When you have too much to do and not enough time to do it, putting in just a little work on each project can be tempting. But this type of incremental progress can be a disaster for your colleagues because you can hold things up and become a bottleneck. To keep moving things off your plate, ask your boss to help you set priorities, and then organize your to-do list accordingly. Break your work into clear stages, and delegate some tasks to others so you can focus on what you do best. Decide in advance on your deliverables for each day and stick to the plan. Learn to say no to requests that fall outside your core priorities. Say: “I’m flattered you thought of me for this. But the company/my boss/the client is counting on me to focus my attention on X.” Finally, create a report detailing what you accomplish each day to hold yourself accountable.
Adapted from "What to Do When Your To-Do List Is Holding Up Your Team," by Julie Morgenstern
