Eliminate, simplify, automate & delegate: The four simple steps for higher productivity
My one word for this year is ‘Focus’. So, just the other day when one of The Leadership Pod (my closed leadership support group) members shared these 4 steps that can help improve productivity and focus our goals, it sent me down a rabbit hole!
In his book ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’, Tim Ferris dropped some profound productivity wisdom in just two sentences:
“Never automate something that can be eliminated, and never delegate something that can be automated or streamlined. Otherwise, you waste someone else’s time instead of your own, which now wastes your hard-earned cash.”
This concept is popular amongst tech entrepreneurs and business owners because it liberates them from the shackles of low value and monotonous tasks, so they can focus on building the business. But I realised leaders in organisations can also benefit from this approach.
After doing some research, here are the 4 steps to higher productivity, as written by Phil Laboon in a Forbes article:
1. Eliminate – Get rid of it.
Is it absolutely necessary to do this task? Does it help me to achieve my goals?
If yes, go to Step 2.
If no, get rid of it.
2. Simplify – Make it easier to understand.
Does it have to be this complicated? Can this task be simplified?
If yes, simplify it.
If no, go to Step 3
3. Automate – Use technology to streamline it.
Is it possible to automate this task?
If yes, automate it.
If no, go to Step 4
4. Delegate – Subcontract it.
Can this task be delegated?
If yes, assign responsibilities.
If no, figure out what has to be done before it can be delegated.
Every time we go through this process, we get better at eliminating low-value and repetitive tasks that clog up our daily schedules, freeing us to focus on goals that really matter. ●