Efficiency

This is blog post #800 - Are you subscribed via RSS?

__________________________________________________

I have a passion to do my best as VP of Operations for Cogun, Inc.  In this position, I face a multitude of assignments and responsibilities. Over time, I have realized the value of efficiency.

Efficiency: accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. (Dictionary.Reference.com)

I also have a passion to support the people who serve with eternity in mind. That's why God led me to open Serving Strong.  The skill of efficiency is also important to the ministry leader. Serving strong in ministry means staying as close to peak performance as possible. Using our daily God-given portion of energy wisely allows us to be all God needs us to be. Being efficient, therefore, equals being more available to God. Here, then, are some of the efficiency principles that have served me well over the years:

Difficult First.  Do the hard tasks first thing in the day. You will ride high on the euphoria of accomplishment.

Use Tools.  Take advantage of good software to track tasks and appointments. I use Microsoft Office (my apologies to all my Mac friends - don't hate me).

Control Email.  Read Michael Hyatt's post on staying on top of email (weave these concepts into the fabric of your daily journey).

Group Errands.  Don't go to the store one time, then go back to the same location to another store later. Group your errands and go one time to all of them. This is true if you work in an office as well. Group what you're going to take to people's offices. Then go down the hall once.

Block Time.  Sequester yourself for projects that take time to get your mind into. Most of the time, I find when I block an hour to do a task, I finish it much earlier because my mind was laser focused.

I bet you have something you could add to this list...

image credit

Comments

[jasonS]

This is a great list. Thanks Scott. I do it sometimes, but mostly I like to do the hard things first to get them out of the way. You're right. There's a great sense of accomplishment and it translates into other things.

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks Jason. May all your difficult tasks be few...

[MichaelDPerkins]

Unplug...phones...or other distractions...

congrats on #800...

[Scott Couchenour]

Michael - funny you would add that. I just saw (as I was randomly browsing the Twitter news feed) a free ebook download on unplugging. Has a lot of good stuff in it. Here's the link:

http://focusmanifesto.s3.amazonaws.com/FocusFree.pdf

Thanks for the congrats. Stay strong!