How often do you feel pressed to accomplish more than time allows?

Does management expect you to accomplish major goals (e.g., meet a project deadline) and then drop other "little" tasks on you (e.g., provide information for a report or serve on that committee)? Does your work ever seem to conflict with what you want to get done at home, like it did for the central character in the great foreign film, Twilight Samurai (2002)? This gentle warrior and single parent loved raising his two daughters; yet he also had to work his day job at the "warehouse," labor in his garden, and perform his samurai duties whenever the Shogun called. Sound familiar?

University of Houston Professor Steven Brown and his team call this goal conflict - "the degree to which individuals feel that their multiple goals are incompatible." They studied the effect of goal conflict on performance in 153 employees, and found that conflicting goals decrease employee commitment, self-efficacy, and overall performance. (Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies; 6/22/2002).

Here are a three practical tools science says you can use to manage the goal conflict in today's complex, competitive and contradictory work environment:

1. Say Yes to Get to No.Before we can decide how to juggle, we need to decide what to juggle. The Samurai turned down repeated requests by colleagues to join them for a drink after work. He knew he didn't have time for everything, so he focused on the most important things. Do you focus on the fundamental few or get caught up in the meaningless many? A few weeks ago, as I was teaching an organization how to use project management tools to increase productivity, a participant asked how to manage her manager who often dumped last- minute projects on her. I recommended that she first find out what was most important to him, and then align her priorities with his. Whenever he gave her last-minute projects, I suggested she show her boss the list of priorities and ask him where he would place the task if he were in her position. Saying yes to his priorities will lead her to saying no his dumping.

When you say yes to your (and your manager's) most important goals, goal conflict decreases because you, like the Twilight Samurai, will find it is easier to say no to what's not important. What are your priorities? What are they based on? Does a review of your calendar (PDA, Outlook, appointment book...) show congruence between what you say is important and where your time goes? Show me your calendar and I’ll tell you what you value.

2. Believe It to See It.Self- efficacy is a strong belief that we can take the steps to reach our goals is a strong predictor of goal achievement. Professor Brown found that people who had higher self-efficacy spent more time planning how to deal with goal conflict and more effort overcoming obstacles than their low self-efficacy counterparts. The stronger the believing, the higher the probability of seeing results. One way to increase self-efficacy is to use the power of modeling. Modeling directs us to learn from those who are achieving the goals we are striving to achieve. The Twilight Samurai studied with a master in short-sword fighting. He drew on this skill to swiftly deal with issues the emperor dumped on him...so he could get back to his primary goal of raising his girls.

If you struggle with goal conflict, find a coworker who is dealing with similar issues effectively. Ask if you can learn from them by watching and discussing their approach. Then adapt what they do to fit you. If you can't find a role model, perhaps a book, class, or coach will work. I often go to the research literature or Google (Type in, How do I....) to discover what science says, because the essence of science is prediction.

Where can you find accurate information to help you strengthen the belief you can achieve your primary goal?

3. Work Hard to Feel Good.

Professor Brown found that positive emotions resulted not only from achieving the goal, but also from merely engaging in goal- directed behaviors. When participants in his study worked hard, they felt better about themselves whether or not they reached their goal. Working hard led to feeling good independent of the outcome. The Twilight Samurai put his entire being into all his activities regardless of what they were, one day at a time.

This research and the samurai are teaching you to be present in all you do. You can do this by using all your senses as you focus on achieving your goals. Ironically, you’ll feel better about your conflicting goals by focusing on what is right in front of you. The gift of life is the present. What do you hear, feel, smell, and see as you work your way throughout your day?

Next time you feel overwhelmed, underappreciated, or just plain tuckered out... say yes to what's most important, believe you can achieve, and focus on what is in front of you. At the end of the day, how surprised will you be that you feel good about who you are because, like the Twilight Samurai, you have lived well.

Keep stretching,
Dave

Dave Jensen and his team transform proven leadership tools into your success stories. Dave is an executive coach and an engaging speaker at conferences, meetings, and retreats. He can be reached in Los Angeles, CA, at (310) 397-6686 or http://davejensenonleadership.com/.