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Are you the problem?
Sometimes the best way to solve a work problem is to make yourself the focus of improvement. Graham Allcott offers some techniques to help you work better.
There are a number of well-known productivity tools and techniques I’ve used over the years. I’ll quickly run through my favourites below. Of course, they won’t all appeal to you, but if one takes your fancy, give it a go!
Pareto was the Italian economist who once walked around his garden and noticed that 80% of the peas in his garden came from just 20% of the pods. Being a good economist, he didn’t just discard this as an interesting observation; he wondered how he could turn it into a law of world economics. Pareto’s Law is a reminder that not all actions are equal. Some of the things we do create profound and lasting impact. Other things we do are instantly forgotten. Meetings are great examples of this: 80% discussion for 50 minutes, with the 10 minutes at the end set aside for actions, clarifications and the things that will be remembered in two months’ time. The rest will all be forgotten. The rule of 80–20 is worth keeping in mind.