Tony Nicholls
Because we have a product that makes companies more efficient, we like talking efficiency in general. And we’re not alone. Business efficiency is a popular topic and there are thousands of blogs out there, talking about detailed project management techniques, or the latest software suites that all claim to help you achieve more in a working day.
But do we sometimes forget the basics?
The answer is yes – and efficiency tips don’t get much more basic than the 4 Ds. Allow me to remind you of a great technique that people often overlook, but which can make a huge difference to how effective they are during the working day.
The principle is that every time you encounter a new task – whether that is someone asking you to do something or an idea you have had yourself, you immediately apply one of the 4 Ds to it.You either:
- Do it. If it’s quick, or urgent, or you just happen to have time, you just get on with it and tick it off your list.
- Diarise it. You can’t do it now, but you make sure you plan now to be able to do it in the future. When can you do it? Put it in your diary and commit to it.
- Delegate it. It may not be your job. Or, more to the point, someone else may either be better placed to do it, or they may prefer to do it.
- Discard it. Not every job is important. Not everything is worth your time and attention. If something comes long that is really not that important, don’t be afraid to say no.
So there it is. The simplest piece of advice you could possibly wish for but one that, if you apply it properly, will make you much more efficient.
I hope it helps (but feel free to discard if you have a better way….)
Image courtesy of Leo Reynolds under Creative Commons licence
Shaz Manelli
