Decrease Your Availability and Increase Your Productivity

Looking through the list of goals and projects I would like to complete in 2006 it seems I have more things to do, than time to do them. This means that I have two choices, either I eliminate some of my objectives or increase my productivity. In the end I would probably need to do a bit of both! I thought I’d share some of the steps that I’ll be taking to improve my productivity, they are:

1. Use a comprehensive idea capturing tool – I often find that I get many ideas and insights in places other than work or at a computer, without a means of capturing the “at source” they flitter away and later I’m unable to recall them. I therefore need a portable-always-with-me tool, to will help collect all ideas and insights I have, at any place and at any time. Here is a collection of some Idea Recording tools that one can use. “If you are not 100% unavailable for at least 2 hours a day, you probably aren’t getting much done that’s of any importance.” – ChristopherHawkins.com
2. Results Focused Goals – Based upon the research, achieving our goals means having specific and well-defined goals. The more specific the outcomes and results we expect from out actions and projects the better we are able to respond to the feedback of the situation and modify our actions to improve the quality of the results. I’m focused on setting clear goals, to me this means my goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based goals (SMART). I’m trusting that this will improve the quality of my moment-by-moment decision helping to create the results I want.
3. Improve my GTD System – David Allen’s system for Getting Things Done (GTD) is an excellent system, I have been using it for two years now. Last year was really hectic, and I ended up reacting instead of responding to life. Responding is the goal of the GTD system, a state David calls “mind like water”, described in the book using the following simile “imagine throwing a pebble into a still pond. How does it respond? The answer is, totally appropriately to the force and mass of the input; then it returns to calm. It doesn’t overreact or underreact”. In the rapidly changing world we live, awareness of our environment, rapid response (not a reaction) and adaptability are the keys to superior performance. To achieve this I will be sharpening up my GTD skills.
4. Focus, Focus, Focus – This means focusing on achieving my goals even if it means that at times I’m unavailable or that I neglect some urgent issues. Focus means sometimes saying, “No” to things that distract us or are not core to the achievement of our goals.
5. Develop and Review a Master Task List – I have started in a new position, as IT strategist, and being new I need to keep focused on the key essentials required to be effective and add value in this role. I got the idea of the Master Task List from Michael Hyatt from Working Smart. Michael states that “Master Tasking” is the process of identifying your five to seven most productive, most important work-related tasks. A Master Task List is similar to a job description but more useful. It answers the question, “What was I really hired to do?”. I’ll review my master task list on a weekly basis as part of my GTD “weekly review”. Michael lists the following as some some characteristics of master tasks:
   • They are usually important but not urgent.
   • They spell the difference between success and failure.
   • You have a hard time getting to them.
   • They are things you usually do on your own.
   • They can be scheduled but usually aren’t.

Technorati Tags: Goal Setting, Personal Leadership, Personal Development, Leadership, GTD

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Tagged as: Getting Things Done