"Marie Kondo" your reports: here's why and how

"Nothing is less productive than making more efficient what should not be done at all." - Peter F. Drucker

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Hi?there,

How was your last week?

I've been busy prepping for my London workshop and recorded a new, more personal podcast episode - coming out in December. Stay tuned!

Can you believe December is in two weeks?

Are you in for another year of endless meetings, email floods, and pressing deadlines - or is it time to finally reclaim space for what matters most to you?

If you're ready to break that cycle, join me for a?free 60-minute goal-setting workshop. ??

We'll cover a framework to help you create a sustainable balance for 2025.

Start the new year on a strong note -?Save your spot now!

Now, let me ask - how many reports you wish you didn't have to do?

Let me share a quick story.

Earlier this year, I worked with a marketing team stretched thin because of a hiring freeze.

When I asked, "If I gave you a magic wand to remove one draining task, what would it be?"

Someone instantly said, "The monthly report. It takes three full days."

"Who's it for?" I asked.

"Our team."

"And what decisions does it help you make?"

Their surprise was telling. "Not many. We look at a few key numbers."

"How long would it take to report just those key numbers?"

"Not even half a day," they replied.

Why am I sharing this?

With a few simple questions, we freed up 2.5 days per month.

Reports are the kind of clutter that drains time and makes work feel harder than it should.?

the why

Here's another example.

When I was at a digital agency, my team managed reports for a big-name client.

Most reports were automated, but every week the client flagged errors.

Cue frustration.

Cue investigation.

Cue wasted hours.

So, I decided to dig in.

Ready for what I found?

We were sending the client nearly 600 reports a month!

SIX HUNDRED ??

No way they were reading them all.

Meanwhile, our system was overloaded and my team burned at least 5 hours a week on investigating and fixing bugs.

In the first conversation, we cut 150 reports. (Do not ask me how many are left today...)

Now, maybe you're not drowning in that many reports - but I bet there's bad busyness lurking somewhere.

the how

Here's the exact process I used - my?"Marie Kondo"?method for reports:

1/ Create an overview

List every report your team produces in a simple spreadsheet.

2/ Organize?

Map out key details for each:

• Category - keep to no more than five
• Frequency - weekly, monthly, etc.
• Goal - the value it adds
• Time spent - actual hours invested
• Recipients - who receives it

3/ Ask questions

• For?internal reports, ask yourself and your team: Who actually reads this? Would a summary do the job? What if we didn't produce it at all?
• For?external?reports, talk to recipients. You'd be amazed what can be trimmed or cut entirely.

Most of us run on autopilot. This exercise separates value from noise.

And yes, AI can streamline your reports, but here's a reality check: 77% of employees say?AI has increased their workload.

That's because, as management guru Peter Drucker put it,?"Nothing is less productive than making more efficient what should not be done at all."

result

Rethinking your reporting can free up 30% of your schedule for what truly matters.

your play of the week

"Marie Kondo" your reports ???

Free up time from unnecessary reports with 3 steps:

1/ Create an overview

2/ Organize

3/ Ask questions: clarify what's valuable and what's just noise.

Keep what sparks productivity. ?

A few weeks ago, I had a great chat with Dan Dowman on?The Culture Crush podcast about productivity and balance.?Catch the episode?on your favorite platform.

If you found this edition helpful, forward it to a friend or a colleague who's drowning in reports. And grab The Good Busy Playbooks with my 5-minute video guides.

Thank you for reading?????

Enjoy getting good busy!

See you next Monday,

Kate

P.S. Running out of time for what matters to you at and after work?

Here's how I can help:

• End bad busyness - Join The Good Busy online course | Gain 30% more time for family, fun, and personal goals! People will want to know your secret!
• Free up 30% of your schedule - Partner with me for 1:1 coaching or team workshop | Prevent burnout, achieve results with less time and effort!
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