Redefining projects - an easy tweak for more productivity
Our approach to the activities in our work makes all the difference in how productive and successful we are. In this short post, let us rethink one important term in the lexicon of productivity – the project.
What is a project?
A lot of activities we call tasks are better described as projects.Here is my definition of a project – an intelligent coordination of coherent tasks aimed at achieving a specific result. When you think about it this way, your day typical day becomes filled with projects – and this is a good thing.
A project is an intelligent coordination of coherent tasks aimed at achieving a specific result.
Suddenly, giving your toddler a bath or planning a vacation is a project. Hopefully, you won't need a Gantt chart for next year's trip to Maui or Tammy's next shower.This concept is beautifully described by David Allen in his best-selling book – Getting Things Done. Allen categorizes any outcome involving more than three steps as a project.But how does this help your productivity and move you towards doing your best work and living your best life?
Redefining projects – lower the bar to elevate the results
By lowering your standards for what qualifies as a project, you lead yourself to put forward the necessary amount of energy to get the project done. This is much better than what most people do which is underestimate the work and never getting around to clarifying needed actions and doing them. Without these clarified actions, you will tend to procrastinate. And we all know how that ends.By recognizing an activity as a project, you can organize your efforts more intentionally instead of just letting things happen at random. You will find yourself clearing up a lot of the “little things” that make up a big part of your life.
You are a Project Manager
Not just you. We are all project managers. But some of us are just really bad at it because we were never told it was part of the job description of life. Most professionals know to intelligently plan and execute their professional projects and so they do very well in delivering. The problem is they do not carry this mindset with them into the so-called “little things”. And you and I know that it is the little things that make up a big part of our lives.
Start today
I invite you to practice this principle from now on. See any activity or goal that requires concerted effort as a project – then plan and execute it accordingly. You will find yourself getting a lot more done and enjoying a lot more peace of mind.Till the next post,Be your best and do your best.
