Follow-Through and Tasks

In the final segment of our Valentine's Day GIFT (yes, I know it's way past VDay) we will look at follow-through and task together.

Just a quick recap, with Goals (G), we need to ask the 5WHYS, where with Ideas (I) we need to take the approach of suspending the critical mind, tap into our subconscious mind, and look from a totally different perspectives.

With Follow-through (F) we recognise that not all ideas can be acted on immediately. Some, if not most requires a series of Tasks (T) before that idea can be realised. Hence in the follow-through stage, the main thing is to be able to break down the ideas into a series of tasks and then schedule those tasks into your weekly plans.

One of the ways I found it to be useful for following-through is to use the SIR approach, where the tasks must be strategic, you must have indicators, and then you must review those tasks.

How do you know if the task is strategic? You know it when you carry out the task it will spring you ahead. For instance, you have a goal like increase market share, then ideas could be an integrated marketing campaign. Follow-through with that could entails designing a marketing flyer, network with decision makers. Thing is, if these actions are those you have done in the past and it didn't work then it is time to review it. If it didn't work in the past, then what was the indicator to tell you it was not successful?

Did the context change? How about your assumptions? Did that change too?

So, be strategic, have indicators, and review those strategies diligently.

Finally, scheduling those tasks is something that has been covered somewhat in the previous blog on Time Management. Here, I'll just like to add that you first need to drop these tasks into your weekly schedule first then fill in the other things you need to do.

Of course a review of weekly actions is required. Do we spend a large amount of time working on tasks that act on us or do we carry tasks that we choose to act on?

To have a good gauge, one should start off with at least a 5 percent of the time on such tasks to as high as 35 percent of your time.

Can do?

Respectfully yours,
Melvyn Tan
(Sent from my Blackberry Bold)