“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” – Helen Keller
It is easy to begin tasks, but completing them can at times be more challenging. There always seems to be something that distracts a team from completing their tasks. Given how easy it is to procrastinate and avoid tasks, most team members have a list of tasks waiting to be completed. As this list grows, stress levels increase. By following a few simple tasks, your team members can improve their chances of accomplishing their goals, staying on track, and reducing stress levels.
The One Minute Rule
Most team members detest doing the small, mundane tasks. These tasks may seem unimportant to your team members, but over time, they will pile up, which will diminish focus and waste time. For example, if you do not take the garbage out regularly, it will overflow. This makes a simple task much more difficult. Implementing the one minute rule eliminates this difficult situation and protects your team’s focus. According to the one minute rule, if a task will only take one minute, it should be completed immediately. A single minute will not put your team behind schedule, and following the rule will save the team time in the long run.
Related: Find out more about TBAE’s Goal Setting Outcome Based Team Building Activities
The Five Minute Rule
Schedules are only helping a team focus and manage time when they are done correctly. A common mistake that people make when creating schedules are making them too strict. It is not possible to plan the day down to the minute. When creating a schedule, you should follow the five minute rule. The five minute rule is simple: allow at least five minutes between scheduled tasks. This time is set aside so that you can complete small tasks that you have been avoiding or neglecting. The five minutes do more than provide time to complete small, seemingly unimportant projects. They also provide a buffer between scheduled activities, which will help keep your team on schedule in case a task runs longer than expected.
Break Up Large Tasks
Some tasks have multiple steps. These tasks may be overwhelming to your team if they look at the complete picture. By breaking these tasks up into their basic steps, your team will be able to remain focused as they work. Additionally, they will feel a sense of achievement as they complete each step in the process. Breaking down a task into manageable steps will make them much easier to manage. Additionally, you will be more likely to complete a project when you break it down into smaller tasks.
Utilize Technology
Technology has made completing tasks much easier. Computer software and online programs help teams manage tasks, create reminders, and track their progress. Besides computer programs, there are countless apps now that help you make lists, keep track of schedules, and complete tasks.
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