7 Sure-Fire Task Management Tips To Take Your Productivity To The Next Level

Posted by Syed Mohammad Anwer on November 29th, 2017

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” ~ Paul J. Meyer

In today’s competitive business world, you cannot succeed without being at the top of your productivity. This would only happen if you manage your tasks efficiently. With so many distractions around, managing tasks and completing tasks before the deadline is no child’s play. That is where you need to smart. Here are some triend and tested task management tips that will help you to take your productivity to new heights.

1.     Plan Ahead

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”-- Benjamin Franklin

Going into a project or task without a proper plan is a recipe for failure. You should have a clear plan and strategy that defines the direction you need to move towards to achieve the goal. Thanks to advancement in technology, the current crop of task management software allows you to plan well in advance with Kanban board. Kanban boards are great when it comes to tracking all your team tasks and makes it easier to understand. This reduces the risk of failure and increases your employee productivity.

2.     Break Down a Project into Smaller Pieces

The easiest way to complete a large and complex project is to break it down to smaller, more manageable pieces. Although, you might have heard this on number of occasions but do you use this tactic every time? I can bet your answer is in the negative and you are not alone. This is why it gets repeated on numerous occasions. Not only does it increases the believe in your employees that they can complete the smaller task but it also make the task whole lot easier for them.

3.     Use a Task Management Software

No one can deny the fact that technology has changed our lives so why not harness the power of technology can boost your productivity. That is where task management software comes into play. These task management software provides you a unified platform to manage everything in one place efficiently. Assigning task, managing tasks and monitoring progress is a matter of few clicks with these digital tools. Communicate with your team members and clients and collaborate on projects with your team members with ease. It can save you a lot of time and enhance the productivity of your team. If do not want to spend money on a premium task management software, you can start with free task management software.

4.     Do the Most Difficult Task First

We all goes through highs and lows throughout our lives and our days are no different. There are peak times and then there are down times. In order to stay productive and get more done, it is important that you take full advantage of your peak hours. For most people, it is the first few hours in the morning when you are starting your workday. If that is the case then it is better to schedule the most difficult task of the day during that time.

Try to complete the most complex tasks first and it will make the rest of the day less of a hassle. Once you accomplish the most difficult task, it gives you the confidence and sigh of relief that can help you achieve much more during the rest of the workday. Avoiding complex tasks or leaving it to end is not the right way to go about it because it will eventually come to haunt you when you are already exhausted.

5.     Avoid Multitasking

“You can do two things at once, but you can't focus effectively on two things at once.”—Gary Keller

Due to competitive business environment, we are forced to multitask in quest to achieve more in less time. Unfortunately, multitasking can do more harm to our productivity than good. Our brain can only concentrate on one thing at a time. When we multitask, our brains switches focus from task to another, which leads to time wastage. According to a study, this task shifting can decrease our productivity by 40% and increase the time required to complete a task by 50%. That is why it highly recommended that you focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking.

6.     Reminders and To-Do List

With so much going on around and on our schedule, it is easy to lose sight of what you need to accomplish. Throw in some distractions in the mix and you will easily forget about the most critical task of the day. The best way to resolve this issue is to set reminders or set up alert emails. Even if you have missed a task, these reminders and email alerts can save your day. You can also create a To-Do list to ensure that you do not miss any important task again. Creating a To-Do list can also help you track progress as you can easily see how many tasks you have completed and how many of them are left.

7.     Think About the Negative Consequences

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”--Eleanor Roosevelt

Yes, you read that right. It might seem a little pessimistic, but it works. Thinking about the negative consequences of not completing tasks can completely change your attitude towards work. You will automatically start to take your work more seriously when you realize what is at stake. Imagine if your job is on the line, would you approach as you are doing it right now? No. This is what we call using negative emotions to bring the best out of you.

Which task management tips do you use? Which ones help you to be more productive throughout the day? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.