The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

 

June 1, 2015 Stop Putting Off Your Toughest Tasks We often procrastinate when there's too much to do, we dislike a task, or we don't know where to start. If you figure out which of these is blocking you, you can determine next steps and get it over with. Some tips can help you get focused on the task at hand, even when you don't want to: Set deadlines for yourself in advance. Slot tasks into your calendar so you don’t end up saving everything until the last minute. Reward yourself. Take a coffee break or go talk to a colleague once you’ve finished a particularly dreaded task. Or save a task that you do like for after you’ve finished the one you don’t. Get help. If the problem at the outset is that you don't know how to start the project, work with a colleague who can help you. This gets you unstuck and holds you accountable. Adapted from Getting Work Done (20-Minute Manager).

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