Self-management tip: change verb tenses.
Here’s a tiny trick that might help you get more small nagging tasks out of your way — and keep the ball rolling on bigger projects:
When you’re writing an e-mail (or drafting a presentation etc.) that includes a progress report, see if there’s anything you can change from future tense to past tense — by DOING that thing right now, before you send the e-mail.
Instead of writing this:
“I still have to get in touch with Becky about the specs for the project.”
Dash off an e-mail or leave a quick voicemail for Becky — two minutes, tops — and then rewrite your original message like this:
“I just pinged Becky about the specs for the projects; I’ll report back after she and I talk.”
Why this is a good approach:
- Be they ever so tiny, actions speak louder than words.
- Actions also LOOK better than words. You’ll look better to your boss or the people working on the project with you if it’s obvious that you’re taking steady action.
- Setting aside what anybody else thinks, steady action is usually the algorithm by which even the biggest projects get done.
This little trick will shorten your to-do list and keep your mindset geared toward constant action. Try it!
Category: The working life
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“Actions also LOOK better than words.” So true!
Reminds me of another good lesson on actions over words from Covey; you can’t talk your way out of a problem you behaved your way into.
Keep creating…a bias for getting it done,
Mike
This is a fantastic article and grand words to work and live by - thank you very much
This is a great suggestion! It affects the mindset and emotions - actions FEEL better than words
Excellent advice. I’d add one idea, however: after pinging Becky (or moving from “will do” to “did”), you need to track the action and the followup. Is Becky 100% reliable? If not, there needs to be a reminder to followup with her to ensure that the project still moves forward.
I did what you suggested today - I thought: save the 1 minute email & do the thing (3 minutes) and then send an email saying it was done, instead.
And a good follow-on from Dan M.
Thanks for the comments, everybody.
Dan — you’ve given me an idea for another post on how I purge my sent-mail file as a follow-up mechanism.