Lead Yourself E-Book

Agustín Peralt

• Herausgeber: Plataforma
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 195

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Do you have the feeling that you could be more productive if you used the right strategy? Would you like to have more time to find a work-life balance? In Lead Yourself you will discover the FASE method, created by Agustín Peralt, with whom hundreds of people have managed to be more effective in their work and self-lead in a simple way.

Leseprobe

Lead Yourself

The FASE Method® book

The definitive method to become + productive

Agustín Peralt

Foreword by Narcís Roura

Original title Lidérate

originally published in Spanish in 2015 by Plataforma Editorial

First English edition: July 2023

Second edition: February 2024

© Agustín Peralt, 2023

© foreword by Narcís Roura, 2023

© Current edition: Plataforma Editorial, 2023

Plataforma Editorial

c/ Muntaner, 269, entlo. 1ª – 08021 Barcelona

Tel.: [phone]

www.plataformaeditorial.com

[email protected]

ISBN: 978-84-19655-41-7

Front cover and photocomposition by: Grafime

All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this work in its entirety or partiality is strictly prohibited without express authorisation of the copyright owners. Reproduction by any medium or procedure, including reprography, digitalised treatment and distribution of digital copies via lending or public loans is punishable under established legal sanctions. If photocopies or a reproduction of any fragment of this work are required please contact the editor directly or visit CEDRO (www.cedro.org).

“The FASE Method® offers the tools to tackle the conscious and unconscious unbalanced in our day-to-day lives, both in terms of planning and prioritization as well as mental and physical energy. The book delivers its side of the bargain: method, knowledge and clear rules that generate immediate returns. You deliver the other side: commitment, discipline and the willingness to do what it takes to improve.”

POL CODINA, CEO Pepsico - Southern Europe

“This book has been a guide to organizing my day-to-day life. Its Simple and realistic “recipes” have helped me increase my productivity at work and have a sense of peace and organization. All this is reflected in my projects and my team’s well-being I have really enjoyed working with Agustín and his method.”

QUIQUE DACOSTA, 3-star Michelin Chef and Entrepreneur

“Going through the FASE program with Juanjo and Agustin had a great value to me, allowing to RETHINK about my reason to be, what to focus on and what not to focus on and delegate to team members that would be best suited to conduct this or that initiative successfully. Even more, it reminded me about the importance of permanently recharging batteries and keeping the right level of own energy in order to increase my efficiency, create a meaningful impact but even more to best inspire and enable my teams to create their own impact.”

GUY BOONE, Corporate Vice President, Global Head of Adhesives at Henkel

“Today, theFASE Method® is part of my life. It is a set of habits and systems that have become part of me, and this is what marks the big difference: a method that has enabled me to live a more balanced life where the time invested is directly proportional to my objectives, both personal and professional.”

NEKANE RODRÍGUEZ DE GALARZA, Managing Director of Lee Hecht Harrison global affiliates

“As a manager, it’s very easy to get side-tracked with multiple tasks and meetings and, as a result, lose focus on what is really important. Applying the FASE Method® helps you to focus on what delivers a positive impact on your results. And as the whole team implemented the FASE Method®, it helped everyone to align around the same objectives. It sets off a cascade within the company with everyone working towards achieving common goals.”

BEATRIZ VALENTÍ, Europe Managing Director of QBE Insurance

“This book is a professional development manual for executives. If you apply it, the results will be immediate results in terms of your effectiveness, freeing up time and the quality of work. The mere act of learning how to focus your attention on the truly important objectives, and helping your team to do the same will change the way you have been working until now: what is urgent can wait, but what can’t wait is what really matters.”

LUIS BARROS, Digital Business Director – MEDIASET Group

“Agustín has helped us to reach our greatest potential as an architecture firm. By applying his method, we have been able to streamline our processes and the highly varied tasks that we face day-to-day. Amid the frenetic pace, we have built-in sessions for quality time and concentration that are vital for our work.”

JAIME SALVÁ, Managing Partner of SALVÁ architecture firm

“Agustín himself is a walking example of the effectiveness of this method. Following his way of implementing you will improve efficiency and productivity. In my case, after embedding the four pillars of the method and putting them into action, I have found time for my key priorities, which have been clearly demonstrated in my results. The method has also had a significant impact on my well-being, as well as those around me, including both family and friends, colleagues and collaborators.”

AGUSTÍN RODRÍGUEZ, Managing Partner of PFS Group

“In the management of SMEs, there is a risk of permanent multitasking, confusing urgent matters with important matters, and the lack of long-term vision. The FASE Method® is essential, offering a time management method that anchors you in what is really important, triggering an immediate leap in efficiency and productivity, both in work and personal settings.”

JOSEP RUBIO, Manager of Rubio Valentines

“FASE Method® is a highly recommended guide for anyone who wants to improve their productivity as a manager and, at the same time, their quality of life. It is a comprehensive, simple and practical method! Comprehensive because it addresses all the necessary elements to really drive change, simply because it is easy to follow and practical because it is tremendously pragmatic, enabling results from day one.”

MARTA VERNET, Marketing Director at Idilia Foods

“The FASE Method® has been the key to my professional growth. It is the antidote to the frustration of being “busy” without getting the results you want within the timeframe you want.”

DONATUS GRICIUS, Head of Marketing. RETHINK GROUP

“Despite dedication and years of experience, my multiple responsibilities and work trips were starting to trigger stress and a feeling of being out of control. Thanks to the FASE Method®, I have gained a feeling of greater proficiency in my work, more control and organization and, consequently, greater enjoyment of my free time.”

ANA MELLADO, PhD. Dentist, Professor, and member of the Board of Director of SEPES

“In the world of attorneys, we always say that professional development and personal productivity methods can’t be implemented in our sector. But the reality is that we are shielding ourselves behind the demands and emergencies of our clients to hide our inefficiencies and bad habits. Fortunately, this book, and its author, have managed to prove the opposite. In our particular case, there has been a step-change in the way we work.”

VICENTE SANZ-TORRO, Partner, ANDERSEN lawyers and Law Professor at the University of Valencia

“Agustín offers a culture of working for individuals and teams to lead and manage their time intelligently and efficiently: understanding the dimension and importance of the projects in your in-tray, prioritizing them and planning each phase, working to the 20-80 rule, changing bad habits and putting rituals in place that help you to gain more control, reduce stress, concentrate on the important matters and achieve better results. It requires discipline and perseverance but, as Agustín says the rewards will arrive.”

CRISTINA OLABARRIA, Managing Director at ESADE Business School and Executive Committee Member

“In the world of architecture, the creative process and clients’ demands are often, a pretext for all kinds of inefficiencies and disorganization. However, the FASE Method® is a clear example of how creativity and order coexist. It is a simple method that, right from the start, highlights the professional shortcomings. and bad habits that need to change. There really is a complete transformation.”

LUCÍA OLANO LAFITA, Architect at the Olano Lafita Studio

“This book and method not only helped me to improve my organization, but also my team’s system of working. I managed to boost my productivity and make the most of my time, spending it on what really matters and achieving the work-life balance I had always wanted. While it’s true that you have to follow the method strictly at the beginning, the feeling of control and mastery is unique. This is the definitive personal productivity method that everyone needs to follow. It is a book to recommend.”

ENRIQUE CALABUIG, CEO of KAIHO and board member of LA TERMINAL Hub

“In the FASE Method®, women business leaders have found a tool to boost their professional productivity, achieve the desired results and efficiently manage their time. The four pillars represent a method that is easy and simple, helping you, among other things, to focus your attention on what really matters, align the objectives to pursue with your team, limit distractions and plan effectively. Ultimately, all this helps you to strike a better balance between your professional and personal life.”

SUSANA SANCHIZ CABANA, Director of Project Promociona ESADE at the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations ( CEOE)

“This method has been a game-changer in a much-needed and desired transformation, both on a personal level and in the executive team in our company. Its simplicity, adaptability, and above all, ability to deliver results in the short term have been vital. We are like a different team, much more productive, disciplined and focused once we implemented the FASE Method®. Personally, I have a new sense of mastery over the situation, planning and focus, which helps me to manage my schedule much more effectively and tackle all the challenges in a much more positive and productive way.”

VICENTE REMOLÍ, General Manager of Grupotec

“FASE is a practical method that has helped my team and me to increase our individual performance, coordinate better, and reduce stress. We are now a better team.”

JUAN PLANES, Entrepreneur and Board member of Pollos Planes

“My career took a major leap when I decided to move from the public to the private sector: bringing lawsuits, leading and coordinating teams, managing budgets, commercial actions… Agustín’s book and his FASE Method® have shown me how to systematically manage my time, offering solutions to all the problems I have had to face, and I have gained productivity, peace of mind, and self-confidence.”

JAVIER GÓMEZ-FERRER, Legal Director at BDO Lawyers and Tax Advisors

““After reading the book and learning the FASE Method®, my transformation began, both in my personal and professional life. Implementing the method properly has enabled me to take charge of this change process. I have gained in efficiency and productivity, I make better decisions, I don’t lose focus on what really matters, and I have reduced my stress. Agustín’s method is not just the foundation of my transformation as a person; it has also helped me improve my executive team's management and the company's organization as a whole.”

ARANTXA BERNADÍ, CEO of Bernadí

“With the FASE Method®, we have managed to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole team. It is a democratic method that keeps us all on the same page. It is holistic and embraces both the personal and the professional, and has made it easier for us to implement a hybrid working policy. This robust and results-focused method is completely adaptable to changes of setting within the organization.”

CARMEN TOUS, Director of La Font, Agrolimen Group

for my mother, for being a role model.

For my brother, Clemente, for his support.

For my two sons, for their patience and enthusiasm for this book.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

1. The key to making changes successfully

The mindset for change

Stop making excuses and achieve your dreams

A road map towards change: the mind map technique

How to make a mind map of your life

Do you know what your element is?

Get ready for the challenge ahead (or fake it until you make it)

Describe your vision of the future (don’t forget your personal life)

Frequency is key

Going the extra mile at the last minute

The key elements in creating change

2. The key to being 100 % productive

The need to be efficient and effective

Improve your productivity and be happier

The four Hs that boost your productivity

Full concentration: it’s not too little time, it’s too many distractions

Common traits of those who are truly productive people

Discover what kind of worker you are and get ready for change!

3. The FASE Method® in detail

How about you? Are you efficient?

The importance of the initial self-assessment

FOCUS

Time thieves, bad habits, and tasks with no added value

Objectives and Most Important Tasks (MITs)

Urgent tasks (UTs) and other pending tasks

More is not better

ATTENTION

Multitasking is not in human nature

My concentration aids

The law of 1 % marginal gains

Circadian rhythms

SYSTEMATIZATION

The habit of drafting the weekly plan

The habit of creating a daily plan

Acquiring habits is the key to everything

The diary

ENERGY

Three interrelated energies

How to boost your physical energy

How to boost your emotional energy

How to increase your cognitive energy

4. In search of effectiveness in remote working

The sudden expansion of remote working

March 11th 2020: my learning journey of remote working begins

Changing our beliefs

A final thought on remote working

5. Harnessing AI for Personal Productivity and Exploring Its Possibilities (ChatGPT, apps, and beyond) How AI Can Elevate the FASE Method®

My AI Awakening: Better Late Than Never

Key Considerations and Principles for AI Integration

The Rise of ChatGPT and similar AI Chatbots

Mastering the Art of AI Interaction

Your Digital Twin: Unleashing Your Best Version

Personal Productivity Apps: An Infinite, Rapidly Evolving World

How Can You Start Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Your Daily Life?

Key Tips to Conclude

6. Starting and implementing the FASE Method®

Gain time in your day and boost your energy

FIRST EXERCISE. Objective: gaining time in your day and boosting your energy

SECOND EXERCISE. Objective: dedicate quality time to what really matters

THIRD EXERCISE. Objective: incorporate new habits into your planning

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Landmarks

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Start reading

Acknowledgements

Notes

Colophon

Foreword

We are constantly over-complicating our lives. We convolute what is simple by nature and add complexity to things that can be done more simply. As a rule, I think we are far from living in an efficient and effective way. This diverts us from our main goal of achieving greater results and at the same time greater personal satisfaction.

Over the course of my career, I have met some brilliant professionals, many of whom were inspiring while others had high levels of emotional intelligence and were able to get the best from their team. Almost all of them had a high level of integrity, and the vast majority were results-focused to achieve the company's ambitions.

However, not many were able to be proficient right across the board. To achieve that, not only would it require a great amount of talent, but also for them to be incredibly efficient and successful in being able to focus on prioritising and using their time appropriately. As Steven Covey rightly pointed out, the main thing that really matters really is the main thing.

And these tend to be scarce qualities. Some, very few, are born with them; the rest of us need to work on them. And having a method to do so is a great start.

Today, I continue to be surprised by the fact that effective time management is not a core subject at college/university. Much effort is dedicated to teaching knowledge and content, but there is very little teaching on how to leverage them effectively.

And the same tends to happen in companies and organizations. All efforts go towards defining improvements in processes (which helps) but rarely is enough invested into strengthening the key competencies of self-leadership, which can be decisive factors in the effectiveness of an organization.

One of the most resounding universal truths, which may seem almost too obvious, is that time is the scarcest resource we have. We are increasingly finding ourselves running out of time.

And yet, here we are, dedicating endless hours to irrelevant issues, unproductive meetings and needless discussions, and allowing all sorts of distractions to interfere with our routine.

I met Agustín at a conference at ESADE Business School in Barcelona. I was very impressed by his pragmatism on the issue of time management and the thoroughness with which he had developed his FASE Method®, touching on all the possible variables in great depth. But Agustín is not just another expert among many. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable on the subject but his positive energy and attitude are truly contagious. His passion inspires groups and, above all, mobilizes individuals.

Knowing Agustín, I’m sure readers will enjoy this book.

NARCÍS ROURA,

Senior Vice President Strategy & Transformation PEPSICO Europe

Introduction

“In a short space of time, you can emerge from the deepest abyss, the most absolute personal and professional chaos, into a happy and balanced life.”

This sentence could sum up the last few years of my life. In January 2012, at a time of unprecedented levels of unemployment in Spain, and after working as an executive for ten years, I was let go from the company. This forced me to take charge of my professional life and reinvent myself.

Many believe that overcoming a significant personal or professional crisis is a measure of success. From my current perspective, I can affirm that my experience during that time was a valuable gift. It allowed me to transform myself and achieve the life I had always desired.

To handle a tough situation, I chose to practice self-leadership. This involved taking responsibility for my role in managing the challenging circumstances I faced. In addition, practicing self-leadership means becoming better at achieving results in a more efficient and effective manner, essentially increasing productivity. The challenge was tough, but not impossible. My first task was to change my mindset and take on the responsibility of becoming my own leader. To improve productivity and time management, I took the second step of reading everything experts in the field had published and studying all the available resources. Throughout my research for this book, I have read works from various experts in the field, including Chris Bailey, Tor Refsland, Leo Babauta, and Cal Newport. I have also analyzed various methods of working, including David Allen's Getting Things Done and Brian Tracy's Eat That Frog, among others, which I will delve into further in this book. I noticed, however, that there was an excess of theoretical discussions and explanations as to why some things may or may not work in many of the books or, at times, an overload of technical and over-complicated language that could not be interpreted easily. Although some books had great theories, they didn't offer many practical and effective exercises that I could use in the real world to improve my time management skills. There was a lot of information available about the mindset needed to drive personal transformation and improvement, as well as the necessary steps to achieve it. However, I had not yet found a straightforward and practical method that I could use on a daily basis to enhance my self-leadership skills. I needed what one of my clients, a company director, termed brilliantly: “A simple, straightforward, action-oriented method”. I needed a system that would boost productivity and yield results fast. A guide that would set out the main objectives or issues to resolve, including established procedures to review your progress and stay on track. And because nothing like this had been done before, I decided to create it.

“Keep going until something stops you, then keep going again. Hold firmly to your aspirations; tenacity breeds tenacity as success breeds success.”

DEBRA A. BENTON

And this is how the FASE Method® came into being. All the theoretical knowledge I was gradually gaining as well as the practical experience I had acquired over the years inspired me to develop my own method and system of working. The result was the creation of a comprehensive method that offers a range of tools to set important objectives that you can then transfer to a daily plan. You will consequently be able to reach your goals by making steady progress and maintaining a healthy balance between your personal and professional life.

The name of this method, FASE, is based on the four pillars or phases involved: focus, attention, systemization and energy- the four basic building blocks:

Focus

on what really matters to achieve your goals. This means managing your time well and letting go of habits that lead to a distracted or aimless way of working without clear direction.

Attention or full absorption in order

make the most of your time and carry out each task efficiently without distractions. Deep concentration and focus at certain points throughout the day are needed to tackle complex and relevant tasks.

Systematization

- daily, weekly, and monthly rituals and habits to embed the method into your life in a natural and sustainable way. In addition to developing professional habits, it's crucial to plan for essential things like rest, mealtimes, and exercise to enhance our productivity.

Energy

to function at our best throughout the day. Once you establish the right routines, you will have more energy to leverage, helping to make your daily challenges more achievable.

I developed the FASE Method®, drawing on the following elements:

Studying and observing renowned experts in the field of productivity such as Brian Tracy, Steven Covey and David Allen. During my time as a visiting professor at HVA University in Amsterdam, I had the chance to observe the working practices in Holland. In my opinion, the Dutch excel in productivity and effectiveness, and there's a lot we can learn from them.

My experience of working as an executive and the profound crisis I experienced over a three-year period during which my professional problems were compounded by some personal struggles.

My strong relationships with clients who have adopted my approach, which include executives, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and architects. These individuals have provided me with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

My consultancy work with companies in 2020 to facilitate remote working during the Coronavirus pandemic.

As I observed the effectiveness of my personal development method on both individuals and companies I worked with, I realized it could be valuable to others. This encouraged me to write a book so that anyone, anywhere could use the method without my guidance. In this updated version, I have planned to add a new section on remote working, which is now a new reality for many people and is here to stay. Therefore, the book you're currently reading is the outcome of my developed productivity method. It can assist you regardless of your work environment, whether entirely office-based, remote, or a mix of both.

This book is the book for you if you are experiencing any of the issues below:

You are dealing with serious difficulties in your working life.

You are dealing with stressful situations in your personal life.

You urgently need to increase your productivity at work.

You manage a team, and you are interested in acquiring knowledge about effective techniques for productivity to lead your team by example.

You want to develop self-leadership as a key professional skill

The FASE Method® is a tool that teaches you: