The Grid Habit Changing Tool for Coaches and Entrepreneurs
Jan Morgan is a coach and female entrepreneur. Her company, Olive Grove Perspectives, offers leadership coaching to managers. Jan found The Grid helped her change lifelong habits to become more productive while increasing focus on her own personal wellbeing. This is her story.
Juggling Multiple Roles and Needing to Manage Conflicting Priorities is Common to Us All
We all have many roles: coach, team leader, spouse, parent, child etc. and often its difficult remaining serene when there are many conflicting priorities.
I’m a Brit living in France where I am building my coaching business and continuing my HR consultancy. At the same time I also want to make time for improving my French, and building our home here that include various gardening and home decorating projects. 4 years ago, my partner and I downsized from London to Drome Provence.
My husband is learning to be a viticulteur – winemaker using our grapes – and project manages building work on the farm-house we hope to rent. There is no end to tasks and also distractions.
I bought Magdalena’s book “The Get Productive Grid” to learn a tried and trusted system of being organized and achieving results, while at the same time being able to incorporate what matters to me. The Grid helps this by helping you make space for more than just work! I’ve learnt that by respecting the self-care and nurture quadrant, I achieve more.
This Book and Framework is Changing the Habits of a Lifetime
How I use the Grid Tool
I usually do a Grid for a month at a time because this fits well with my flexibility. In fact, last month, in which there were many unexpected events, I decided to keep my framework for two calendar months.
In the spirit of portability, I use an A5 notebook, so my quadrants are quite small. I draw my 4 quadrants and handwrite my homebases and tasks. When I know a task is a large one, I estimate how many sessions I’ll need for it and draw little divider boxes that can then be coloured in one at a time as I make progress.
It can be very easy to forget the big picture, which for me is developing my coaching business. I’ve learnt not to beat myself up if I don’t do everything that I set out in my Grid.
This is particularly true of repair and renovation projects. I make time to nurture myself every day, even if it is only 10 minutes doing a recuperative yoga pose. I give myself several slots for this activity. The nurture quadrant of the Grid is the one I ensure I complete at least one box in every day.
Impact to Change Lifelong Habits
The Grid has also made me realise where I need help and so I have invested in some personal development and marketing support. I reached this conclusion through observing just what wasn’t being done each month and stayed not highlighted on my Grids. Working with an expert here and being able to devote more time to personal development energises me!
I realise I have many conflicting priorities but with the Grid I can advance them at my own pace without feeling guilty. The Grid is much more fun to complete than my old system of using a spreadsheet. The Grid gives me a sense of balance which I can have without further help.
I love the Grid because it is simple to use and can be adapted for a short time e.g. the day before leaving for another country. I keep the template from that, so I have a handy check list.
Making the Grid My Own
I also adapted the quadrant idea for my coaching work. For example I work with stressed senior managers and leaders in the charity or not for profit sector so I created a Grid like invitation that has these four areas:
- Give yourself time to think clearly and creatively;
- Identify and implement solutions to core problems;
- Lead yourself and inspire your team and
- Give yourself choices to nurture yourself to lead a balanced life.
Following the Grid precept; inevitably I ask my clients how are they being kind to themselves. It’s amazing to see and hear the happiness, when a client decides it is their right to have time for themselves.
Anyone can benefit from using the Grid, particularly when they habitually ignore their own needs. I find linear lists hard to follow, so I like the all in a glance presentation of the Grid. It brings calmness, the ability to prioritise and manage work in one space and helps you enjoy a balanced life. As a coach being able to make the method work for me, means I have more to offer my clients as well.
We all have different quick fixes – whether its savouring a glass of wine, a fortnightly nail session, seeing a new film, or something longer term such as undertaking personal development.
I chose my company name: olivegroveperspectives.net to attract the attention of clients who relish the time to recuperate and recharge.
Thank you Magdelena.
Jan Morgan
Do You have Lifelong Habits You’d like to Change? Are You Someone who Needs to Recharge?
We all have know where we could do better in our lives, loves, and careers. The Grid is a tool which can help you change lifelong habits, become more productive, and focus on your own wellbeing.
These 4 steps can set you on your habit changing journey today:
- Get a copy of the Get Productive Grid from us or Amazon and dive straight in!
- Join our Facebook Grid Community Group for further support, inspiration and to get ideas from other Grid fans.
- Check out our Grid retreats.
- Book a 1:1 coaching session to tackle your balance and satisfaction with life, work, career and you!
Whatever you do. Dare to live your best life today!
PS. If you’re a coach interested in adding Grid to your toolkit, join our mailing list to be the first to know about our 2020 ICF accredited Grid Coach training programme.
