Karen Natzel, BridgeTower Media Newswires
I admit that for me to effectively follow through, I must be hyper-intentional about it. I’m a notorious squirrel chaser – excited about the next opportunity, idea, project or challenge. I may not struggle with ADD, but I am easily distracted and perpetually restless. This is not always conducive to output. Hence, a strategy is needed for follow-through.
There’s immense pride and satisfaction from making things happen. However, what inspires me to follow through isn’t just that I get things done; it’s the freedom from the nagging sensation that I’ve left something undone.
Whether your reason for leaving things undone relates to personality, a lack of organization, overcommitments, procrastination or fears, it’s probably causing you – and others – grief. If loose ends and firefighting have been your modus operandi, I invite you to consider a saner way of showing up.
Getting things done requires clarity, focus, discipline and commitment.
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Clarity
When you find yourself in a whirlwind of activity, pulled from multiple directions, pause and ask yourself what needs to get done. By when? Are you the person who needs to do it? Why is it important? Knowing the why helps fuel motivation and inform decisions as to how thorough your work needs to be. And finally, what does “done” mean? Often, I see clients never realizing the glory of their efforts because they failed to define completion. Work becomes a perpetual slog. Knowing your goalposts gives you a stronger sense of accomplishment than when it’s a vague, never-ending chore hanging over your head.
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Focus and discipline
With the myth of multitasking debunked, we are left with the knowledge that focusing on one thing is more effective and efficient. Yet we live in a world of bombarding interruptions. This is where approaches like the Pomodoro Technique can help you improve your concentration and productivity in short, 25-minute intervals.
People often interpret “discipline” as hard, strict and requiring enormous amounts of self-control. Discipline might only show up as a moment of inspiration when you’re under a pressing deadline. To make discipline your consistent ally, connect it to your motivation and reward yourself for progress. Start small. Keep track of your successes – it will rewire your brain for more victories. This focus, coupled with the clarity of the task and the discipline to practice this new habit, will undoubtedly help you get traction.
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Commitment
When you are committed to creating a certain outcome, the inevitable obstacles and distractions do not deter you. It might mean letting things go, saying no, having better boundaries, and forgoing short-term, instant gratification for what truly matters to you.
Getting things done becomes not about a to-do list, but a commitment to priorities – a drive to make an impact and a difference. It’s not a “check the box” attitude but a true dedication to seeing it through. If, for example, you need a decision made by a colleague, sending an email outlining the issues may be a good start, but it’s not sufficient to achieve the stated objective. When you’re committed, you’re not just going through the motions.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness,” expeditionist W.H. Murray once said. You may find as you strive to make a commitment you have some emotional resistance – some fear around putting things into motion because it means your world will change. Positive momentum can be daunting if you equate it to a loss of control.
To be clear, this prescription isn’t meant to encourage overcommitting, taking on too much, or filling your days with endless tasks. Consider philosopher Lin Yutang’s instructions: “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.” There’s always pressure to do more, but what about doing less, and doing it fully and well?
By being more present with the task at hand, you will likely generate the state of “flow” that gets you results and an ignited mojo. When you rush through your to-do list and your conversations, or when you fail to be fully present, you are leaving undone the most precious thing – life itself.
I hear from many leaders that they get hooked by perfectionism. They feel like they should know how to do everything (and thereby suffer from the imposter syndrome). They don’t know where to start. They are overwhelmed by the volume. And they have other generally ego-driven fears. It’s not about berating yourself; it’s about being more intentional in how you use your time. Be careful not to measure your worth strictly by your output. Consider the value created, the creativity sparked, or the connections made as equally important.
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Take the K Challenge
Get over the “busyness condition” by picking no more than three tangible, action-oriented and achievable priorities you will complete each day.
Turn off your phone for 25 minutes and be fully present in executing the task.
Determine what “done” is for the task.
If it takes less than two minutes to do, do it now.
Find a good stopping point for your task, a natural transition, and use your systems and tools to capture notes, next steps and due dates.
Reframe a task as an agreement you’ve made. Every time you follow through on an agreement, you are building trust, credibility and confidence.
Celebrate and savor the accomplishment!
Experiment with what works. Make room for learning, for changing circumstances, and shifting priorities. If you decide that follow-through is how you’ll conduct yourself, I guarantee you’ll feel more energized and more in control. It’s not a game of perfection but a practice of bringing clarity, focus, discipline and commitment to your life.
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Karen Natzel is a business therapist who helps leaders create healthy, vibrant and high-performing organizations. Contact her at 503-806-4361 or karen@natzel.net.
