Top 10 Ways to Get More Done and Achieve More | Video

We always need more tips that will help you to achieve more by staying focused on what really matters. Here are 10 ways to get more done.

Project Management relies on well-placed focus. Where you place your focus determines where your results accrue. So, if you know the goal you’re working towards, and you are determined to focus on it relentlessly, what can you do to maintain your focus?

This video is safe for viewing in the workplace.

This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy

Achieve More: 10 Ways to Get More Done

Breaks and Chunks

The duration for which you can focus is limited.  To work effectively and get more done, divide your work into chunks (20-60 minutes depending on your energy levels, mood, and enthusiasm) and take breaks between.

Discipline and Determination

There is no silver bullet.  If you want to achieve more worthwhile and difficult things, you need to apply some discipline and determination.  As the character of TE Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) says in David Lean’s marvelous film, Lawrence of Arabia, when asked about the secret of holding his hand over a flame: “the secret is to not mind”.

Purpose and Meaning

Little children ask “why?” all the time.  Mine certainly does!  We are all little children on the inside, so we do too.  To help keep your focus, you therefore have a clear insight into the reason why; the purpose and meaning of what you are doing, and why it matters.

Distractions and Interruptions

Shut yourself off as much as it is practical from distractions and interruptions.  Close your email client, skype connection, and web browser.  Turn off your phone, IM client, and TV.  Focus means seeing and hearing one thing, and it will really help you to get more done.

Multi-tasking and Mono-tasking

Multi-tasking is less effective at doing the job well and less efficient at doing it quickly than doing one thing at a time.  Don’t take pride in your ability to multi-task: instead, hone your talent for sequencing tasks logically, scheduling them efficiently, and carrying them out effectively. One thing at a time will help you achieve more.

Planning and Scheduling

Planning works.  Not because you will always stick to your plan – the universe has far too warped a sense of humor to allow that. But because planning allows you to prioritize, understand what is coming up, and recognize the emergence of new priorities.  

Pride and Prejudice

Prejudging a situation leads to misplaced focus, so avoid excess pride in your inevitably flawed plans. “Planning fallacy” is the tendency to be blind to planning errors.  Stay alert for new information to avoid doing work that has little or no value because needs have changed, or new opportunities have arisen.

Pride in Quality

Take pride in getting the quality right the first time. Not too shoddy: not too perfect.  Just get it right, by determining the specific need up front and meeting that specification, to deliver the greatest economy in effort and resource usage.  If you want to get more done, avoid having to do things again, to put things right.

Procrastination and Dither

To get more done, sometimes, you have to just do it, and stop putting things off. Promise yourself a simple reward and roll your sleeves up. Imagine how good you’ll feel when it’s done!

Milestones and Deadlines

Most of us find the incentive of a looming deadline motivating.  And most of us like the idea of achieving a milestone and being able to celebrate.  Use them to help you to focus.  

And One Bonus Tip to Achieve More

Special Time and Chance Opportunities

Make use of special moments in the day when you are at your best or have an unexpected gap, to achieve more by making progress on something important, but not necessarily urgent.

Additional Ways to Get More Done

Recommended Videos to Help You Achieve More

Carefully curated video recommendations for you:

• Personal Time Management – How to Apply the OATS Principle | Video
• Get More Done: Amplify Your Abilities, Productivity, and Power | Video
• Cracking Personal Productivity: 3 Things that Really Work | Video
• 10 Ways to Keep Calm and Carry on | Video
• Gravitas: 10 Ways to Make an Impact with Your Ideas | Video
• Top 12 Things to Do Differently | Video
• True Authority: Top 10 Ways to Convince Others You Know what You are Talking About
• Noble Objection: Top 10 Ways to Say NO | Video
• What is 5S? The Japanese Approach to Organized Efficiency | Video

Recommended articles to Help You Achieve More

• Personal Time Management for Project Managers

What Kit does a Project Manager Need?

I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own. 

Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs

Note that the links are affiliated.

Learn Still More

For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to the OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

If you want basic Management Courses – free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses.

For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.

For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.