There are a lot of things that go into creating success. I don't like to do just the things I like to do. I like to do things that cause the company to succeed. I don't spend a lot of time doing my favorite activities.
Michael Dell
We all have those tasks we've been putting off because they are just not much fun. The call to ask for a project extension, the renewal that will require difficult negotiation or the client who has a complaint to be addressed. The natural tendency is to put it off these unpleasant tasks.
There is one simple solution get it over with quickly.
In work relations there is a natural tendency to avoid confrontation, the unpleasant or difficult. We don't want to hurt someone's feelings or our own.
As someone who has to do this daily I can attest to the effectiveness of this strategy of "get it over with quickly". Some observations that may encourage you on this:
- A problem is rarely as serious as you think it is
- A stitch in time saves considerably more than nine
- Superior relationships are forged in adversity
- The client always wants to help
- You always feel better when you've made a start
- Momentum counts
Tomorrow morning take your email in box, stop the refresh, and starting from the top start and in sequence: replying, deleting or writing down actions for each email. Do this as fast as you can, 30-60 seconds per mail (momentum counts).
I guarantee that in one hour you will have cut through emails that have been hanging around for days, possibly weeks and feel great.
If you are interested in hearing more about these kind of work strategies check out a favourite podcast of mine by Stever Robbins, Get It Done Guy.
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