Less is the New More in Getting Stuff Done

Jeepers! A moment to breathe and reflect on how it's not even the end of Q1 and we're all buzzing around, trying to get on top of the demands that are clearly exceeding our capacity.

At the beginning of last year I got some flack for a post that read - DO NOTHING.

In hindsight, I can understand why people were amused and some even mildly irritated. But I wasn't advocating laziness, rather I was suggesting that doing less might be a more effective way to actually get more good work done.

Because working always-on, drowning in a deluge of emails and back-to-back meetings and pretending that multi-tasking is where it's at, is clearly not getting us anywhere.

So, what I'm saying is - less is more!

It's time to ditch the "do more" mentality and embrace a fresh perspective on getting stuff done.

Here are the three quick starters to get you going -

1. Stop the Meeting Madness

There are too many unproductive, pointless meetings which take up time that could be spent doing valuable work

• Schedule shorter meetings to create breathing space - instead of a 60 minute meeting, schedule 50 minutes. Change 30 minute meetings to 25 minutes
• Insist on meeting agendas ahead of time. Everyone attending a meeting should know upfront what the meeting is about and what the objective is
• Don't leave a meeting without clearly defined next steps
• Only people who are essential to the meeting should be invited. For all other colleagues, send out a summary afterwards.

2. Recharge Those Batteries

We're not designed to work flat out. After 90 minutes, our energy dips and we lose focus anyway

• To avoid being mentally scattered and distracted, break up your day into 90 minute focus sprints, followed by some time to recharge your energy.
• I call this a recharge break - this could be as short as 5 to 10 minutes. Step away from your computer and do something to boost your energy - try moving your body, eating something healthy, drinking some water, phoning a friend.

3. Crush only the Critical

We are not machines. We can't do everything. Priortising is key to reduce overwhelm

• Decide on your most important work and do that first, ideally before you check email. Once you check email, your day is owned by everyone else
• Don't be afraid to ask your manager about priorities and due dates. A little reality checking can prevent you from diving down a busy-work rabbit hole.

Of course this is a big topic and because people are different and organizational systems are varied and complex, we need to find what works best for us and our colleagues. As a coach, I try not to be too prescriptive but simply share a few best practices to get out of the blocks.

Ultimately, you are your own best expert.

And at the end of the day, to remember in this buzz of business, that "doing less" isn't just a quirky rebranding of being lazy - it's a rallying cry to prevent burnout and create a better way to work.