By Tracy Uphold
One of the biggest challenges we all face now is there seems to be more to do than time. This isn’t new for me. Like most of you I always seem to keep adding things to my list. The difference now is that everything seems to be urgent and even when I try to build in some time for items that pop up throughout the day, there is always at least one too many things on my list. I did a little research on this and thought I would share what I found with you.
1. Recognize that you are not alone. Everyone in the hospitality industry and many other industries are all in
the same position. Everyone has way too much to do. A little stress about the situation is okay but in order to be
productive you need to clear your mind. Start by making a list of all the tasks that need done.
2. Urgent or Important? Determine which tasks are urgent and which ones are important. Did you know that there is a technique called the “Eisenhower Matrix,” which helps you prioritize tasks? Urgent items are things you feel need to be handled right away while important tasks contribute to your long-term goals. If a task is…
- a. Urgent and Important: Do these tasks ASAP
- b. Important, but not urgent: Schedule these tasks later
- c. Urgent, but not important: Delegate these tasks to someone else
- d. Neither urgent nor important: Drop these from your schedule as soon as possible
3. The tie-breaker. Do you have items on your list that have the same value? If so, try tackling the one that will take the most effort to complete first thing; that way you get it out of the way. It’s also important to note that the more people involved or impacted by your work, the higher the value of the task.
4. Can you delegate something? Can you ask someone else on the team to help with even a small portion of one of your tasks? This could give you a little extra time to work on something else.
Let me wrap up by saying that never have so few done the work of so many. Sometimes in our crazy fast paced world when everyone is stretched so thin, we forget to show our appreciation for one another. Take a breath and let your co-workers know how much you appreciate them.
