Do you ever feel like you are busy as can be during the day and really not getting much accomplished? Are you perplexed at how your to do list seems to just keep growing without an even distribution of items being checked off? Would you be interested in getting more done in less time?
Whether you get things done well in a timely manner or get overwhelmed and out of time, it all comes down to your GPA. I’m not talking about your grade point average. I’m referring to your Goals, Projects and Actions (GPA).
I’ll bet if we checked your list of “to do’s” or what you’re doing that isn’t even on your list, 80% doesn’t line up or support your goals. I’ll make another wager and that is you are not even clear on what your goals are.
The key to getting the important things done and thereby achieving your goals is to limit or eliminate the distractions that suck your time and energy away from your getting the importing things done. Before you can start the important process of eliminating you must first get your GPA in order.
G: Set clear overriding Goals stating specifically what you want by when.
P: Determine what Projects must be completed in order to realize the goal.
A: Flesh out the individual Actions needed to be executed in order to complete the Projects.
Once you have worked through these three steps you become more aware of what is getting in your way throughout the day preventing you from getting the best actions completed. It’s not that you are not doing good work. You are most likely falling in the busy trap of not doing the best things and the right work to move you in the direction of reaching your goals.
Give thought to what is or could get in the way of you carrying out the best actions. Develop a plan to limit or even eliminate those distractions. This is where you may need to elevate your skill level in the following four areas:
Setting boundaries: Become clear of what your role or job really is and avoid “role drift.” Often we make the mistake and take on a lot more commitments than we need. The false rational is we can do many things fairly well; we want to be seen as a team player; if we don’t do it then it won’t get done.
Saying “No”: This is really about no longer tolerating negative people, negative environments and negative thoughts about yourself. These three negative elements, more than anything else, are the root cause for demolish dreams. Notice what else you may be tolerating and introduce it to the “No.”
Delegating work to others: Learn to let go. The reality is there are people far better equipped to do a better job at a lot of what you haven’t been letting go of. There is no logic that can justify not freeing up your time and energy for you to do what you are good at and enjoy doing within your role.
Enrolling people to support you: People really do want to see you succeed. Share with them what you are trying to accomplish and explore how they may be able to help support you and how that perhaps lines up with their goals.