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Five Lessons On Managing My Deadlines
Prioritize
Determine the urgency of your tasks to figure out which requires priority.
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Start right away
We get so caught up in researching and thinking about a project that the anxiety to create something great can build up.
Start immediately. You can even make small amounts of progress every day. Eventually you’ll get there.
Focus
If you have a few projects at a time, focus on one. Work with intense focus. Do not allow distractions.
When you feel your motivation slows down, switch to another project.
Prioritize
Determine the urgency of your tasks to figure out which requires priority.
Set a buffer
Plans rarely go as smoothly as planned, so it’s always wise to set a buffer time in place.
Break down the project into smaller tasks and before the deadline, schedule a day or two to give yourself a breather to review your project, to allow for delays or last-minute changes.
Feedback
Don’t be afraid to seek progress feedback from your teammates, boss or even clients.
It’s better to know beforehand you’re not on the right track, rather than finding out at the end that you’ve gotten it wrong.
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Setting your own deadlines
Create artificial deadlines for yourself. Understand that you can save yourself a load of stress by acting as if something is due earlier than it actually is.
Mentally, this creat...
Leveraging help
If you are worried others will view you as inept if you ask for help, you most likely will procrastinate, and even more pressure will build up, as the deadline rapidly approaches.
You can reduce this by leaving your ego at the door and simply asking others for help. Another way to get help from others is to ask for an extension - it can make a world of difference in the way you feel. But don't abuse this.
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Don't waste valuable energy
We can't waste valuable energy on mindless activities while putting off what matters most for later.
In business, wasting energy means working on low-value tasks, and thinking b...
Cut out the optional
Being overwhelmed may be the new normal, but taking on too many responsibilities may be watering down our overall impact.
Bring back your focus to what matters most. Work on the projects that are the real game-changers. Delegate the discretionary work and eliminate unnecessary meetings.
Design an action plan
Running a thriving business means understanding how to organize your work by importance and knowing when to delegate.
- Find your sweet spot. When you consider taking on a project, see if it aligns with your purpose and the organization's broader goals. Ask yourself if you're the right person with the right skillset.
- Automate. As your company grows, use automation tools for low-level work. It also allows your employees to make more meaningful contributions.
- Set boundaries. Learn to say no to low-level tasks. Set your own limits about what you'll take on.
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Urgent Vs Important
A lot of people make the mistake of turning down important work due to urgent work that comes up suddenly.
A task requiring immediate attention is an urgent task, whereas important tasks are ...
Time-Wasting Tasks
Some tasks are neither urgent nor important, but as these time-wasting tasks are in front of us, we end up consuming our time with them. These include:
- Browsing social media
- Reading junk articles and posts
- Playing distracting games.
Avoiding Urgent Tasks
Urgent tasks are the ones that are not adding any value but come up to be done at that moment. The right approach is to avoid the urgent and focus on the important.
Example: Answering a phone call can seem urgent, due to its ringing, but it may not be that important.
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