One question often plagues us in our professional lives: "How can I enhance my daily or long-term effectiveness?" We constantly strive to accomplish more, but have you ever considered that the quest to "get more things done" might be the main obstacle hindering your productivity?
Ironically, the answer to the question "how to get more things done" is to "do fewer things". But how do we do fewer things? How can we effectively trim our to-do list? The answer, though seemingly simple, can be challenging in practice: focus on the core principles and key rules of the game. When you find yourself unable to complete tasks within the expected timeframe, the mindset should be to continually pare down tasks.
For those new to this approach, here are some steps you can start with:
1) Navigate based on the game rules: Focus on tasks that align with these rules. However, don't let this step block you; identifying the right rules of the game can be challenging. If you're unable to do so, take a break. Sometimes, you must slow down to speed up. (More on this topic in a future post.)
2) Adopt an opportunity mindset: As recommended in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", shifting your perspective from "fixing every problem" to "finding opportunities to create positive change" can reveal many tasks as unnecessary. It widens your perspective, as opposed to the narrow viewpoint of a problem-focused mindset.
3) Slow down:** Make sure to allocate ample time for contemplation. If you find yourself rushing, it's a sign to decelerate. Consistently being in "hurry-up" mode leads to ineffective outcomes and stifles your creativity—a vital asset you can't afford to lose.
4) Elevate your perspective: As Einstein said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them". Use visualization or imagination for this purpose. While logical thinking can help, visual thinking is an effective tool for higher-level contemplation.
5) Overcome the emotional hurdle: People often tend towards adding things rather than removing them. However, to gain something new, you must let go of something else. Embrace the practice of "removing" tasks; although it might be difficult initially, you'll soon appreciate its effectiveness.
The crux of this approach lies in one simple, yet powerful, mindset: Keep removing tasks and focus on the ones that are truly effective. These steps aim to assist you in embracing this mindset. With practice, you'll find yourself accomplishing more by doing less, ultimately achieving a higher level of effectiveness.
