How is it that some people just make it look easy? They seem to get everything done, they work reasonable hours, and everyone seems to like them? They’ve likely mastered the 80/20 rule – the principle that says that you get 80% of your results from 20% of your effort. Learn how to get more done, and a special lesson from a German Field Marshall this week on the Wily Manager website.
Monday’s Tip: Know what you need to accomplish. This is different than the to-do list of everything you want to accomplish. Figure out the mission-critical items that will bring you success in your role. Hint: if you’ve got more than few (3 – 7) you’re diffusing your effort.
Tuesday’s Tip: Schedule your time according to these priorities. Unfortunately, that may mean less time for other things that a) you enjoy, or b) other people want you to do. Be ruthless – schedule your mission-critical items first, and fit everything else in around them.
Wednesday’s Tip: Come to grips with the fact that no one cares how busy you are. Your boss or your organization cares about what you get done, if it takes you 80 hours per week, then that should be a source of embarrassment for you – not pride… so stop bragging about how you worked through the weekend.
Thursday’s Tip: Learn to say “No”. This can be difficult, especially if it is your boss that is asking you do things that are far outside your mission-critical items. However, most organizations have more “noise” than actual value-creating work. Focus on the value creating items… ignore the busy-work.
Friday’s Tip: Do less work, not more. The truly successful people do not try to cram more activities into their day. They do less, get more done, have less stress and are more happy than the perpetually busy over-worked person.