The Commitment Elimination Process |
The final step in this analysis process is to create a written plan for each activity that you want to eliminate. We have a saying in The Alternative Board "if it isn't in writing it doesn't exist". If you do not commit it to writing then the likelihood is that inertia will take over and you will never actually eliminate the activity.
Part of the problem here is that things that need to be eliminated have to be planned in advance. If you leave it until the last minute to try to eliminate a commitment that you have already made then there are two bad things that can happen. The first danger is that people will come back at you and talk you out of your decision because you do not have your "game face" ready. This happens if they detect any wavering in your determination, and you have to be firm. The second danger is that you rush the process and make your exit with poor grace. This creates bad feeling when none needed to exist. An exit from a commitment requires careful planning and management. It is not something that you do by e-mail late at night. The way to do this properly is to be disciplined enough to go to the trouble of creating a written plan. If you follow the steps here, this plan will have a due date by which the activity is to be eliminated and a coherent argument for why you need to disengage. Doing it in this structured fashion gives you a much better chance of actually making some real progress in taking control of your time.... and you can also make a much more elegant disengagement from the organization you are leaving and keep your ties intact. This written plan should contain the following information: · Name of activity etc · Amount of time spent during the last 12 months · Financial value received · Other value received · Date by which activity is to be eliminated · Likely arguments from people who don't want to hear "no" · Your counter arguments to support your decision A template to use to develop your Activity Elimination is attached.
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Everybody has about three hours during the day when they are at their best. Figure out what your "Prime Time" is and then plan your day around it. Make sure that you dedicate that time to focus without interruptions on the activities that are of most value to you. |