Michelle Soper / October 18, 2022

Life is busy, and chances are you’re always going to have multiple things on the go at any given time. Without a proper plan in place to prioritize tasks, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but with a few simple adjustments you could be managing your tasks effectively in no time.  
 
In this issue of the Pulse, we share eight tips on how to be more effective when it comes to task management, specifically in the workforce, but many of these could easily be applied to other areas of your life as well.

Determine the urgency and importance of each task

The first step of managing your tasks effectively is determining the urgency and importance of each task. What absolutely needs to get done today? What can wait until tomorrow? Next week? If you’re unsure which tasks should be prioritized, it might be worth having a conversation about it with your team or supervisor.

Have one list

Having one lists allows you to see everything at a glance and plan accordingly when looking at the week or even day ahead. This could be a list in a physical or digital planner, or a work management tool. Larger projects may need to be broken down into smaller tasks still, which can still be done on a separate list, but including it on your main list ensures it doesn’t get forgotten.

Consider a software to help organize your tasks 

If a physical or digital planner isn’t your thing, a work management tool might be a better fit for you. Trello is a great option for teams because it allows teams to collaborate on projects, organize workflows, and track progress visually, but there are lots of options out there.

Turn off your email push notifications  

As of 2015, the average office worker received 121 emails a day, according to the Radicati Group. Having that many notifications pop up during the day is surely going to be distracting and take you away from the task at hand. Instead, consider checking your email a few times throughout the day at set times. This might mean checking your email at 9am, 12pm and 3pm, but the important part is finding a schedule that works best for you.

Block out time and set your status to do not disturb  

If you’re having a hard time getting to tasks, block out time on your calendar, like you would for a meeting with your team, and treat it as such. Don’t be late to start or allow yourself to get sidetracked. This is important time that will allow you to get some quality work done without interruptions. This doesn’t have to be a long period of time. In fact, some studies dating from the 1990s suggest that due to natural variations in our cycle of alertness, we can only concentrate for 90 minutes before needing a break.

Don’t be afraid to say no or ask for help 

If you’re too busy to take on another project, simply say no. This is easier said than done for Type A personalities, but again will leave you better off in the long run. Taking on projects you don’t have time for can leave you feeling overwhelmed and will likely either cause the project to take longer than anticipated or have you working long hours to keep up. Either way, no one wins. If you are having a hard time completing an already started project, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Our workflows often ebb and flow, so while you may be feeling like you’re at capacity, one of your team members might have a more flexible workload and chances are, they will be happy to help, as most people are.

Don’t be afraid to delegate 

It’s easy for your day to fill up, but are you spending your time on the right tasks? Harvard Business Review’s research shows that knowledge workers spend an average of 41 percent on discretionary activities that could be handled competently by others. “We instinctively cling to tasks that make us feel busy and thus important, while our bosses, constantly striving to do more with less, pile on as many responsibilities as we’re willing to accept.” However, if you can get past this and start delegating more often, you’ll be better off for it.

Don’t overwork yourself 

By taking breaks throughout the day and not working past your regular hours, you give yourself adequate time to relax and recharge, which allows you to come back to tasks with a new sense of energy and motivation.  

In conclusion… 

Managing tasks effectively can be a challenge, but there are several practices and resources you can use to make the most out of your day and ensure the most important tasks are being taken care of in a timely manner.

Cal Wilson / October 4, 2022

If you’re reading this right now, know that literacy is one of your greatest privileges. The ability to read, reflect on what you’ve read, and share it with others, is an important skill that will serve you for your entire life. That is, of course, if you continue to use it.  

Whether it’s books, articles, studies – or whatever else captures your interest – reading is beneficial to you in several ways. In this issue of the Pulse, we cover why you should be reading every single day, and how you can build that habit.  

The emotional benefits of reading. 

Reading is more than just a hobby or pastime. It has the power to impact your mood, health, and career success.  

Adding reading to your daily routine – even in short doses – can boost you emotionally in the following ways: 

• Reading allows for escapism – this might sound cynical, but sometimes we all need a small mental break. Reading gives your mind space away from whatever is going on in real life, to be entertained and decompress.  
• Reading motivates – especially through reading fiction, memoirs, poetry, and other inspirational genres, reading can motivate us to work harder, overcome obstacles, and step outside our comfort zones.  
• Reading activates empathy – reading takes us outside ourselves and allows us to think from others’ points of view, building our capacity for empathy, a crucial quality in many areas of life.  
• Reading is a tool for mental health – some experts believe reading can help combat symptoms of depression, such as isolation and loneliness.  
• Reading fosters perseverance – reading, specifically finishing books, teaches us to push through to complete our goals, feel accomplished at milestones or checkpoints, and follow through on commitments.  

The physiological benefits of reading.  

Reading is food for your brain that nourishes your entire body. There are several ways reading is good for your physiological health: 

• Reading is a cognitive exercise – it challenges your brain to intake and process information, then recall it later, sharpening your memory function.  
• Reading helps your sleep cycle – the destressing and calming function of reading is a great way to transition from the business of your day into the right headspace to get some sleep. Next time you’re stuck awake, try reading just a single chapter.  
• Reading reduces stress – as previously mentioned, the escapist function of reading reduces stress, lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and overall, contributing to better physical health.  
• Reading can combat cognitive decline – as we age, it’s important to adopt habits to keep our brains active. Reading is just one great strategy.  

The career benefits of reading.  

An avid reader has an advantage, no matter what their field of work. If you’re looking for an easy route to self-improvement, sharpening skills, and giving you an edge up in the job market, reading more is an easy strategy.  

Reading can give you the following career advantages: 

• Reading improves concentration and focus – if you’re someone who struggles with concentration and focus, no matter the reason, reading can be a good skill to train your brain. Even if you’re practicing focusing on the small details for only short bursts, it’s still beneficial to your performance in other areas of your life.  
• Reading improves your literacy – by encountering new words, phrases, and sentence structures, reading can improve your vocabulary and understanding, thus boosting your overall literacy. Your literacy will aid in your communication skills, both written and verbal.  
• You learn when you read – whatever you’re reading, chances are you’re going to learn something new at some point. Diversifying your reading will help you build a wide bank of knowledge to draw from in real life situations. You can take this a step further by seeking out materials on relevant topics to your career.  
• Reading enhances your imagination – many jobs value innovation, creativity, and original approaches to problem solving. Reading helps you foster that part of your mind.  
• Reading boosts your analytical skills – analytical, critical thinkers tend to be better decision makers. This is important, especially if you’re in a leadership position.  

How you can read more.  

If you’re sold on the benefits of regular reading, but unsure of how to incorporate it into your daily routine, there are steps you can take to implement the habit: 

• Always have a book on hand – keep it in your desk, your car, your bag, wherever. If there’s always a book on hand, you’ll be able to fill empty space in your schedule, such as time spent in a waiting room, with reading.  
• Make manageable goals – instead of taking on War and Peace this month, maybe start with 20 pages a day, and adjust as that goal becomes easier.  
• Don’t waste time on something you don’t enjoy – if you’re a hundred pages into a novel you’re hating, it’s easy to become stuck. Better to put the book down in favor of one you enjoy, than avoiding reading altogether.  
• Read what you like, not what you feel like you should read – you’re going to hear a lot of opinions from a lot of people on what you should be reading. The most important thing is to read what will keep you reading. If that’s a book on entrepreneurship, great! If not, the only thing that matters is that you’re engaged.  

In conclusion… 

Our ability to read, and access to reading materials, is one of life’s greatest gifts. Not only can reading have a positive impact on your mood and health, but it gives you a leg up in your career as well. 

At Schooley Mitchell, we have always believed in reading a business book each month; but in general, any way to incorporate more reading into your regular life will only stand to benefit you.  

Cal Wilson / September 20, 2022

Teamwork is a critical component of success for many jobs, across all industries. No matter what your job title, if teamwork is a part of the equation, it’s a skill you should work on fostering in yourself and supporting in others.  

In this issue of the Pulse, we look at ways you can develop your own teamwork skills, as well as support teamwork in the workplace.  

Improving on your own teamwork skills. 

No matter what kind of team you’re on – in the workplace, in your personal life – these skills are critically important: 

• Communication skills – building your communication skills includes practicing better listening, being effective and clear in the language you use to convey your thoughts, and being fluent in the latest methods of communicating with your colleagues, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Zoom. 
• Mindfulness – while there are always going to be aspects of teamwork you don’t like, such as difficult tasks or differences with teammates, being able to control your thoughts and focus on what is going well will aid you in building better relationships and getting the job done.   
• Flexibility – no, not your yoga skills, but rather your ability to cope with change, adapt to new methods of doing things, and accommodate differences.  
• Reliability – this may seem obvious, but not everyone comes across as reliable. Are you on time, responsive, and meeting your deadlines? Can others trust you not to flake out on responsibilities? This is all about self-awareness, taking accountability, and following through.  

Be a good team member.  

Each team structure is going to look a bit different, especially depending on where you are in that structure. Maybe you were an exceptional team player on a school sports team, but work life is a bit more complicated.  

Here are some good practices to employ: 

• Understand your role on the team – understand your job description and responsibilities versus those of others, and where you fall in the team structure. Know what you and your coworkers each bring to the team.  
• Show gratitude for your teammates – say thank you, acknowledge what you appreciate, and be someone your team members want to work with.  
• Know your strengths – if you understand your strengths and weaknesses, you will better understand when to offer help and when to ask for it. Both actions are integral to good teamwork.  
• Don’t argue over getting credit – there is no need to bicker or fight for credit. Show appreciation, shout out your teammates, and hope they do the same for you. Grappling for the spotlight will make you seem argumentative and ego-centric, even when you might deserve it. Likewise, don’t be quick to blame other people when things go wrong.  
• Think with a team mindset – when it comes to work-related decisions, are you thinking about what is best for you, or what is best for the overall good of the team? 

Foster teamwork in the workplace. 

This is going to look different if you’re in a managerial or authority role, versus a subordinate role. If you’re the person in a leadership position, here are some ideas to foster better teamwork among your staff: 

• Lead by example – demonstrate your hard work, dedication to the job, and commitment to the overall success and wellbeing of the team. Be a boss that inspires teamwork. Leaders’ attitudes are often infectious and can empower or deject staff.  
• Plan team activities – occasionally organizing non-work-related activities can allow your team to bond better, without the pressure of the job. Games, meals, or outdoor activities are great examples of ways to connect.  
• Establish good boundaries for your sake, and for the sake of everyone on the team.  
• Make the ‘why’ clear – when establishing a rule or assigning a new task, make sure the purpose is clear, and not just “because I said so.” The latter will leave employees feeling unenthusiastic, but with the right ‘why’ in place, employees will be invigorated with a sense of purpose.  
• Recognize wins and great work – whether this is a simple shout out, or a more tangible award, making your employees feel appreciated goes a long way in motivating a team.  
• Offer a collaborative workspace – if possible, having a room or office dedicated to employee collaboration can be a great way to incite teamwork without disrupting other workplace procedures.  
• Play to your employees’ strengths – teams that focus on strengths every day have 12.5% higher productivity. 

Why does this matter? 

Functional teamwork matters. In fact, poor teamwork can have serious consequences. For example, a recent study found that 86% of employees cite lack of collaboration for workplace failures. Likewise, 81% of workers would feel more grateful if they felt their boss was appreciative of their work.  

In conclusion… 

Teamwork is an incredibly important part of being a leader and an employee. There are simple skills, habits, and commitments you can make to be a better team player, that will go a long way in improving workplace relationships, job performance, and overall morale.  

Cal Wilson / September 7, 2022

A comprehensive plan—with goals, initiatives, and budgets–is comforting. But starting with a plan is a terrible way to make a strategy. Roger Martin, former dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and one of the world’s leading thinkers on strategy, says developing strategy means going outside an organization’s comfort zone and escaping the common traps of strategic planning. 

Cal Wilson / August 23, 2022

In July of 2010, we shared a story about a business local to our Head Office, that went through a difficult tragedy, but managed to come back stronger than ever with the support of its community.  

Twelve years later, in a time of economic adversity where many businesses find themselves uncertain about the future, this story may still offer some hope.  

In this issue of the Pulse, we are revisiting our story from 2010, with the hopes that it may bring some inspiration and a smile in these challenging economic times.  

Chapman’s – success in the face of adversity 

In September of 2009 the tiny village of Markdale, Ontario, Canada, was struck by a disaster that could have easily been an insurmountable barrier to survival for the community.  

The entire facility of the town’s primary employer, Chapman’s Ice Cream, burned to the ground.  Just a few weeks earlier, Markdale had also been hit by a tornado that caused significant damage to the area.  The residents most certainly felt a sense of doom at their misfortune. 

What could have been an epic disaster for Markdale has turned into a wonderful feel-good story as well as a tale of success, community values, and persistence in the face of adversity. 

Founded by David and Penny Chapman in 1973, Chapman’s Ice Cream is Canada’s largest independent ice cream company.   At the time of the fire, Chapman’s employed 350 locals. 

The family-owned business has always been noted for its exceptional treatment of the community and its employees.  Nobody knew ‘how good’ until the fire struck. 

The Chapmans could have easily taken their wealth and retired to a warm and sunny locale. They didn’t do that. They could have chosen to rebuild in another location, in a bigger city, closer to transportation hubs. They didn’t do that either. 

David and Penny Chapman immediately promised the community they would rebuild – in Markdale.  They also assured their employees they would be looked after.  On this last promise, Chapman offered no specifics according to several employees who were at the post-fire meeting. None of them particularly cared. David Chapman had made a commitment; David Chapman, they were certain, would keep it. 

As it turned out, he did. No employee missed a payday. Responsibilities may have changed as they worked on the business recovery and rebuilding project, dubbed Project Phoenix, but work continued.   

“From ashes to ice cream”, is how Penny Chapman phrased it. 

Recovery plans were quickly put in place.  As a temporary measure, an existing furniture warehouse was converted into a production facility. Used equipment was purchased at an auction in Florida.  Chapman’s also outsourced production to smaller ice cream producers throughout the region. Retail facilities maintained their stock and the Chapman brand was maintained. 

In addition, Christmas bonuses were paid to employees as is their annual tradition. Nobody would have complained if they weren’t paid bonuses but that just wasn’t the way of doing business at Chapman’s. 

The Chapmans also began the process of building a brand-new facility almost twice as big as the old factory. It is expected to start making ice cream in September of this year.  It will also include a separate nut-free manufacturing facility.  Out of the ashes rises impending growth.  

The return to the company for their actions and loyalty over their 36 years of existence was the faith and support of their employees during the time of crisis. The village could not have survived without the Chapmans’ efforts and those of the employees working together and having faith in the future for the company as well as their way of doing business. 

“It was a miracle,” said Penny Chapman of the quick recovery and stop gap measures. She also said, “There was never a moment where we said we’re not going to rebuild. They’re investing in us, so we’re investing in them”. 

The Chapmans are revered by their employees and the community, and have always been well respected for their good deeds.  The Chapmans have turned what could have been the demise of a small community into a very positive situation that will be rewarded for generations to come.  It is a just reward for treating people right. 

Flash forward to 2022. 

Twelve years later, and Chapman’s is a family owned and operated business with a strong commitment to its community, on top of being one of Canada’s favourite ice cream makers! It has survived COVID-19 and other economic struggles, showing the true strength of great leadership and service to both its employees and its customers.  

Now, the fire that could have closed the business down is just a chapter in its distinguished history, showing us all that times of adversity pass, and a resilient spirit goes a long way.