Here’s the simple provocation:
EVERYONE should start each day with planning.
I’ve been managing projects for a long time! I also coach others to leverage digital tools to collaboration and be more efficient. I’ve used many tools to be organized — always looking for the perfect digital tool. There is NO perfect tool. BUT – there is always room for improvement in how we manage our time and our work-life balance.
From Des Traynor’s Twitter:
“Thinking about productivity and its tools:
Your email is what OTHERS think you should work on.
Your todo list is what YOU think you should work on.
Your calendar is (usually) what you ACTUALLY work on. “
(And then there are project generated tasks and the need for team task transparency. We’ll cover that another day!)
We all develop habits to juggle these 3 tools and their control or impact on our time.
—Email yourself a task?
—Keep a physical ‘todo’ notebook?
—Flag emails with a due date or put in folders to categorize or prioritize?
But do these habits actually accomplish what we intended?
Whatever your current approach is, try adding these actions to increase your productivity:
- Block 30 minutes on your calendar (you can reduce this time as you get better at it) first thing every Monday to PLAN YOUR WEEK.
a) Consider top priorities* and block time on your calendar to work on them.
b) Book time in your calendar to ‘work on email’.
c) Clean up your todo list (however you track it). - Each morning spend 5-10 minutes reviewing and adjust as needed.
- Block 30 minutes on your calendar at the end of the week to review how effective the plan was, and consider improvements for next week.
*TIP: When prioritizing, ALWAYS consider what NOT to do, what to delegate or put on hold.
When everything is important….. nothing is important.
Over time this can be a quick review, but don’t skip it!
Always consider adjustments to improve your own productivity and for those who are impacted by your productivity.
Real Collaboration Rocks LLC 