Right now the world seems to be going to hell in a hand-basket. Fear and uncertainty rules. As a species, we crave order, structure and leadership.
We can’t control everything that’s happening. What we can control is our own response. In the words of the Serenity Prayer,
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”
So what can you control and how should you set your priorities.
Think in terms of 4 steps:
- Order
- Clarity
- Decision
- Action
I recommend using the Impact / Ease methodology to accomplish this.
These are the steps:
- Brain-dump all the issues you’re facing and focus areas that you need to attend to by listing them onto the Impact & Ease Worksheet.
- Determine Impact areas:
- Decide which Item on your list will provide the greatest Impact to your results and effectiveness. Score it with a ‘10’ in the Impact column.
- Decide which Item will provide the least Impact to your effectiveness and score it with a ‘1’ in the Impact column.
- Then go through each other list item, and give a relative score when compared to your ‘10’ item. Record these numbers in the Impact column.
- Determine Ease: How easy is it to complete these tasks.
- Decide which Item on your list is the easiest to accomplish and score it a ‘10’ in the Ease column
- Determine which Item is the hardest thing to accomplish and score it with a ‘1’ in the Ease column
- Then go through each list item and give a relative score, when compared with your ‘10’ item. Record these numbers in the Ease column.
- Plot your Results and Action:
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- Transfer your Impact and Ease scores onto the Impact & Ease Grid, plotting the Task No onto the chart at the relevant points.
- Do the High Impact/Easy tasks first.
- Then the High Impact/Not Easy (usually strategic, long term business building activities).
- Delegate the Low Impact/Not and not important
- Forget about the low impact and easy items. Be ruthless. If it’s important enough, it’ll rear its head again.
- Transfer your Impact and Ease scores onto the Impact & Ease Grid, plotting the Task No onto the chart at the relevant points.
And value your time!
Every business has the metaphorical equivalent of $10,000/hour work, $1,000/hour work and $100/hour and $10/hour work.
Using the Impact/Ease grid decide what you’ll do yourself – mainly the high impact, longer term, high value items in “Strategize” quadrant.
Wherever possible delegate the lower value, lower priority tasks. But make sure the person doing each fully understands the task and has the ability to accomplish it. Remember, delegate, not abrogate.
Doing all this will bring order into the chaos. You’ll get clarity, be in a position to make informed decisions and take action.
And get through this crisis as unscathed as possible.
