In a recent video by the Paperless Movement®, Tom Solid and Paco Cantero discussed an essential concept for Busy Professionals: the Execution Beast. This methodology, a part of the ICOR® system, focuses on action and helps professionals stay productive by addressing three critical questions: When am I doing this? What do I do now? Am I doing what I should be doing? These questions are designed to simplify the execution process and ensure alignment with personal and business goals.
The Three Essential Questions
The Execution Beast revolves around three straightforward questions:
- When am I doing this? This question helps you plan when to tackle each task, ensuring that you have a clear schedule and timeline for your work.
- What do I do now? This question is crucial for maintaining focus and prioritizing tasks in the moment, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks at hand.
- Am I doing what I should be doing? This question ensures that your actions are aligned with your goals and priorities, helping you stay on track and avoid distractions.
Plan, Execute, and Align
Tom and Paco emphasize the importance of creating a system that can answer these questions. The Execution Beast is built around the concept of PIA (Plan, Execute, and Align). Planning involves setting weekly goals and breaking them down into daily highlights. Execution focuses on performing tasks during peak energy times, while alignment ensures that each task contributes to overarching goals.
Output Elements
The previous episode of the podcast covered the Output Elements, which are integral to the Execution Beast. These elements include Goals, Projects, Work Streams, Operations, and Tasks, with tasks being the only actionable items. These elements help reduce complexity and provide a clear overview of what needs to be done.
Creating a Flexible System
The key to the Execution Beast is flexibility. No matter what happens during your day, your system should quickly and efficiently guide you on what to do next. This is achieved through weekly and daily planning, where you set and review your goals, ensuring they are realistic and manageable.
Weekly and Daily Planning
Planning is done in cycles of one week, allowing you to have a clear view of what can be accomplished. Daily planning then breaks down these weekly goals into actionable items, ensuring that each day has a clear focus. This method prevents the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many tasks and helps maintain steady progress towards your goals.
Managing Shallow Work and Deep Work
A crucial part of the Execution Beast is distinguishing between shallow work and deep work. Shallow work includes tasks like Email Management and administrative duties, which should be done during times of lower energy. Deep work, which involves tasks that move you closer to your goals, should be done during peak energy times.
Handling Unexpected Events
Unexpected events are inevitable, but the Execution Beast prepares you to handle them effectively. By having a well-planned schedule, you can quickly assess whether an unexpected task is more important than your current task and adjust accordingly.
Routine and Consistency
Consistency is key to making the Execution Beast work. Establishing routines helps manage tasks efficiently, whether it’s handling small tasks (speedies) in batches or maintaining regular planning sessions. This approach ensures that you stay on top of your tasks and continue moving towards your goals.
Conclusion
The Execution Beast is a powerful methodology for Busy Professionals looking to enhance their productivity. By answering the three essential questions, planning effectively, managing tasks based on energy levels, and maintaining consistency through routines, you can achieve your goals with less stress and greater efficiency. To dive deeper into these concepts and learn how to apply them to your own system, consider joining the Paperless Movement® Membership, where comprehensive courses on Note-Taking, Personal Knowledge Management, Task Management, and Project Management are available to help you become a highly effective digital pro.
