17

The Best Thinking Tools Ever Invented

Keep a Journal

HAVE YOU WRITTEN the great American novel yet? Well, maybe that’s too ambitious; let’s bring it down a level. How about an article for a magazine or trade journal? Not enough time, got it. What about a blog on the company Web site? No? Hmm . . . how about a letter to your parents? What? OK, I get it; you don’t write anymore—at least not in the traditional sense. I know you type on a computer keyboard; you probably write 100 emails a day in addition to PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and so forth. Maybe you crank out proposals, spreadsheets and production charts too—tools of the modern trade. But chances are you’re not doing a whole lot of writing with pen and paper. That’s too bad, because a lot of self development can flow out of your pen. To capture this value, I encourage you to add another skill to your leadership toolkit: the act of journaling.

When’s the last time you sat down and did a little reflecting using the two greatest thinking tools ever invented? That’s right, a little “pen and paper time” focused on your own thoughts can go a long way to recharging your batteries and helping you see things more clearly. Journaling is becoming a lost art. Not even thirty years ago, it was fairly common for children to keep diaries and for managers to keep journals—both filled with hopes, dreams, ideas, reflections, etc. Today, it seems we’re too busy to pause and write down our thoughts and feelings. That’s unfortunate, because writing can be therapeutic; there’s something about it that slows the mind and causes a person to think. Keeping a journal is one of the last best personal reflection tools left in our world; it’s something that only you do and only you see. It’s a way to give your inner voice some time and attention. By committing your thoughts to paper, you give them credibility and validation.

I always encourage my executive coaching clients to keep a journal because it has a way of focusing them on the things that matter. Some of them embrace it, and some of them resist it, and not everyone gets the hang of it. However, many of my clients find that it helps them identify what’s really important in their lives, both at work and at home. Writing your thoughts down on paper is a good way to remember and act on them.

Three Ways to Keep a Journal

Right about now you might be thinking: “No thanks; I’ve tried that; it’s not for me.” Well, that may be so, but there are many different ways to keep a journal, and you probably haven’t tried them all. Here are three forms of journaling; try to make one of these a part of your regular routine. First, of course, is the old standby: the longhand, free-flowing diary. This version has an added bonus: You get to buy a really nice leather-bound journal! Seriously, this can be half the fun; go to an office-supply store and let your creative side run wild through the journal/notebook section. Pick out something that appeals to you, something you’d carry around with you or leave out on your desk at work. The longhand journal has a long and storied tradition, of course, that dates back thousands of years. Open the book and start writing. If you want to track your thoughts sequentially, date the entries. Otherwise, let your imagination go—there’s no limit to your direction here. Draw pictures, use different colored pens, write big or small or sideways on the page. Write it in the first or third person—it doesn’t matter. This is your canvas; paint on it as you wish. Keeping a diary-style journal allows you to constructively daydream about your role, your team, how you’re showing up as leader, and so forth. It’s like taking your mind and imagination to a fancy spa: Using this technique regularly can be incredibly energizing.

The second journaling technique is more of a note-taking process. It involves keeping a designated notebook with you at all times—one you leave open on your desk, take to meetings, etc. This technique allows you to write down all the random thoughts that come to you during the day or in a meeting in four major categories. Write the date on a piece of paper, and divide the page into four equal quadrants.

Label the upper left quadrant “Learnings,” and use it to capture new information, facts, or figures that you read or learn during the course of your day. Use this space to record anything that you want to remember to tell your team, for instance. What resonated with you today? What did you learn? Write it down.

Label the upper right quadrant “Ideas,” and use it to jot down any new ideas that this new information creates for you. Write down the implications of what you learned; anything that has application back to your team. This can be an exciting set of notes, as new ideas pop into your head, sparked by what you learn. In other words, make this a series of bullets about how you might apply what you’ve learned back on the job.

Label the lower left quadrant “Questions,” and use it to write questions your want to explore back on the job. For me, these questions often start with: “What if we?” or “Can we?” or “Should I?” Let your mind wander a bit; these questions may or may not be associated with what you’re currently reading or listening to, but once you get on a roll, you can fill a sheet of paper with just basic questions you want to find the answers to—either by yourself or as a team.

Finally, label the lower right quadrant “Reflections,” and use this space to capture self-reflections about your leadership. Jot down two or three things you’ve been doing really well as a leader lately, and a few things you know you should be working on. Write down ideas for behavior change as you push yourself to improve as a leader.

The third and final version of the journal technique involves keeping detailed notes about each of your direct reports. Using a folder or a binder with tabs, create a section for each direct report. Then, in your one-on-one or staff meetings, record clear and consistent notes about the following topics:

• Delegation. What tasks have you delegated to them?

• Progress. What do you want to follow up on?

• Accomplishments. What have they done that you want to praise and remember?

• The Real Life. Who’s important to them? What’s going on in their world?

• Career Aspirations. What are their hopes and dreams? How can you help?

• Fun Facts. What’s their favorite candy? Musical artist?

This is an easy way to stay connected to your direct reports, and because it’s in the book you always carry with you, you’re never far from a quick review of what you talked about last time, what you want to follow up on, what’s important to them, and so on (for more on getting to know your direct reports, see Chapter 25).

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or unorganized, take out your journal and start writing. Make self-reflection a real habit. It’s a routine that has residual value; because it’s down on paper, you can go back and read your notes any time. Challenge yourself to make journaling an everyday practice; it helps you to keep track of all those random thoughts. And who knows, you might develop a love of writing that will lead directly to that bestselling novel!

Bootstrap Takeaways

Keep a Journal

1. Listen to your inner voice—in fact, write down what it’s saying. Keep a journal to capture your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

2. The secret is to buy a special journal or notebook that you want to write in. Spend some time picking out the right book; it will make a difference.

3. If the free-form diary approach isn’t your style, try writing bulleted notes to yourself—that counts if it’s a regular habit!