In business it can sometimes feel overwhelming with the sheer amount of ‘things’ that need to get done. Here are three established tools that I use to ensure I am completing those tasks that are value added, and that need to be completed to drive the business forward.
‘Leader Standard Work,’ ‘The Four Disciplines of Execution, (Covey)’, and the ‘Eisenhower Matrix’, are three popular productivity and performance improvement frameworks that can help you effectively manage your tasks and get things done. Here’s how you can utilise these frameworks to achieve your goals:
1 – Leader Standard Work: Leader Standard Work is a Lean management concept that involves defining and standardising the key tasks and responsibilities of leaders in an organisation. It helps leaders establish a routine and prioritise their activities to ensure they are spending their time and effort on the most critical tasks. To use Leader Standard Work effectively:
a. Define your key value-added responsibilities: Clearly identify the core tasks and responsibilities that align with your role and goals.
b. Establish standards: Set standard work procedures for each task, including the frequency, timing, and quality expectations.
c. Create a routine: Incorporate these tasks into your daily, weekly, and monthly routine to ensure they become habitual and are consistently performed.
d. Continuously improve: Regularly review and refine your Leader Standard Work to optimise your time and effort allocation and drive continuous improvement.
2 – The Four Disciplines of Execution: The Four Disciplines of Execution is a performance improvement framework that helps teams focus on executing their most important goals amidst the whirlwind of day-to-day activities. The four disciplines are:
a. Focus on the Wildly Important Goal (WIG): Identify and prioritise one or two WIGs that will make the most significant impact and align with your overall objectives.
b. Act on Lead Measures: Identify and track the specific actions or behaviours (lead measures) that directly influence the achievement of your WIGs.
c. Keep a Compelling Scoreboard: Create a visual scoreboard that displays the progress of your WIGs and lead measures, so you can see at a glance how you are doing.
d. Create a Cadence of Accountability: Establish regular team meetings to review progress, hold each other accountable, and identify and address any barriers or challenges.
3 – Eisenhower Matrix: The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, is a time management tool that helps you prioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance. It categorises tasks into four quadrants:
a. Quadrant 1 – Urgent and Important: Tasks that require immediate attention and are critical to your goals. These should be your top priority and addressed as soon as possible.
b. Quadrant 2 – Important but Not Urgent: Tasks that are important but not time-sensitive. These tasks should be scheduled and planned for, as they contribute to your long-term goals.
c. Quadrant 3 – Urgent but Not Important: Tasks that are urgent but do not align with your goals. These tasks should be delegated or minimised to avoid distractions.
d. Quadrant 4 – Not Urgent and Not Important: Tasks that are neither urgent nor important. These tasks should be eliminated or minimised as they do not add much value to your goals.
To use the Eisenhower Matrix effectively:
a. List and categorise your tasks: Write down all your tasks and categorise them into the four quadrants based on their urgency and importance.
b. Prioritise tasks: Focus on tasks in Quadrant 1 first, followed by Quadrant 2, and minimise tasks in Quadrants 3 and 4.
c. Plan and schedule: Schedule time for tasks in Quadrant 2 and plan to delegate or eliminate tasks in Quadrants 3 and 4.
d. Review and adjust: Regularly review and adjust your task list based on changing priorities and progress.
By integrating Leader Standard Work, the Four Disciplines of Execution, and the Eisenhower Matrix into your daily routine, you can effectively prioritise tasks, focus on key goals, and improve your productivity and performance.
If all that fails send me a note and we can set up a call to discuss how I can help you ‘Get Things Done.’