Getting shit done

Are you wasting your time reading this? Hopefully not.

Manage your time

There are many books, endless tips and cheats and whole management and leadership lessons, even podcasts and vlogs dedicated to this subject. There is much good and well meaning advice around that I would endorse. However, much of the coverage is regurgitated common sense and useless "cheat codes" dressed up as advice. Anyway.... Here's my very pragmatic take on geting shit done.

Getting shit done

There are lots of adjacent subjects: work life balance, self care, personal development - the list goes on. These brief thoughts are about just getting shit done. Nothing more.

Lists

We all have a long list. All the stuff that we need to get around to doing - someday. Ruthlessly prioritise and be honest if you are never going to do them. Delegate, enlist help where needed.

More importantly at the start of each day write a list of what you will achieve that day - make the list small and achievable. Optimism has no part in compiling your daily list. It's a committment and can only be changed by absolute unforseen urgency/emergency. Leave time to chat, be sociable and drink coffee. Rule #1 applies.

Emails

Emails are designed to annoy/distract. Treat most emails with disdain. Prioritise emails as below. Deal only with top right box. If in doubt ignore and see what happens.

email categorisation

Subject always to the above.....Set clear expectations re emails.... 1. please tell me what you want at the beginning of the email. 2. if its urgent - call me. 3. If it's important - tell me. 4. Urgent and important relate to me not you. 5. cc/cfi never gets a response/may be unread. 6. I don't have time to deal with non urgent/non important stuff - so don't expect a response.

Rule #2 applies.

Diversions

Everything is a diversion: recognise them as such. Do not allow yourself to be hijacked by the urgencies of others - look after your own. If others can't organise their time it's their problem - not yours. Rule #7 applies.

Black holes

There are black holes out there that suck-in time. They are called meetings. Only attend them if 1. they are relevent; 2. you need to be there; 3. objectives are clear and 4. there is an agreed time limit. Rule #6 applies.

Reflection and thinking time

Never respond to any message (verbal or written) or anything that is very important without having some time to think and reflect. Sometimes things solve themselves or others solve things for you. Consideration & reflection before (re)action is always a good investment. Always respond calmly. Rule #3 applies.

Delegate

Get others to help or do stuff for you. (preferrably your team and/or the less well-organised or the time-rich) Rule #4 applies.

Don't be the donkey

Do not let others give you work - that includes lazy customers. Being helpful burns time. Don't accept the ball coming accross the net late on Friday afternoon. Rule #5 applies.

Procrastination

Avoid it. However, recognise that you or others might work best under pressure. Rule #1 still applies.

The Rules

Rule #1 : no carry forwards. JFDI.

Rule #2: Boss your emails

Rule #3; put emotions to one side - they just cost time.

Rule #4: don't do stuff that others can do for you.

Rule #5: don't be put upon.

Rule #6: Avoid needless meetings.

Rule #7: don't waste time on other peoples poor time management.