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Hi there,
this is Max.
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Welcome to the Leadership
Tip of the Week.
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Last week we started the three-part
series about self-discipline.
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We've seen that self-discipline
sets high performers
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apart from the average. And that the
first secret that will help you develop
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The self-discipline that you
need to achieve your objectives
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is to emotionally engage
with your life purpose
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and your most important goals every
morning, because self-discipline
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is about making the right decisions. It's
about consistently making the choices
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that are aligned with your goals.
And we know that our emotions
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play a crucial role in
the decisions we make.
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As neuroscientist Antonio
Damasio explains,
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Today, I will share with you
the second secret of self-discipline.
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A few years ago, I came across a
challenge online for aspiring writers.
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I started to write
articles on LinkedIn,
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and I thought this could be the
opportunity to learn new techniques.
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The way the challenge was
organised was that every day
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wannabe writers from around
the world get together online.
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at the same time. Each day was
moderated by a different experienced,
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well-known author. They shared
their experience and coached
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participants on particular challenges
that the writers faced.
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one day one of the writers, and
I don't remember who it was,
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talked about the Pomodoro
Technique, and I was like:
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Wow, this is exactly what I needed to
keep the discipline with my writing.
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Since then, I have been using the
Pomodoro Technique for writing
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and for every piece of work
that I need to deliver.
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What is the Pomodoro Technique?
In the late 1980s
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Francesco Cirillo, who developed
Pomodoro Technique,
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was a university student
and was struggling
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to focus on the studies
and complete his assignments.
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Does that sound familiar?
Cirillo started to feel overwhelmed
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and was trying to commit himself to
just ten minutes of focused study time.
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One day he found the tomato,
or ‘pomodoro’ in Italian.
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It wasn't the fruit, it was
a tomato shaped timer.
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And it gave him an idea which developed
into the Pomodoro Technique
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used by millions of people
around the world.
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The principle of the Pomodoro
Technique is simple:
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Divide your work into
intervals of 25 minutes
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that Cirillo calls ‘pomodoros’.
During those intervals
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focus solely on the task at hand, avoiding
any distraction or moving to another duty.
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It could be writing a paper, working on the
product launch, or preparing a board meeting
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between two intervals take short
resting breaks of five minutes each.
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after four consecutive pomodoros,
which together form what Cirillio calls
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the works set, take longer breaks of 15 to 30
minutes each and start the whole cycle again.
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The idea is that calculated pauses
or breaks during work can increase
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mental clarity, improve dedicated focus and
ameliorate your available working periods,
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As you can see, this method
requires that you schedule
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your tasks and commit
to them in advance.
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You need to be disciplined
to implement
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the Pomodoro Technique,
and in turn, the structure
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it offers reinforces your
self-discipline. Down below
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I’ve put a link where you can
get a copy of Cirillo’s book
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and learn more about the Pomodoro
Technique directly from the author.
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This is your leadership
tip for this week:
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That is the second secret for
developing greater self-discipline.
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With that, I wish you
a very good week.
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I will see you again next
Monday, when I will reveal
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the third secret
of self discipline.
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Make sure to subscribe below
now and be first to receive it.
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Until then, take responsibility
for everything
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that happens to you and be
committed to serving others.
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That's how you become and remain
the leader everybody trusts and respects.
