This is part 3. Click the tag at the bottom of this post to read the other parts in this series.
One of my favourite parts of this book was the workflow section. I love how Angela explains this and I'm going to be using it with my clients too because anyone can relate.
So!
If you think of your paper flow as a little car and your decision-making process is like coming to a traffic light...
RED means stop - throw those papers away
ORANGE means wait - file those papers
GREEN means either show (delegate to someone else) or go (do the work yourself)
Now that's already really cool but then she breaks down the GO part further, and this part I LOVE!
- Scheduled tasks go on your calendar
- Unscheduled tasks go on your master to-do list
- And the urgent tasks you just DO if they'll only take 2 minutes
- the parking lot is where we put things for future projects (I liked this term so much I immediately renamed my existing email folder)
The reason why I LOVE this part so much is because we all try and put unscheduled tasks in our calendar (on our daily to-do list) and that's why we feel overwhelmed and unworthy when we don't get those things done.
Of course, you add some tasks from your master list to your daily list once you have the scheduled stuff on your list. And of course, if I'm coaching you :) , we'll always make sure at least 2 of those tasks move you towards your goals, so that you're effective and not just busy!
(I deal with all this in MUCH more detail in Help! I need more time)
Is it just me or do you also think the whole paper flow is explained just beautifully with this easy-to-understand analogy?
P.S. If you're on Facebook, you can check Angela's profile under my friends. There is a lovely picture of her beautiful face :)
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