Setting clear expectations is one of the most important things you can do. Whether it’s in a work related situation or your personal life and whether you’re the one setting them or responding to expectations that has been put on you, making sure that they are shared, mutually understood and preferably agreed is critical in order to avoid misunderstandings.
That thing called time
Last week I received four invitations regarding speaking and writing, something I want to do more of. Just as everything else these things take time and juggling a full time job as a freelance as well as starting a company means my plate is rather full. It’s fine as long as I can manage my time. Weekends like the last one however, makes me fall behind as there is little to no time to do any work and whilst one or two isn’t a problem, more has too big an implication at the moment. With everything that needs to get done, speaking and writing commitments, my life here in London, one visitor coming in the next couple of weeks and one more trip home to Sweden I’d like to make before May, my spring is rather full. However, when I was home there were two more suggestions of visits from friends and family and one suggested trip away. All before May. As much as I don’t like to say that I can’t because I have to work, that is the reality of it. Even a day or two makes a difference whilst I’m still juggling a full time job and visits or trips normally means 3 nights and two days go.
Being clear
On Day 003 | Finding the balance I wrote about how I’ve made a schedule so that I treat this as proper work. It’s for myself but also for others so they know when I’m working and when I’m off. What last weekend’s visit home made me realise is that I need to do the same for people back home. Some of them know what I’m up to. Most just know of it, i.e. that I’ve talked about doing this thing. They don’t know that I’m actually doing it. With all the mentions of visits and trips I have to be clear with people so they know that if they want to come I would have to work part of the time. Then they can make the decision if they still want to come or not.
Juggling my personal life with work commitments is what I struggle the most with at the moment but the things we don’t deal with lie at the back of our minds, nibbling away at our attention and focus and stealing energy from the things we should be doing. So make sure your mind is clear, all expectations are clearly communicated and clearly responded to so that you can focus on the tasks at hand. That’s what I need to do.
Tomorrow – Day 039 | People you connect with
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/5726718933
