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SXSWi: Why You Aren’t Done Yet
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March 30th, 2010SXSWiThere were a lot of inspirational sessions at SXSW, but the talk by Heinemier of 37 Signals, ‘Why You Aren’t Done Yet’ was certainly one that had a lot of resonance in my own experiences.
I agree with the majority of things discussed, rethinking timeslots, how you approach deadlines, and things that are really needed to be done, will no doubt make us more productive.
Also checkout the Rework Book, which these ideas come from.
1. Distractions, everywhere.
You can’t get anything done at work, you have to do work ‘before work’, or ‘after work’ when there are no people you can – but not ‘at work’ times.Meetings, end up being the bain of your life, perhaps take the view that if not providing content of interest to you/your work, then most are a waste of time. How often in meetings do the people attending actually care about the subject?
A lot of work you need to do doesn’t fit in the small available timeslots that you have in your day.
The simple fact is that the work days ultimate enemy of productivity is interruptions and distractions.
2. You are working too hard
More hours do not equal more done, it just appears that you are getting more done (to other people, in their view).
Multitasking, if you can’t dedicate time to focus on one project then you won’t be doing your best.
Most organisations reward the wrong thing, a workaholic does not equal a hero. The culture of ‘look at X he pulled an all-nighter – isn’t he great’ should not exist)
Most deadlines are imaginary, don’t burnout, cool down
Productivity over time, is better than peaks just so you can hit goals
3. You are in over your head
Sometimes you put yourself in this position, you guessed a timeframe, but guess what your estimates suck.
You treat deadlines as a promise, not a best guess.
Things crop up in your schedule, like meetings. You are issuing time estmates based on ‘a perfect approach’. Sure you could do it in 3 full 8 hour days, but you don’t have any! (See Interruptions above)
It can be obvious why we give outselves bad dealines, people use ‘bad words’ ASAP, need, can’t, easy, fast – These corrupt the natural reasonable time it would take to do a job, we change our deadline due to the pressure in place.
The word easy, is something someone else uses to describe your job/task ‘Can you make a quick change, that’s easy right?’
There can be a sense of false emergency, neither true or required Is a Friday deadline really worth it, who’s going to look at it over the weeekend etc?
5. You have to take charge
There is a personal responibility for your own productivity, decisions are progress. There is a choice if you see that you are not going to hit the deadlineRemember, that sometimes good enough is fine.
What ever happens, not making decisions = bad (for you, and everyone). Do not be tempted to put your head in the sand.
Do less, most things can be droppped and it won’t matter. Take a look at your list of priorities and start to remove out items that aren’t really required.
Deadlines, can helps focus your mind.
- What can you drop?
- What is really necessary?
Part of this is about setting up the right cultural environment
Always keep goals in mind, restate the problem, and maybe considering giving up. By being able to walk away from X, you might be able to allow Y to continue.
Your results show value, not the time you have spent at work.
Again, these aren’t my idea’s – all come from the Rework book, from 37 Signals.
Tags: 37 signals, Austin, Heinemier, productivity, sxsw, sxsw2010, SXSWi
4 Responses to “SXSWi: Why You Aren’t Done Yet”
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Agree with so much of this, especially the part about meetings. I do think its important to have regular face to face catch ups with people, but so many meetings could be replaced with a phone call which would save time, petrol, the inevitable stress when you can’t find a parking space or don’t have the right change (or is that just me!).
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Neil H
Meetings, are certainly the biggest issue of time splitting within the day. Internal meetings, can be ‘grouped together’ rather than being ’spaced’ together.
External/Client meetings, are indeed a necessity – it’s just working out when they are appropriate. Often a well planned telephone call, can be as effective as a face to face.
That said, presentations etc, work better in person, but catchups – I think the phone can suffice.
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Another thing I’ve noticed is that people think they are doing business or achieving something when they send an e-mail. Me: “Is Mr/Ms X going to do the Y for us in time for the Z?”
Reply:”Well I sent them an e-mail.”
This does not get things done. It’s a pet peeve of mine. I think the phone is underused and e-mail, relatively, over-used.
Don’t get me wrong – I use e-mail, but generally when I’m trying to avoid doing something or having a hard conversation. But if you really want to get something nailed down, you need to pick up the phone and talk to someone.
I agree with you that multi party meetings (particularly where no-one in that meeting can make a decision or is empowered to get any actions done out of the meeting) are like having needles stuck in your eyes. But planning meetings can be great, particularly when they are well run and chaired by someone who is both consultative and action oriented.
Meetings are particularly useful at the outset of a project when you are establishing parameters, building a shared vision and getting relationships established. Once everyone is “on board” you can move to other modes of communication.
Final bug-bear – sending an “urgent” e-mail – one with an ! by it in your inbox. WTF??? I find these, frankly, simply passive agressive. If it’s that freakin’ urgent, just pick up the phone whydoncha? Do we send organs for donation by “urgent e-mail”? No.
OK, rant over.
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There was a SXSW podcast last year about the meeting thing. Basically said management meetings start on the hour and last up to an hour because it suits them. But creatives don’t work in those kind of chunks, they think in terms of half days to a day – SO the answer is to schedule meetings right at the end of the day. Less disruptive.
Also another tactic is to hold your meetings standing up – they don’t go on so long that way!
@Helga – know what you’re saying re email but I work in an office where phone calls would be considered disruptive. Different work cultures. Also good to get stuff in writing!
PS Where’s that email you were sending me?
