To do or not to do? That is the question. Or is it?
That seems too simple. Well, that's because it is. Let's talk about to-do lists and how to manage yours better.
Being in management, I have learned that there is no possible way to complete everything on my to-do list all the time by myself. I've learned that I have three options:
Do it myself,
Automate it, or
Delegate it.
I am a fan fave of option #3, personally. But before you can consider options #2 or #3, we need to start by prioritizing your to-do list. Let’s mark everything red, yellow, or green.
If there are consequences behind a task not being completed that day or there’s a strict deadline, let’s mark that in red.
If the task has a deadline, but you still have wiggle room, let’s mark that in yellow.
If a task has been on your to-do list for weeks and you keep pushing it off because it has no deadline, let’s mark that in green.
Next, let’s look at the tasks that only you can complete. This may be a confidential project or assignment or a task that has been assigned to you because it is ONLY your area of expertise. For example, if you are a lawyer, you can’t send your receptionist to court for you. Well, unless you want to lose the case and your license. But, hey, that’s up to you. It's important to remember when you are determining what only you can do,
DO NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!
I know that you may be thinking “Nobody else can do that like me”. But trust me, there is someone out there that can get pretty close.
Now, let’s chat about automation. New and innovative software allows you to automate your processes and systems so much easier nowadays! TGFT! Thank God for Technology! There are so many things you can do to make your business life easier. For example, scheduling your social media. Or creating workflows in your systems to automatically respond to your clients. Automation saves you so much time that can be used elsewhere. So right now! Yes, right now!
ADD "EVALUATION OF YOUR PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS" TO YOUR TO-DO LIST and determine what you can automate.
YOU CAN NOT WAIT TO AUTOMATE!
This will save you so much time and money!
Lastly, let's see what tasks you can delegate. We also need to determine if delegating means passing it off to someone on your team or outsourcing the task long term. For example, your dishwasher is broken, so on your to-do list you wrote “Fix Dishwasher”. The problem is, you have never fixed a dishwasher, or any appliance, in your life. You should probably outsource it. You can try to fix it yourself if you want.
So the dishwasher is broken. Now you have added “Wash the dishes” to your to-do list. You live with your husband, so guess who's washing the dishes?
**LANGUAGE WARNING**
credit to @sip.on.my.tea (TikTok)
Yep, that's how it'll go.
Now your to-do list is organized, not just a bunch of tasks on endless sheets of paper. Of course, you and your team will start on the red tasks first, then move to the yellow. With all the automation and delegation, you should be able to get to the green!
In conclusion, your to-do list is not meant to add stress. It is meant to be an organizational tool that assists you in getting things done. So going forward,
DO YOUR TO-DO LIST, DON'T LET IT DO YOU!
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Download your free copy of my Simple, Organized To-Do List!
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