8 Reasons Why Teamwork Is Important at Work - Lifehack

8 Reasons Why Teamwork Is Important at Work · 1. Have Empathy and Support for Other Team Members · 2. Share Responsibilities · 3. Build Bonds · 4. Improve Service ... YourCurrentChallenge HowtoLiveaFullLife(WithoutCompromisingonWhatTrulyMatters) AchievingGoals:TheUltimateGuidetoGoalAchieving&GoalSettingin2021 WhatIsMotivationAndHowToGetMotivated(YourUltimateGuide) HowtoIncreaseMentalFocusandStaySharp HowToLearnFasterAndSmarter HowToGetFitIfYouHaveaBusySchedule HowToBoostEnergyAndPeakPerformance Courses Mastercourses FreeClasses Topics StayingMotivated GoalGetting Focus LifePotential SuccessMindset Learning Exercise&Training Diet&Nutrition RestoreEnergy LifeBalance MentalWellness Relationships Parenting LifehackShow Shop Advertising Leadership Productivity 8ReasonsWhyTeamworkIsImportantatWorkKimberlyZhangKimberlyZhangistheChiefEditorofUnder30CEOandhasapassionforeducatingthenextgenerationofleaderstobesuccessful.Readfullprofile Advertising Share Pinit Tweet Share Email Weallworkonteamsinsomepartofourlife,andtheimportanceofteamworkisevidentineachoneofthem.Ifwedon’tgetourworkfinishedontime,werealizeatsomelevelthatwe’repushingresponsibilitiesontoothermembersoftheteam.However,theimportanceofteamworkgoesbeyondfulfillingourdutiestoothers.TheoldAfricanproverbonteamworksaysitbest:“Ifyouwanttogofast,goalone.Ifyouwanttogofar,gotogether.”Teamworkhelpsusgrowaspeopleandaccomplishmorethanweevercouldonourown.Withoutteamwork,wewouldn’tbeabletobuildcompaniesatall.Sowhat,exactly,makesteamworksoimportantintheworkplace?Teamworkhelpsusinmanyways.Withoutteamwork,manyofourjobswouldlikelynevergetdone.Belowarejustafewmorereasonsoutliningtheimportanceofteamwork.1.HaveEmpathyandSupportforOtherTeamMembersTheemotionalsideofleadershipisfinallygettingtheattentionitdeserves.Executiveshavefoundthatwhilepeoplemightrespecttheir“no-nonsense”boss,theymightnotbeasinspiredbythem.Empathycanmaketeammembersmoreloyal,engaged,happy,creative,andwillingtoworktogether.Ateamworkingtogethercloselycanseewhateachmembercontributes. Advertising Thinkaboutwhatthatmeans:throughempathy,employeesonateamcanholdeachotheraccountable,lendhelpinghands,andspeakupwhensomeoneneedsabreak.Theyaredependentoneachotherforsuccessandhavereal,in-personinteractions,sotheyaremuchmorelikelytoputthemselvesineachothers’shoes.MyteamusesaprojectmanagementplatformcalledTeamworktosupporteachother,andwe’veseenimprovementinhowwelookoutforeachother.Ifeverybody’sonthesamepageaboutwhereaprojectstands,itmakesiteasiertounderstandwheresomebody’smindsetiswhentheyaredoingcertaintasks.2.ShareResponsibilitiesLikeafootballteam,eachmemberofaworkteamhashisorherownspecialty.Eveniftherighttackledominateseveryplay,itdoesn’tmeanthattheteamisgoingtowin.Ittakeseveryplayer,doinghisorherpartandworkingtogethertowin.Companiescan’thopetocompeteifonlyhalftheteamispushingforthefinishline.Ifoneplayerishavingabadday,therestoftheteamhastopitchin—whichkeepsthoseteammembersfromowningtheirownroles.Thisishowteamswork:theymakedecisionsthatbenefitthegroup,evenifitmeanscertainmembersneedtomakesacrifices.Groupidentityiswhatmightinspiresomeonetogotowarfortheircountryorputinovertimehoursonagroupproject.Whenyouidentifyasbeingpartofateam,ittriggersashiftinyougoals.Nolongerareyouthinking“What’sinitforme?”You’rethinking“Whatdoesthismeanforus?”Thismotivatesyoutothenpursuethegoalsofthegroup,makingthecompanystronger.3.BuildBondsWe’veprobablyalldonethe“trustfall”exercise.Whilethismightbethemostcommonteam-buildingexercise,it’snottheonlywaytohelpateamcometogether.Workplaceteamsspendlonghourstogetherandneedtotrusteachmembertoprotecteveryone’slivelihood.Afewwaystoencouragethemtobuildstrongbondsandworkbettertogetherare: Advertising GamesandCompetitionsCompaniescanencouragetheirteamstobuildstrongbondsthroughthingslikegamesandcompetitions.Gameslikewastebasketball,pingpong,andtwo-minutetriviacanhelpbreakuptheworkdayandencouragetheteamtogettoknoweachotheronapersonallevelinafun,friendlysetting.EatingTogetherWhatbringspeopletogetherlikefood?Almostnothing.Encourageemployeestoeattogether.MaybethatmeanstakingaslightlylongerlunchbreakorgoingoutonFridays.Enjoyinghappyhourorappetizersafterworkarealsosmartstrategies.EncouragingPersonalConversationsDuringDowntimeYoudon’twantyourworkersgoofingaroundallofthetime,ofcourse,buttheoccasionalwatercoolerconversationcanactuallypromoteproductivityandteamwork.Exchangingpicturesofkidsandpetsduringdowntime,orsharinghobbiesandpassionshelpsteammemberstorelateonapersonallevel.That,inturn,strengthensthebondsthatmakethemaneffectiveteam.4.ImproveServiceQualityEspeciallyinindustriesthataren’tknownfortheircustomerservice,teamworkcanmakeacompanyshine.Thebook“YouDon’tHavetobeRuthlesstoWin”byJonathanKeyser,inparticular,inspiredmetobemoreselfless.Keyserleadsafast-growingcommercialrealestatecompanythatoperateswiththeprincipletoselflesslyserveothers[1]ontheteamandaroundthem.Becausebuy-inmustbebroadforateamtofunction,Keyserconsidersclientspartofthatcultureaswell.Learningtoserveothersasateamcanbechallengingandcomplicated,butitcanalsobedeeplyrewarding.Selflessservicerequirespeopletocollaborateandgotheextramile.Ateam’srelationshipsmustbebuiltontrustandmutualrespectforitsmemberstoactselflessly.5.PromoteaPositiveOfficeCultureNotallemployeesprefertoworkonateamasopposedtoasindividualcontributors,butnobodywantstoworkonateamthatdoesn’tgetalong.Argumentsandtensionsmakeworklessfunforeveryoneinvolved. Advertising Goodteamplayersmakegoodco-workers,whichultimatelycreateagoodculture.Wespendmoretimewithourco-workersthanwedowithourownfamilies,soit’simportanttoenjoybeingwiththosethatwe’rearound.Tomakeyourworkculturemoreenjoyableandproductive,it’simportanttoencourageemployeestobegoodteamplayers.Teamplayerscometogethertogetthejobdone,evenifitmeansputtinginalittlemoretimethansomeoneelse.6.FosterPsychologicalSafetyAfewyearsago,Googleresearchersdugintoaquestioncompanieshavebeentryingtoanswerforages:Whatdefinestheperfectteam?Googlediscovered[2]thatitwasn’taboutyearsofexperience,personalityalignment,orperks.Itwasthefactthatidealteamshavepsychologicalsafety.Inessence,goodteamshavetheabilitytofail,shareopinions,anddebateideaswithoutworryingaboutbeingjudgedorostracized.Psychologicalsafetyandteamworkaremutuallyreinforcing.Teamsthatworkwelltogetherlearntofeelsafewithoneanother.Thatsecuritycanhelpdevelopmorecreative,effectiveideasforthecompanyasawhole.InaHarvardBusinessReviewinterview[3],AmyEdmondson—theresearcherwhofirstcoinedtheterm—explainedthatpsychologicalsafetyisbuiltstructurallyandbehaviorally.Theformerisaboutconstructingsmallteamswhosemembersidentifywitheachother;thelatterisamatterofpeopleaskingforfeedbackandbeingvulnerable.7.CreateWork-LifeBalanceWork-lifebalanceisrareatcompaniesthatdonotappreciatetheimportanceofteamwork.Whenteammembersknowthattheirpeershavetheirbacks,theyfeelfreetoclosetheirlaptopsattheendofalongdayorgoonvacationandutilizetheirPTO.Becausetheyfeeltakencareof,they’realsowillingtogotheextramilewhenworkneedstogetdone.Ifaco-workerneedstimeoffforavacationorotherpersonaltime,everyoneelseontheteamcancometogethertopickuptheslack. Advertising Wealldeservetimeawayfromwork.Havingco-workerstohelpyouout,tellyoutotaketimeoff,andholdyouaccountableforrestingandrelaxinghelpstomakethathappen.8.EncourageInnovationInnovativecompaniesknowtheimportanceofteamwork.Rarely,ifever,areinnovationstheresultofageniuslockedawayinalaboratorybyhimorherself.KeithAyers,headoftheIntegroLeadershipInstitute,breaksinnovationintofourroles[4]:creating,advancing,refining,andexecuting.Creatorsareideapeople.Theyseepossibilities,evenifthoseideasmaynotworkinpractice.Advancerspromotethoseideas,ensuringtheydonotdieonthevine.Refinersdotheworkofgettingtotheidea’smeat:Theyask“whatif”questionstofinditsbestpossibleiteration.Executors,ofcourse,turntheideafromablueprintconceptintoanactualproduct.Itwouldtakeaveryprecisepersonalotoftimetodoallofthatontheirown.FinalThoughtsTeamworkisn’tjustabuzzwordyourbosslikestothrowaround.TheimportanceofteamworkcanbeseenineveryFortune500company,butalsoinotheraspectsoflife,suchassuccessfulrelationshipswithfriendsandfamily.Withoutteamwork,wewouldlikelynothavesaferoadstodriveon,freshfoodtoeat,complexmedicalprocedures,andsomuchmore.Teamworkiswhatseparatescompaniesthatsputteroutfromthosethatsucceed.Whateveryou’retryingtoaccomplish,useteamworktohelpyougothedistance.MoreTipsonTeamwork HowTeamworkintheWorkplaceBoostsMoraleandDeliversResults 10EmployeeEngagementIdeastoImproveTeamwork TheScientificPowerofTeamwork Featuredphotocredit:CampaignCreatorsviaunsplash.com Reference[1]^Keyser:OurCulture[2]^TheNewYorkTimes:WhatGoogleLearnedFromitsQuesttoBuildthePerfectTeam[3]^HarvardBusinessReview:CreatingPsychologicalSafetyintheWorkplace[4]^Entrepreneur:InnovationTakesTeamwork Share Pinit Tweet Share Email Advertising Advertising ReadNext 10EmployeeEngagementIdeastoImproveTeamwork HowTeamworkintheWorkplaceBoostsMoraleandDeliversResults IsPeopleManagementtheRightCareerPathforYou? Advertising Advertising Morebythisauthor KimberlyZhang KimberlyZhangistheChiefEditorofUnder30CEOandhasapassionforeducatingthenextgenerationofleaderstobesuccessful. HowtoStartaSideHustleWhileKeepingYourFull-TimeJob 30GoodMorningMotivationQuotesToKickstartYourDay BrainTraining:12Fast,FunMentalWorkouts 6ReasonsWhyTakingUpDigitalSkillsAndKnowledgeIsCrucial HowToMaketheRightCareerChoiceAfter30AndSucceed Advertising TrendinginLeadership 1 HowToLeadAndManageaRemoteTeam 2 HowToBoostEmployeeMotivationDuringDifficultTimes 3 7EffectiveWaysToMotivateEmployeesin2021 4 5ValuesofanEffectiveLeader 5 HowtoMotivatePeopleAroundYouandInspireThem Morebythisauthor KimberlyZhang KimberlyZhangistheChiefEditorofUnder30CEOandhasapassionforeducatingthenextgenerationofleaderstobesuccessful. HowtoStartaSideHustleWhileKeepingYourFull-TimeJob 30GoodMorningMotivationQuotesToKickstartYourDay BrainTraining:12Fast,FunMentalWorkouts 6ReasonsWhyTakingUpDigitalSkillsAndKnowledgeIsCrucial HowToMaketheRightCareerChoiceAfter30AndSucceed TrendinginLeadership 1 HowToLeadAndManageaRemoteTeam 2 HowToBoostEmployeeMotivationDuringDifficultTimes 3 7EffectiveWaysToMotivateEmployeesin2021 4 5ValuesofanEffectiveLeader 5 HowtoMotivatePeopleAroundYouandInspireThem ReadNext 10WaystoImproveTeamManagementSkillsandBoostPerformance WhyLeadershipandManagementAreTwoSidesofaCoin HowtoBeInfluentialandGainRespectatWork 20All-TimeBestEntrepreneurBookstoMakeYourBusinessSuccessful Advertising Advertising Focus Productivity LastUpdatedonOctober28,202115StrategiesforanEffectiveTo-DoListLeonHoFounder&CEOofLifehackReadfullprofile Advertising Share Pinit Tweet Share Email Oneoftheage-oldproductivitytechniquesaroundistheclassicandeffectiveto-dolist,andforgoodreason.It’soneofthemostproductivewaysforyouandeveryoneelsetogetanythingdone.Whetherit’samentallistorsomethingthatyouarewritingdown,ato-dolistisanessentialproductivitytool.Atthesametime,itisoneofthemostconfusingproductivitytoolsaround.Manypeoplediscreditthisforvariousreasonsanddon’tbelievethatato-dolistisanygood.Butmyargumentisthatmaybeyouandotherpeoplearen’tmakinganeffectiveto-dolist,soherewewillgooverhowtogetonedoneright.WhyIsaTo-DoListImportant?Beforejumpingintostrategiestomakeaneffectiveto-dolist,it’sworthknowingwhyyoushouldbothermakingone.Thefirstimportantpointisthatmanypeoplehavebeenmakingto-dolistsallwrong.Twoofthemostcommonmistakesare: Peopleuselistsasameasurementofwhethertheyareproductiveornot. Theyputtoomanyitemsonthelist. It’sunderstandablewhyyouorotherpeopledothis,though.Ato-dolistisaproductivitytool,soitmakessensetopileontasks.However,thebraindoesn’tworkthatway.Ifyouhavealotoftasksonyourlist,itfeelsliketortureasthelistneverends.Atfirst,itcanfeelnicethatyoualwayshavesomethingtodo,butkeepinmindthatyouonlyhavesomuchtimeinaday.It’simportantthatyouplacemorevalueinqualityworkratherthansheerquantity.Onthatsamenote,ifyouaresomeonewhohasatendencytoseekvalidation,ato-dolistcanbetough.Therewillbedayswhereyouwon’tgeteverythingdoneduetolifeevents.Thiscreatesunnecessarypressureandsendsyouintoastresswhirlwind.Whenyoubuildaneffectiveto-dolist,themaingoaloftheselistsistoprovideclarityandfocus.Ifyou’vebeendoingthemwrong,youmayhavenoticedthatyouarefocusinginonataskonyourtodolistandgettingitdone.Thismaybeovershadowedbythemultipleitemsonyourlist,butyouarefocusingonataskduringagiventime.Youreallyseethisinactionwhenyouconsiderhavingashorterto-dolist,though.Iunderstandthatato-dolistisn’tforeverysingleperson,butthisfocusishelpfultopeoplewhenstartingout.You’restillnotcertainaboutyourgoalsorthepaththatyouwanttotake.Youmayalsostruggletodeterminethenextsteptoworktowards.Ato-dolistisaguideyoucanreferbacktoitwheneveryouneedit.Furthermore,thetechniquesthatI’llbementioningbelowwillmaketo-dolistsmoreeffectiveforyou.15StrategiesforanEffectiveTo-DoListSowhatshouldbeonato-dolist?Whatisthebestto-dolistsystem?You’llbegintoseehowpowerfulato-dolistiswhenyouconsiderthevariousstrategiesyoucanincorporateinone.Thisisyourto-dolist,sopickfromthestrategiesbelowtofindwhatsuitsyou.Ifyou’renotcertain,don’tbeafraidtoexperimentandmishmashseveralcombinations. Advertising Rememberthattheroadtosuccessisonewithmanybranchingpaths,sothemethodsyouuseareyourchoice.1.BreaktheListIntoTwoPartsThefirststrategyistobreakalistintotwoparts.Thesetwopartsarecalleddailiesandtodo’s.Dailiesaretheeverydaytasksthatyouwanttodevelopmore.Forexample,ifyouwanttomakeahabitoutofexercisinginthemorning,adailytaskcouldbefollowinga15-minuteworkoutroutineorgoingforanhour-longwalk.Yourtodo’sarenon-dailytasksthatyouneedtobegettingdoneatsomepoint.Maybeyouneedtoprepareareportatworkormakeapresentation.Youcanputthatintoyourtodocolumn.Thisisaneffectivestrategybecauseitsavesalltheclutterthatmostpeoplegravitatetowards.Asmentionedbefore,peoplestufftheirlists,andalotofitisusuallytaskstheyyouwoulddoanyway,likegoinggroceryshoppingordroppingthekidsoffatafriend’splace.2.PutaLimitonItemsIfyoufindbreakingyourlistintotwopartstoomuch,I’llsuggestbrevitytobeavirtuewhenmakingtheselists.Youcansetanynumberofitems,butthekeyisthatyoudohaveasetlimitinmind.Somepeoplehavenomorethansevenwhileothersgoaslowasthree.Dowhatmakesyoufeelcomfortable.Theideabehindthisistonarrowinonthemostimportanttasksthatyouneedtoaccomplishthatday.Ofcourse,thereareotherthingsthatyou’llbedoingduringtheday,andthat’sfine,butyouwanttoprioritizetheitemsthatonyourtodolistbeforethedayisdone.3.UseChecklistsforComplexTasksIfyou’realreadymakingnarrowlistsbutareputtingintoughertasks,mysuggestionistobreakthattaskdown.Whetherit’sfull-onstepsyouneedtotakeorjottingdownimportantdetailsthatneedtobepresentisuptoyou.Eitherway,thisallowsyoutoensurethatyou’regettingeverythingdonetheproperwayandthatyou’renotmissinganykeydetailsorsteps.4.TackleMITsFirstMITisthe“mostimportanttask.”Anotherwaytolookatthisistotacklethelargestandmostintimidatingtaskfirst[1].Whyyouwanttodothisgoesbacktohowourbrainworks.Youmayfeelcompelledtodotheeasiertasksfirstbeforegettingtothebiggertask,buttheproblemisthatthesetasks—eventheeasyones—drainyourenergy.Furthermore,ifyouhaveareallybigtasktocomplete,chancesarethat’sgoingtobeonyourmindoverthecourseoftheday.Thatmeansyou’respendingmoreenergyjustthinkingaboutit.Allofthatwouldn’tbeaproblemifthatbigintimidatingtaskwasdealtwithfirstthinginthemorning.5.Createa“Done”ListAnotherinterestingapproachtoconsideristohavea“done”list.Thisisalistofthetasksthatyou’vecompletedfromyourto-dolist.Manypeoplefinditsatisfyingtomerelycrossanitemofftheirlistandbedonewithit,butdependingonwhatyou’reputtingonthoselists,adonelistcouldbeinspiring. Advertising Imagineifyouaresomeonewhoplacesabove-averagedifficulttasksonyourto-dolists,activitiesthatrequireanhourortwotocompleteproperly.Thiscaninspireyoutodomoreif,afteradayofworking,younoticejusthowmuchyouaccomplishedoverthecourseofthedayviathislist.6.MakeYourListEasytoSpotFromcolorfulpapertopostingitinanobviousspot,youwantyourlisttobeinaplacewhereyoucanspotiteasily.Mindyou,youdon’tneedtohavethislistinfrontofyouallthetimeasitcouldcreateunnecessarystress.Butsettingittoonesideisaniceidea—aglancetothesideandyouknowexactlywhatneedstogetdone.7.AddGamingElementstoItIfpenandpaperisn’tyourthingwhenmakingto-dolists,thereareseveralappsthatcanguideyoualongaswell.Thebeautyofto-dolistappsisthatthereismoreroomforcreativity,andsomeofthedevelopersincorporategamesintothem.Forexample,Todoisthasanachievementsystemwhereindividualsearnbadgesastheycompletemoretasks.There’salsoBountyTasker,whichmakesyoufeellikeyourtasksaresidequestsinavideogame.8.GiveYourselfDeadlinesWorkexpandstofilltimeallotted.It’sanoldphilosophythatstillringstruewithhowweareproductive.Forexample,sayyou’reassignedtowriteareport,andyou’regivenaweektodoit.You’lllikelyworkonitsteadilythroughouttheweek.Orifyou’reaprocrastinator,you’llputitoffuntilthenightbeforeandfinishit.Butwhatifyou’regiventhatsametaskandonlyallottedanhourtocompleteit?You’lllikelygetthereportdone,butyou’llprioritizethemain,importantpointsandhighlightthoseratherthanfillitwithunnecessaryfluff.Thewholepointofthisisthatwithyourgoalsandtheitemsonyourto-dolist,youwanttohavedeadlines.Whenitcomestoto-dolists,mysuggestionistogiveyourselfadaytocompletethetasksthere.Thisisenoughpressureandincentiveforyoutoworkhardonthem.9.AddTasksWhenThey’reFreshAnotherstrategyistoassignyourselftasksevenwhenyouareworkingonsomethingelse.Keepinmindit’snotsomethingyouhavetodorightnow,butthiscanhelpwithpeoplewhoarestrugglingtothinkaboutwhattofocusonnext.Thisisalongthesamelinesaswhenyouhearsomethinginterestingandyouwriteitdown.It’sawisethingtodoasitsavesyouthebotherofhavingtodwellonthatidearatherthanfocusingonthetaskathand.Italsosavesyoufromhavingtorecallwhatthetaskisifyou’rethetypetowriteupthenextday’sto-dolistattheendoftheday.10.BeComfortableWithRevisingYourTo-DoListDependingonyouroverallmindset,anothergoodstrategyistolookatyourto-dolistandmakechangestoit.Ifyou’repracticingthepreviousstrategy,theremaybeapossibilitythatyourto-dolistisgettinglengthyandyou’resettingunrealisticexpectationsthatyoucanfinishitall.Bygivingyourselftheopportunitytoreviseyourto-dolist,yourallowingyourselftospreadoutyourtasksratherthanhavethemclumpedup.Thishelpsyourmindsetasyou’renotoverwhelmedbythelist.11.WriteTasks,NotGoalsYoushouldhaveseparatelistsforyourtasksandyourgoals.Theideaistonotputgoalsonyourtasklistatall. Advertising Whiletaskscanhelpyouleadtoyourgoals,goalsarelargerdesiresandnotsomethingthatyoucanachieveoverthecourseoftheday.Forexample,“learntospeakFrench”isagoal;however,youcanbreakthatintoataskbysaying“readFrenchcontentfor15minutes”or“watchamovieinFrench.”Thisalsoextendstoobjectives,too.Youcanseetheseasmilestones.GoingbacktotheexampleofspeakingFrench,anobjectivecanbe,“discussmyfavoritefoodswithsomeoneinFrench.”It’sthedesiredoutcomethatyou’relookingforfromyourpractice.12.KeepTo-DoListsBriefHere,briefmeansscannableinthatyoucanquicklylookoveratthelistandknowwhatneedstogetdone.Howyoucandothisisbyfocusingonthekeywordsofspecifictasksandnotdraggingthemout.Forexample,sayyourgarageisamessandyouwanttocleanitup.Insteadofwritingalengthysentence,keepitshortandwritesomethinglike“cleangaragefor30min.”orsimply“cleangarage.”Withthisstrategy,you’respendinglesstimewritingthetaskdownwhenmakingtheto-dolist.Furthermore,you’rerelyingontriggerwordstogetyourmindtorecallspecificdetailsforthattask.13.HaveMultipleListsAsmentionedabove,it’sagoodideatohaveseparatelistsforvariousthings,likehavingaseparatelistforgoals,objectives,dailytasks,andto-do’s.Anotherwayyoucanlookatitistohaveasystemwhereyouareconsultingfromthreelists.Theselistsare:AMasterListThisiswhereanyofyourlong-termgoalsare,thingslikemovingtoanewhouse,gettingoutofdebt,orbuildingabusiness.Thesearethingsthatwilltakeayearormoretoaccomplish.AWeeklyProjectListThesearethingsthatyouwanttoaccomplishbytheendoftheweek.Thesearethingsthatwillmovetheneedleslowlytowardssomeoftheitemsonyourmasterlist.Fromthepreviousexample,thesecouldbedoingresearchongettingabusinessloan,househunting,orsettingupasavingsaccount.AHigh-ImpactListLastly,thesearetasksthatneedtobeaccomplishedtoday.Whethertheyarerelatedtotheprevioustwolistsornotdoesn’tmatter.Thisiswherehighprioritytasksareplaced.Examplescanbecallingspecificpeopleorworkingonaprojectorareportthat’sduesoon.Byhavingtheselistsinplace,you’llbereferringoftentotheweeklyprojectlistandthehigh-impactlistanddeterminingwhetheraweeklytaskshouldbemovedtothatlist. Advertising Asyoudothat,you’llbegintonoticehowmuchyourdailylifehasanimpactonthosegoalsthatarewrittenonthatmasterlist.Thatcanbeinspiringsincewhatyouaredoingisactivelybringingyouclosertoyourgoals.14.Don’tRampupDifficultyUntilYou’reReadySomeofthestrategiesmentionedcanseemeasyonthesurface,buttheyrequirealotofmentalfortitude.Motivationisanunusualthing,andourbrainsarewiredtoprocessacertainway.Ifyou’relookingforgenuinechangeandsomethingthatsticks,thebestprincipleistokeepthingssimpleandeasyatfirst.Itmaybeadrag,butyoudon’toftenrealizehowthosebabystepscanplayacrucialroleinyoubeingabletostartrunningandchasingyourdreams.Don’tbeashamedifyouhavetostartoffwithsimpletasksforyourself.Evengoingbacktodailytasksthatyoudoanywaylikeshowering,doingthelaundryorshoppingforfoodisagoodwaytostart.Puttingthoseitemsonthelistatfirstmakesyoufeellikeyou’vehadaproductiveday.Fromthere,youcanchallengeyourselfwithmoredifficulttasks.Incorporateanexerciseroutineorspendahalf-houronataskthatmeanssomethingtoyou.Theideaistoeaseyourselfintoaroutinesoyoudon’tfeeloverwhelmed.15.MeasureYourTimeThelaststrategythatcanhelpyouistomeasureyourtime.Howlongdoesittakeyoutofinishaspecifictask?Youdon’tneedtogoforspecifics,butmakeapointoftimingyourselfoverthecourseofaweekandgettheaveragetimespentonthattask.Whyisthisimportant?Thisinformationcanbebrokendownintwoways.Thefirstwayistouseitasamarkertoboostefficiency.Dependingonthetask,youcanfindnewwaystoachievethesameresultsinashortertime.Italsoallowsyoutoknowwhatyoucandoinagivenday.Ifyouknowthatittakesyouanhourorsotogothroughyourentiremorningroutine,you’llbemoreconsciousabouthowyoumovethroughthatroutine.Furthermore,ifyouknowwhattasksyou’llbedoingthenextday,youcanbettermanageyourtimesinceyouknowroughlyhowmuchtimeit’lltaketogeteverythingdone.FinalThoughtsBuildinganeffectiveto-dolistisnotaseasyasitseems.Thereareallkindsofuniquestrategiestotryout,somemorechallengingthatothers.However,ifyouaremotivatedtousethisproductivitytooltomakeyourlifeeasier,thenitwillgeteasier.Allthatyouneedtodoiskeepputtingeffortandexperimentandreevaluatewhennecessary.Sogetstartedwithyourto-doliststoday. Advertising MoreTipsonUsinganEffectiveTo-DoList HowtoCreateaTo-DoListandActuallyGetThingsDone AreYouMakingThisMajorDailyTo-DoListMistake? Featuredphotocredit:EmmaMatthewsDigitalContentProductionviaunsplash.com Reference[1]^BusinessInsider:Researchconfirmsthatyoushouldtacklehardertasksfirstifyouactuallywanttobeproductive Share Pinit Tweet Share Email Advertising Advertising ReadNext GoalsvsObjectives:WhatAreTheirDifferences? HowtoFocusandMaximizeYourProductivity(theDefinitiveGuide) 20BestTo-DoListAppstoKeepYouonTrackin2021 Advertising Advertising Morebythisauthor LeonHo Founder&CEOofLifehack HowtoMultitaskSuccessfullyto10XYourProductivity HowtoFocusonWorkBetterandBoostProductivity HowtoPreventInactionfromLeadingtoRegret 15StrategiesforanEffectiveTo-DoList HowtoOrganizeYourTasksWithWeeklyTo-DoLists Advertising TrendinginLeadership 1 HowToLeadAndManageaRemoteTeam 2 HowToBoostEmployeeMotivationDuringDifficultTimes 3 7EffectiveWaysToMotivateEmployeesin2021 4 5ValuesofanEffectiveLeader 5 HowtoMotivatePeopleAroundYouandInspireThem ReadNext HowtoStayFocusedandNotGetDistracted 11SimpleWaysToRefocusaWanderingMind HowtoStopBeingAbsentMindedandStarttoBeMoreAttentive HowNottoFeelOverwhelmedatWorkAndTakeControlofYourDay