Productivity Improvement Number 3 - Prioritize

OK. So to recap:
1. Write down everything on a sheet of paper where you keep all your "To Do's".
2. Don't do anything without writing it down first.
3. Know what 5 to 7 things you do (categories) that make up your KRA's (Key Result Areas).

Now, you have your list - let's call it a "Master List" - because it has everything you do on it.

Scan the list for all the KRA's. Those are the items on the list that contribute the most to what you were hired to do ( help you be the most successful at doing ). These should have a "1" (one) placed in front of the item.

Now scan the list for items that are a "2" (two). These are items that are important, but usually don't contribute much to what you HAVE to do to be successful. It might be "Filing an Expense Report" for example or "Providing a Report for Someone". . . these are secondary in nature.

After you completed this task, scan the rest and place a "3" (three) next to the remaining items. These should be tasks like "Pick up laundry" or "Get new pens." These don't contribute to your success but you have to get down and in some cases, you DO NOT have to do at all.

Three's may be delegated or discarded or deliberated. Deliberated means to; Ask yourself why you have any 3's on the list? This is where some of us as professionals, pick up hours of time. We tend to do what is fun and easy. And these are 3's. They are an excuse to procrastinate. They allow us to feel like we are working, when in reality we are not, because 3's don't contribute to what we were hired to do.

Now look at the list. Look hard. Do you see what I am talking about? Do you see how this simple, non-technical tool, allows you to see what you are doing?

If it doesn't, you are probably not FORCING yourself to write down everything before you begin it.

But it gets even better. The next post, allows us to turbo charge the list.