If you want a tree to thrive, you must first water it regularly and prune it regularly. If you want a tree to bear fruit, you need to set aside enough time and care for it.
The same goes for work. Rushing to finish in order to meet the deadline is actually equivalent to stunting the progress. By putting the concept of "finish it ten days in advance" into practice, you can make improvements leisurely and harvest meaningful results.
"It's important to meet the deadline, but it's more important to get things done!"
S from the strategic planning team was scolded by the team leader again today. Although the report was completed before the deadline, it was severely criticized for "insufficient content." All the efforts he put into completing the report within the deadline seemed to turn into bubbles in an instant. The results were clearly delivered by the scheduled deadline, but in exchange, "time is not that important", which is really confusing. Although I know how important the quality of the results is, I really want to ask: "In that case, why not give it more time?"
"I have to revise it quickly and submit it again, but...how should I do it?" Although my body has started to move towards the next task, my heart is very irritable and my thoughts are very complicated.
More important than deadlines...
Like S, the attitude of desperately rushing to complete the deadline is a typical work habit of passive employees. Passive employees will make plans based on deadlines, schedule their schedules tightly to avoid wasting any time, and strive to complete the work according to the plan within the specified time. However, I couldn't get rid of the constraints of the "time" framework, and I just focused on following the planned schedule. This is also a typical characteristic of people who do not have a "doing mind".
People with a business mind do things differently. Although confirming work schedules may look similar at first glance, they tend to focus on business development and results rather than deadlines.
Although you can take your time and set a deadline at the beginning, many times you will find that it takes more time than expected when you actually start working. At this time, people with a business mind will use flexibility to confirm the remaining time and re-adjust the business sequence as much as possible to obtain better results.
If it is judged that the deadline needs to be extended, we will explain the situation to the relevant people in advance and make suggestions for adjusting the schedule. Avoid rushing to meet the deadline, which may lead to problems with the results. When adjusting your schedule, you will also take the initiative to propose a schedule that suits you, rather than blindly comply with the time requested by the other party.
Sometimes, in order to complete the work on schedule, we will screen the entrusted business and seek assistance in a timely manner. After observing the trend of work development and comprehensively studying necessary matters, we can freely adjust the time and business volume according to the situation.
If time is a conveyor belt moving at a constant speed, people with a work-minded mind will consider the development and results of work in time, and then readjust their business according to needs. Take the initiative to adjust your business into your own hands instead of leaving it to time.
On the contrary, what about people who are chased by time? Put the unfinished results that you desperately chased on the conveyor belt, and then helplessly face the situation where you were scolded by your boss even though you worked hard.
Say goodbye to being busy and confused! The key is flexibility
Manager L of the sales department cleared a whole day's schedule in order to present creative ideas at the new product planning meeting in two weeks. However, I couldn't concentrate at all throughout the morning. Although the meeting was in two weeks, there was still plenty of time, but with no progress being made, time was just passing by inhumanely.
Manager L immediately changed his approach. He believed that if the situation was allowed to develop like this, not only would it be impossible to be creative, but it would even cause delays in other work, so he decided to deal with one or two tasks in advance that could be easily solved in the next day's schedule. Just when I was about to finish the work I had done the day before, an idea about planning suddenly came to me. Although it was already close to get off work time, I still made a simple note first.
After going to work the next day, Manager L sorted out the notes left the previous day and began to write a new product plan. The remaining time was used to revise the first draft of the plan to make it more perfect.
Manager L exchanges the work that cannot be handled at the moment with other schedules and successfully completes the desired results. What would be the result if Manager L only followed the predetermined plan? Either the plan is unsatisfactory, or the work has to be continued until the next day, resulting in a terrible situation of delaying the next day's business.
Manager L's working method is quite similar to "finished ten days earlier than expected." In order to get the job done well, rearrange the order of business. Since the creative ideas and proposals for new products are very important tasks, it is judged that such important work must be completed in advance to ensure sufficient time. However, the progress was not as expected, so it was decided to tackle the small things that could be dealt with immediately. When ideas emerge, seize the opportunity as quickly as possible and finally complete the proposal successfully. Flexibly adjust time to ensure sufficient time is reserved for modifications and handle business efficiently without pressure.
The more important the work, the more it should be done in advance
The way corporate CEOs handle business follows a similar pattern. As the person with the highest decision-making power in a company, the CEO must make the best decision while digesting various agendas. They are the ones who need to manage their time thoroughly more than anyone else. The management of the schedule is basically arranged by the secretary, but in the end it still has to be confirmed and adjusted by myself. Although the schedule will be made according to the time required, this is only an aid to handle daily business. It is more important to work smoothly and deliver results than to digest the scheduled schedule. In order to follow the scheduled schedule without sufficient time to review and judge, the probability of making inappropriate decisions will naturally increase.
The phrase "forced by time" means that the initiative in the work is not in one's hands. It's easy to lose sight of the overall direction if you only focus on completing your scheduled schedule. However, the most senior leaders understand trends, make decisive adjustments when necessary, and then get back to work.
Therefore, the more important the task, the earlier it will be dealt with, allowing sufficient time for review and careful consideration. This is a strategy for CEOs to take control of their work and time and make better choices.
"Complete it ten days ahead of schedule" is to return the control of time to your own hands. Make good use of the "finish it ten days ahead of schedule" strategy to maintain our control over work and time. The more things we have the ability to control and adjust, the stronger our confidence becomes.
When a person takes the initiative and uses it to achieve something, he not only begins to feel proud of himself, but also becomes inspired to accept new challenges. Only in this way can you become the master of your ideal life.
