by Mandy Green, University of South Dakota
So you are probably thinking, how the heck can the vision that I have for my career and for my program help me save time in the office?
As you already know, your vision identifies where you want to go (as a program, as a team, with your career, and with your recruiting) in the next 1, 3, or even 5 years from now.
A problem I have found with the coaches that I work with is that a lot of them cannot clearly articulate what their vision is. Because they are not clear on where there program, recruiting and career ultimately will go in the next 1-5 years, they waste A LOT of time being indecisive and inconsistent because they have no foundation to go off of to guide their decisions.
Ultimately, your vision is the filter through which you sift every decision, from how to train your team to whom you recruit to how you spend your time in the office. Once your vision is solid enough, it will dictate every action you make, ensuring that everything you do takes you closer to your goals.
For example, let’s say your vision is to be considered a top coach in your conference, sign all of your top recruits, and be so organized that you get your work done during office hours so you have more time to spend with your family. If that is your vision, then how do you think that will dictate your actions? Will you get into the office late, spend the first two hours in pointless conversations, and then stay late to finish all of the work you have to do? Of course not!
So how do you create your vision?
- First, decide on your time frame. Do you want to focus on 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years from now?
- Second, write out where you want your program, team, career, and recruiting to be in the next 1, 3, or 5 years from now. Be specific and know where do you want to go?
- What does my program look like 1, 3, or 5 years from now?
- Where am I with my career 1, 3, or 5 years from now?
- What kind of recruits am I going after 1, 3, or 5 years from now?
- What is your ideal day in the office 1, 3, or 5 years from now?
Being clear on what your future looks like will help you make more productive choices and sound decisions in your present. Next week, we’ll talk about how all of this applies to your life as a recruiter.
If you are looking for more help in this area, keep an eye out for my new Coaching Productivity Planner Workbook coming out soon. I’ve taken all of the best time-management systems and tips out there on the market and synthesized them all into one Time Management System for College Coaches. Look for it shortly here on dantudor.com!