Inspiration and Life

Three Easy Ways to Get Things Done

Why a sense of urgency is important

What do you do when you absolutely positively must get something done? You know the kind of thing I mean. That rush proposal to a customer. Finishing the report the boss expects tomorrow morning. Hurrying to get the paperwork to a lender on your new home to avoid a rate hike.

The kinds of things you must do or finish immediately. Now, not later. Yesterday would have been better!

How is it your productivity can suddenly spike at times? That burst of energy that helps you complete a task. It often happens when you are about to go on vacation. You know you must get certain things done before you leave, and you will get them done. You always do, somehow!

Think about it. Each of these situations has something in common. Do you see the three factors?

The first is that each is not only important but urgent. The second is if you do not complete it, there will be unwanted consequences. The third is each has a deadline. These three factors create a “get it done” attitude and environment.

“The secret of getting things done is to act!” Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)

Get it done, or not?

Why not use the three factors in a more controlled way to get things done? Let’s again summarize the three in preparation for using them to create that “get it done” environment without the anxiety. The three factors are:

1. Important and urgent
2. Unwanted consequences
3. A deadline

Each factor creates a sense of urgency. This sense of urgency is key to making them work.

“Though we are optimistic, we must remain vigilant and maintain a sense of urgency.” Jeff Bezos (1964-present)

Let’s now contrast these must-do tasks with more routine activities. In these cases, what you need to do can be important with less urgency, fewer consequences, and no deadline, so there is no reason to rush and little sense of urgency.

You can sum up this lower-productivity environment as having:

1. Little or no urgency
2. Inconsequential consequences
3. A distant or no deadline

Do you see a clear pattern emerging? When you have something to lose, you get it done. When you have little to lose, you say, “Eh, what’s the rush?”

“Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.” Jim Rohn” (1930–2009)

If you want to speed routine tasks along, use one or more of the factors from the high productivity “get it done” environment. If you don’t care, do what you usually do and live with the results or lack thereof.

“Get it done” tactics

You can view the three “get it done” factors listed above as tactics you can incorporate into regular activities to boost everyday productivity. Put one of these tactics into play, and you can bet things will start to happen. Quickly! Even better, incorporate all three tactics to create a highly productive environment.

Example 1

Let’s say a project has stalled. Inject one of the three tactics. Take, for instance, writing an article. You want to write an article and have a couple of weeks to work on it but lack the motivation to get started. Inject one or more of the three tactics into your requirements for the article to increase the sense of urgency to get it done.

You could consider how important the article will be to someone. What about the consequences if you don’t get it done? Or why not put a deadline on how much of the article you will do each day until it is complete?

“The ultimate inspiration is the deadline.” Nolan Bushnell (1943-present)

Any of these will increase the sense of urgency necessary to get it done. Adding all three tactics increases the sense of urgency even further.

Example 2

If you are in a management position and want to help an employee become more productive, inject one of the three factors into the project. If the project is large and complex and a long way off, create intermediate deliverables with deadlines to help them stay on track.

For example, if the project is not due for a month, create weekly check-ins regarding the progress made at each interval. Check-ins will help establish a sense of urgency to ensure the project progresses.

If it is still not progressing well, insert one of the other tactics, such as a potential consequence if they fall behind schedule. You already gave them a deadline for the work, didn’t you?

Final thoughts

Why not try adding one or more of the “get it done” tactics into a routine task and see what happens? Use it on something you ordinarily may not consider, such as taking care of your health, exercising, or spending time with your spouse. All it takes is a slight uptick in your sense of urgency, and things will begin to happen.

While the tactics are highly advantageous in your work, you can also use them on your children, friends, or anyone you want to make more productive.

A simple analogy to using the three tactics is:

Applying the tactics is like putting your foot on the gas.

Not applying the tactics is like putting your foot on the brakes.

Which makes the most sense for that project you need to get done — putting your foot on the gas or the brakes? The great thing about it is the choice is yours!

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Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION

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