Almost certainly.
I see this all the time. When people tell me they never have enough time to complete their ‘to do’ list, I always ask them to look at that list and think about what it is they so desperately need “to do”. If you have too many things on your plate, you can often just freeze. You don’t start anything, let alone finish it. Which is why it’s so important to prioritise clearly and efficiently. Once you’ve built this new habit, you’ll start things and finish them. And in my experience, progress beats perfection.
40% of managers in the UK say that they feel daily stress at work*, with many people feeling the lack of time to get the job done is one of the things that impacts them the most. Yet very often, things that aren’t important are being prioritised over things that are.
Here are three things we can all do:
1. Define and decide what matters. Make this a priority not just for you but for your team and your organisation. Now define what doesn’t matter. Usually, these are things you do just because you always have, or because nobody else can be bothered to do them. If they can’t be bothered, ask yourself why. Make sure the things you prioritise have a purpose and bring you and your team closer to achieving your goals.
2. Set clear expectations about how long these tasks will take. Time is precious, so use it wisely. Decide which tasks are vital and lock them into your day with a realistic amount of time allotted to them. Do not move them; simply move your other tasks around them.
3. Robustly protect your boundaries. Once you’ve defined your most important tasks, make sure people know what they are and keep reinforcing this. Crack on with these things first and enjoy the satisfaction you’ll feel once you complete them.
But beware, there are a bunch of very human traits waiting to trip you up.
Avoiding difficult tasks is one and going for easy wins is another. As are hiding behind admin and just being busy “being busy”. Prioritising efficiently – even ruthlessly – can be the difference between a good life and a great life. Both inside and outside the workplace.
So what have you been avoiding doing whilst reading this? What’s stopping you now?
If you’d like to find out more, drop us a line at info@unleashandengage.com
*Source: Gallup State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report https://lnkd.in/dkbbCUT