Welcome back, Busy Professionals! Today, we’re diving into the action world, focusing on how to get things done effectively. We will explore three crucial questions you should ask yourself daily: “When am I going to do this?”, “What do I do now?”, and “Am I doing what I should be doing?” To answer these, we’ll delve into the ICOR® methodology’s output part, covered in detail in the Project Management Like a Pro Course.
The Execution Beast
The Execution Beast is a concept designed to simplify task and project management. It involves two main components: Create and PEAR (Plan, Execute, and Align). Each component answers specific questions to streamline your daily workflow:
- Plan: When am I going to do this?
- Execute: What do I do now?
- Align: Am I doing what I should be doing?
By breaking down tasks into manageable elements—goals, projects, work streams, operations, and tasks—you can efficiently manage your workload. Remember, tasks are the only actionable items, while others are containers for tasks.
Task Creation and Management
Creating tasks within a Project Management system is crucial. This ensures alignment with team goals and overall business objectives. During weekly planning sessions, such as the agenda meetings every Monday at the Paperless Movement®, tasks are assigned and prioritized for the week. This structured approach allows for clear goal setting and efficient task execution.
Daily highlights are a key strategy, focusing on one major task per day that requires deep work and significant effort. This approach ensures you move toward your goals consistently while managing the essential but less critical shallow work, like email management and follow-ups.
Deep Work and Shallow Work
Balancing deep and shallow work is essential for productivity. Deep work involves tasks that require high energy and focus, typically planned for the morning when energy levels are highest. Shallow work, though necessary, should be scheduled for times of lower energy to maximize efficiency.
Using tools like task managers and planners helps organize this balance. At the Paperless Movement®, tools like ClickUp for project management, Todoist for task management, and Sunsama for daily planning are used. However, the methodology can be applied with any tools that fit your workflow.
Aligning with Goals
Alignment is a continuous process. Every task and project should be evaluated to ensure it aligns with your goals and business objectives. This approach prevents busywork and ensures that every effort contributes to the bigger picture. By having a clear understanding of your goals, you can make informed decisions about task priorities and manage unexpected events effectively.
Join the Paperless Movement®
If you’re ready to take your productivity to the next level, we invite you to join the Paperless Movement® Membership. Our comprehensive courses on Note-Taking, PKM, Task Management, and Project Management will guide you toward a perfect productivity system end-to-end.
Explore the full details and sign up here: Paperless Movement® Membership.
By adopting these strategies and tools, you can achieve greater efficiency, reduce stress, and ensure that every day is productive and aligned with your long-term goals.
