RESOURCEFULNESS

Being resourceful means knowing how to get the information and results you want. Being organized and having true systems are big pieces of the productivity puzzle, but sometimes “Getting Things Done” means being a creative problem-solver. 

Being Resourceful 

Being resourceful distinguishes one from the rest of the crowd, especially in very harsh terrains which require quick problem solving skills. The question then is how can we bring this resourcefulness ingenuity into our daily lives and work?

Ask yourself these questions:

Is there another way to get what I want?
Is the desired result really the best result?
Who else has information that might help me?
What is something very similar to what I need that might also work?
Who is the expert in this area?
What is one more thing I can try?
What would someone I admire do in this same situation? 

Don’t reinvent the wheel
Look for a solution that someone else has already created. It might be a book, a software program, or someone’s existing checklists or procedures. You can learn almost anything from a book — I actually learned to blog by searching "how to blog" on Google and reading related write-ups. If there is something I need my computer to do, I immediately think that someone else may have already written software to address it. 

Leverage your network
Build and maintain a network of people you can call on for questions and support, and make sure you make yourself available to these same people when they need help from you. New networking choices like LinkedIn and other social media platforms can be invaluable for finding more avenues and options. People from various backgrounds, fields, industries, and even age groups can provide tremendous objective insights.

Learn everything you can about how to find information
If you are reading this article on the web, you most likely know the basics of querying your favorite search engine. However, I am often surprised at how many people do not know Boolean search techniques such as AND/OR searches and other ways of narrowing search results. Here is a great page of explanations about advanced features in Google. Even in these days of online information, don’t forget your local library and even the librarian! 

Teach resourceful habits to your family and your team at work
If your children want to know some information, teach them how to look it up themselves, and show them reference books other than just the dictionary. When your team members come to a meeting with a problem, make it part of your company culture that they are expected to also show up with a proposed answer to that problem. Make sure that initiative is encouraged.

Resourcefulness = Necessity + Creativity + Persistence
If you’ve ever written information on a napkin or chased down some tickets to a sold-out concert, you can consider yourself resourceful already! We are all capable of exhibiting great creativity and persistence when something is important, so make it a point to expand and practice these skills.

YOU ARE A LEADER!!!