yeah. We are multitasking.

Shalini | 26:55

Yeah. Yeah. So that's another distraction, which, which, uh, yeah, that is something I'm, I'm trying to, um, so if I look back at it, obviously for the past four years, all of us have been working from home. Many of us have not gone back to office. And probably since from then, this issue has been there as now that I think of distraction and not being able to achieve what I want to achieve. So maybe, uh, reducing my distractions might mm-Hmm. <affirmative> help me achieve better, right?

Lisa| 27:35

Yeah. So what's an action you can take,

Shalini | 27:41

Uh, work on, like do not disturbs or something like that? Or just like, work in a non distracted place where there are no kids and no pets distracting me or, Mm-Hmm.

Lisa| 27:58

<affirmative>, do you have a I don't <laugh> Do you have a place like that?

Shalini | 28:03

Yes, I do, but I often tend to not sit there.

Lisa| 28:07

Ah, <laugh>. Now you're outing yourself <laugh>.

Shalini | 28:16

Yeah. So probably I just need to get into my, uh, my work zone by actually coming into a separate room rather than working from an open space.

Lisa| 28:29

Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Where there are

Shalini | 28:31

Too many distractions. Yeah.

Lisa| 28:33

Yeah. All right. So as far as strategies go, one is recalibration, one is, uh, workspace work zone. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, uh, like physical work zone where you, um, can, can you describe what's your work zone like?

Shalini | 28:52

Yeah. So sometimes I, uh, work on one of the dining tables or in the common area instead of working from my desk. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, because my desk is too secluded.

Lisa| 29:08

Oh, <laugh>. You feel alone at your desk. Yeah.

Shalini | 29:13

Yeah. So that's why I work from a place where there are, uh, there is a movement around

Lisa| 29:22

Where there is distraction,

Shalini | 29:24

Uh, that also tends or ends up being distraction. Yeah. Because usually in office, they, you have people around, but you're not really distracted by them. Right? Yeah. So that's, that's the whole thing that how do I keep my focus with all the distractions still being there?

Lisa| 29:47

Yeah. I'm noticing a resistance to work from your desk because of the seclusion. So it seems like there's something over there like seclusion. Is there a belief you don't want to be secluded for a period of time? Or what's the seclusion?

Shalini | 30:08

Mm, maybe, um, I don't know. Sometimes I feel I will get too engrossed and forget about everything else.

Speaker 5 | 30:17

<laugh>

Shalini | 30:19

That or the fear of missing out could be either, right? <laugh>.

Lisa| 30:24

Yeah.

Shalini | 30:25

What's happening around, let me be aware. Yeah. That's, that's the biggest distraction. Yeah. Fear of messing out is the biggest distraction. I think that's more of the, more the fear of messing out rather than anything else.

Lisa| 30:40

Hmm. Yeah. Is there something very important you would miss out?

Shalini | 30:48

No, not really. Maybe just a couple of coffees.

Speaker 5 | 30:54

<laugh> <laugh>.

Shalini | 30:58

Too much caffeine is anyways. Not too good. <laugh>.

Lisa| 31:02

All right. So you're giving yourself homework <laugh> too, to work at your desk or at least, um, you know, an experiment to work at your desk to see how it shows up, how it ends up. Yes.

Shalini | 31:17

Yeah, absolutely.

Lisa| 31:19

Or maybe you can put some coffee breaks in there, like with two coffee breaks in your workday. <laugh>.

Shalini | 31:29

Yeah. One at 11 and the other one at four, maybe. No, at three. Yeah. <laugh> four is too late in the day. If I, if I get up for coffee at four, I might not come back to work.

Speaker 5 | 31:43

<laugh>.

Lisa| 31:44

All right, so three. So two coffee breaks. One at 11, one at three. And maybe a lunch break.

Speaker 5 | 31:51

Yeah.

Shalini | 31:53

Lunch break is quick.

Speaker 5 | 31:54

Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.

Lisa| 31:55

So

Shalini | 31:55

Like, coffee break should be quicker.

Speaker 5 | 31:57

<laugh> <laugh>.

Lisa| 32:00

All right. How, how quick. So 30 minutes for coffee, 30 minutes for lunch. 30 minutes for,

Shalini | 32:05

No, I think 10 minutes for coffee is good. And then, um, 30 minutes for lunch should be good. Yeah.

Speaker 5 | 32:12

Okay.

Lisa| 32:12

So 11:00 AM coffee break. Uh, 10 minutes, uh,

Shalini | 32:16

Like factory timing,

Speaker 5 | 32:18

Right? <laugh>? Yes.

Lisa| 32:20

And then lunch break for 30 minutes. And, uh, you didn't say the time for lunch break.

Shalini | 32:28

Yeah. So at maybe 1230 Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, that's

Lisa| 32:31

1230. And then 3:00 PM is a 10 minute coffee break. Coffee

Shalini | 32:35

Break, yes.

Lisa| 32:39

Hmm.

Shalini | 32:40

I've noted that down.

Lisa| 32:41

<laugh>.

Shalini | 32:43

I'll put it right here in front of my <laugh>, my computer screen on the wall. Stick it on the wall. Yeah. And my work desk. Yeah. So that, so that I'm more focused. Mm-Hmm.

Lisa| 32:58

Yeah. Um, so we're, we are coming to the end of our time. Shall we start wrapping up?

Shalini | 33:05

Yeah, sure.

Lisa| 33:07

Okay. So we went, we started at productivity. The outcome was to become more productive. Uh, the outcome for us was to work away with maybe a strategy or a few, few actions that you could try. And, um, we explored the obstacles, we explored, um, what's really happening, which is probably unrealisticness of the goals of the targets. And we also explored a little bit of the, uh, over ambition, which, which you seem to seem to be using as a strategy, like being over ambition is actually a productivity strategy, which has worked for you before. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, but now it seems to be in a space where it's not as effective.

Shalini | 34:09

Yeah.

Lisa| 34:11

Um, so, uh, in all of this, what is standing out to you?

Shalini | 34:19

So yeah, I do have some good takeaways, um, on improving my productivity. Well, first of all, like we said, that I should remove the obstacles of distraction and <laugh> and then recalibrate. Like not be over ambitious, recalibrate my goals so that I can achieve the right things in the duration that I have set for myself instead of doing, achieving, like trying to achieve 10 and not achieving even one or two.

Lisa| 34:54

Hmm.

Shalini | 34:54

Yeah. So I will definitely work from my work desk <laugh> instead of being distracted at the dining table or the open space, common area,

Lisa| 35:08

<laugh>. Yeah.

Shalini | 35:09

And I think, uh, this will help me. Yeah, I would love to try that. And maybe I can come back to you after a month and tell you how did I perform <laugh>?

Lisa| 35:21

Lovely. That'd be great. I would love to know.

Shalini | 35:26

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

Lisa| 35:29

Um, alright, so let's officially end the, um, coaching session. How was that coaching experience for you?

Shalini | 35:44

Yeah, it was good. Thanks Vimla. Thanks for inviting me. It was <laugh> good being coached, and I think I need to do this more often <laugh> like speak out loud and talk about things which are troubling me or not helping me achieve my goals or targets and

Lisa| 36:05

Mm, lovely. Anything about the process that's sticking out?

Shalini | 36:13

Uh, yeah, I, I like the process because I've heard a couple of other of your sessions where it's more of guiding the person rather than, um, actually telling them what to do, what not to do. <laugh> guiding and letting them like decipher and decide as to, uh, what went wrong, where, or what should be, what should be the way forward. Mm. It's like, it's, I I like it. It's interesting.

Vimla | 36:42

<laugh>.

Lisa| 36:44

Lovely. Um, anything else before we end for today?

Shalini | 36:50

No, I think this was good. Thank you so much.

Lisa| 36:54

You are very welcome. <laugh>. So Lisa, having heard, heard the session, what's standing out to you?

Vimla | 37:04

First of all, it was a delight to listen to. Um, there was a playfulness there, lightness and like sense of humor that was really present in the session. And, um, I'll say having coached other professionals in corporate America on a very similar topic, these sessions can go a lot of different ways, <laugh>, and they can feel really heavy and, um, I don't know, just, uh, not as pleasant <laugh> as this particular session came across. Um, so I guess what stands out in general is the relatedness of the topic, right. Wanting to be more productive. Yeah. Just how common that is and how fun it was to listen to that exploration via this coaching session.

Lisa| 38:09

Yeah. Yeah. It was definitely fun. And um, I think our listeners would've already realized that, um, uh, Charlene is a very good friend of mine and, um, she's very fun. She is very present. Um, and yes, like you said, Lisa, it is a topic that, um, a lot of corporate America talks about.

Vimla | 38:39

Yeah, it certainly is. And I'm super tempted to talk about the topic, but you just said something that makes me very curious and I'm wondering if we can just spend a minute on understanding. What was it like for you to coach somebody who's your friend?

Lisa| 38:56

Um, you know, um, in coaching school we are advised against coaching our friends and family

Vimla | 39:04

And, and, and ela, lemme just pause there. And because we have another relationship with the client in which we may be attached to outcomes for their life, we're unable to be as unbiased as a coaching session would want us to be.

Lisa| 39:24

Yes, exactly what you said, Lisa. And, um, I wanna say that as a coach, I'm in a place where, um, holding the client's agenda, that's my only job and I don't let my agenda intervene. Um, so I felt pretty confident coaching my friend.

Vimla | 39:46

Yeah. What I heard you say in your answer is, you know, what it was like to coach Shay is I kept a single focus

Lisa| 39:57

Yes.

Vimla | 39:58

On driving whatever I brought towards what she wanted to leave with. And, um, you, you actually did do that as we heard at the end of the session, you sort of checked in on, okay, where did we get on this topic that you brought?

Lisa| 40:14

Yes, yes. Very accurately summarized <laugh>. Thank you. Um, so yeah, let's move on. I,

Vimla | 40:23

Yeah,

Lisa| 40:25

I did not realize this at the time, but I think what really stood out for me was, um, this idea of, uh, over ambition or, uh, putting extra things on our calendar at some level, we know that that's actually unachievable, and yet we give ourselves some unachievable goals. Um, and sometimes that's a strategy. Um, it's almost like taking the moonshot and so that we land in a different place. So that's a great strategy. And sometimes when we get attached to the idea of moonshot and then we criticize ourselves for falling shot of that moonshot, that activates a different part of our being that activates the, the critical part of ourselves, and then we beat ourselves up <laugh>. So that's very fascinating to me, and that that's, uh, as I listen back to the session, that's really, really standing out how we do that.

Vimla | 41:35

Yeah. That, um, that's so common. <laugh>. Yes. And you know, I, I think the strategy itself, we can't really judge, I don't mean in, in this conversation for that session. I mean, as an individual, if you're listening to this episode and you're thinking, oh, well this is my strategy over here, or that, you know, we can't judge it in a vacuum. We have to look at what's the cost

Lisa| 42:05

Yes.

Vimla | 42:06

Right. Along with the benefits. So there can be dividends that, that are paid, but are they worth the cost? And yes. Is there another way to get there?

Lisa| 42:19

Yes. I love your use of metaphor, <laugh>.

Vimla | 42:24

Yeah. So let's talk about the coaching skills that were used.

Lisa| 42:28

Let's do that. Um, so I think one skill that, uh, we already touched upon was holding the client's agenda. Just I think that's was what I was doing very mindfully, and I was very aware of it, and I'm just gonna go where my client wants to go hold her agenda. She wanted to talk about productivity and she wanted some strategies around that. So we were just holding that not going anywhere else. Um, what else did you notice, Lisa?

Vimla | 43:02

Well, in order for you to hold that, you actually had to make the agreement <laugh>. Yes. Right. So, um, and it can be really tempting to, in a regular conversation, right. To just assume what we're talking about and assume what the person means and assume the outcome. And so the other skill that was very, very present was establishing and maintaining agreements Yes. Along the way.

Lisa| 43:29

Yes.

Vimla | 43:30

I'd also add, there were a bunch of different ways that I was delighted by listening to you maintain presence. You know, maintain presence is about so many things, like staying focused Yeah. IE on the agenda. Yeah. Being empathetic, which, you know, is so present in your style of coaching, being curious and, um, working in a space of not knowing and creating and allowing space for silence, pause, or reflection. And I, I, I really wanna highlight that one because the whole session like relied on your ability to offer this as the coach and for Shalini to show up willing, because for us to be able to look at what's happening, we have to pause Yes. Long enough to reflect on it, right?

Lisa| 44:28

Yes.

Vimla | 44:30

And sometimes even if like, you know, I can just imagine somebody listening to this podcast right now, it's like, well, I reflect on my day, on my ride home every day I spend an hour in the car thinking about the day. And the thing is, you know, you're reflecting in a vacuum when you're doing that. And that's not to say there's not value in that reflection time, but the value of reflecting with somebody who's present with you, being curious and helping you see what you take for granted or seeing what you're not able to see, um, maybe because it's just become so common or rote Yes. Is, is really what this space provided. And I all of this comes back to maintaining presence as a skill that was so present. Yeah. See what I did there, <laugh>, um, in this session. Yes.

Lisa| 45:27

Yeah. Yeah. I I love that you highlight that, Lisa.

Vimla | 45:30

Yeah. And in, in a way that reflection is fueled by the awareness that is evoked. Yes. Right. Which is another skill, um, evokes awareness. Right. And there was just a delightful way in which you helped shalini see what was happening.

Lisa| 45:54

<laugh>. Yes.

Vimla | 45:56

I loved when, you know, you without attachment just shared an observation and then you would both burst out in, in this giggle <laugh>. Yes. That was just like, oh yeah. Okay. <laugh>.

Lisa| 46:10

Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah. Uh, and, and I have to say that, um, evoking awareness is the favorite part of a coaching session for me. You know, that part when the class is, huh, I already know that I should be doing this and um, this is exactly what I'm gonna do. It's almost like, um, there's something that's just outside their periphery of awareness and then they just bring it in immediately. So Shalini did take away a few strategies, like sitting at her desk, <laugh>

Vimla | 46:49

Structuring her time, structuring her coffee breaks and her lunchtime.

Lisa| 46:54

Yes. And also, um, not giving into the fomo, the fear of missing out.

Vimla | 47:02

You know, I feel like this again is so relatable. So I'm so curious as people are listening to this, like what they're taking away for themselves and maybe this awareness, I sort of see it as like the sunlight shines on something before where there was shade. Yeah. You know, <laugh>, I'm super curious for listeners what the sun is shining on for them as they listen to this episode.

Lisa| 47:30

Yes. Lovely. So on that note, we are going to end here for today. And, uh, listeners, please do reach out to us. Tell us if you would like to work with us, if you would like to be a guest on the podcast, if you would like to get coached by either of us. And of course, please do leave us a review. And what are we doing next time?

Vimla | 47:58

Excellent question. I don't believe we know, and so I think we'll just remain in curiosity. <laugh> <laugh>.

Lisa| 48:05

Perfect.