A list of six tasks

Productivity techniques can Be so complex either so simple as is the human mind. Therefore, there are productivity methods in which it is planned Until the last detail And others, such as the one that Ivy Lee devised almost 100 years ago, whose maximum argument is the efficiency and simplicity.

The success of the method created by Ivy Lee is due to three main reasons. First, it forces continue with the tasks until its end, which reduces the tendency to leave pending issues procrastine tasks. Second, force to establish real priorities in tasks, helping to distinguish the urgent of the important. And finally, it limits the number of daily taskswhich facilitates commitment to each of them and avoids overload.

This apparent simplicity is, in reality, its greatest strength. It is not enormous planning or dedicate more time to structuring tasks to do them. Just a sheet of paper and a pen. But under this simplicity its true importance underlies: it establishes limits that help not to disperse and avoid the temptation to add more tasks than you can really address in one day.

Ivy Lee and Charles M. Schwab’s challenge

Ivy Lee was a publicist and American productivity consultant, considered the founder of the current public relations methods. In 1918, Charles M. Schwab, one of the richest men in the world in those years, and president of Bethlehem Steel, asked him for help to improve the productivity of his employees. Schwab wanted his company to be still more efficient and competitive.

The agreement between the two was simple: Lee promised to analyze how Schwab employees worked and contribute some improvements to work more efficiently. In return, Lee would not charge anything for his advice at the beginning, and agreed with Schwab that would pay what he would consider just after checking the results. After reaching that agreement with the millionaire, the consultant said: “Give me 15 minutes with each of your executives.”

Weeks later, Schwab was so impressed with the increase in productivity of his employees that he delivered a check of $ 25,000 in recognition for the work done. Today, those $ 25,000 would be equivalent to about $ 516,000.

What is Ivy Lee’s method

Ivy Lee’s method It is very simple to implement. At the end of each working day, each Schwab employee had to write a list with only six tasks that he had to complete the next day. These tasks should be ordered by real priorityso that the most important and urgent occupy the first places, followed by the important and not urgent, to close with only the urgent but not important.

The next morning, the person had to concentrate only on the first task of the list and not go to the next until he finished it. Thus, I would make task by task, without distractions or jumps between activities. If any task was left without completing, it automatically passed to the list of the next day, ensuring that none of the assigned tasks would be unsolved.

As you can see, the system designed by Lee does not seem much. It is easy to implement, does not require a great organizational effort or use complex tools. However, under this appearance of simplicity there is a wolf with lamb skin that hides different psychological tricks They guarantee their success.

The keys to the success of the Ivy Lee Method

First of all, Its simplicity makes it very flexible. If any unforeseen argument arises, the first reaction should be to try avoid distracting you From your main objective of finishing your task list. However, if it is something unapolable, it is enough to pause it, and resume it at the same point as soon as possible.

The time you have consumed to solve that unforeseen event will simply prevent you from completing the latest tasks of the list, so they simply pass the next day.

Actually, six is ​​only an orientative number that can vary depending on the nature of tasks. Such and As James Clear indicatesauthor of the Best-Seller ‘Atomic habits‘, limit the number of daily tasks forces to prioritize and “prune ideas”discarding the accessory and focusing on the essential, in the really important. Having too many options can induce a state of paralysis by choiceso limiting the options forces you to commit to those six chosen and complete them.

Another of its advantages is that Eliminates starting friction When facing tasks. Having the list made from the previous dayyou just have to get to work. That Elimination of starting barriers They are an elixir for those who have a tendency to procrastination since they should only sit down and get to work on the task that it plays.

Your linear progress strategy Avoid multitaskingone of the main enemies of productivity and inexhaustible source of Mental fatigueallowing a deep approach to A single activity at the same time. That facilitates The concentration and improves the quality of the work done because the attention is not dispersed, reducing the possibility of committing failures.

The fact of having the objective of completing tasks, contributes to improving the perception of work done And it is obtained A psychological reward for having succeeded.

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