How to Get Things Done: Know Thyself

At a pre-Super Bowl gathering, a brother and sister were discussing staying healthy by working out. They’re in their late 70’s and like to play tennis, go for walks, garden and keep up with the grandkids. This is the part of the conversation that really caught my ear:

Sister:           You’re lucky you have Sharon.

Brother:        Why?

Sister:           Because your wife can remind you about what you need to do. I’m by myself                         and forget.

Brother:        I don’t listen to Sharon!

Sister:           Then how do you remember to do all of these activities? How do you get                             things done?

Brother:        I tell myself I want to do them, and then I do them.

Sister:           I need more than that. I need another person involved.

Who do you think has a better way of doing things?

The answer is: they both do.

In order to accomplish what you’d like to do and get things done, it’s important to know thyself. Understand how you best operate and in what situations you don’t operate well. Is there a time of day or day of the week you accomplish various tasks more efficiently? When you understand how you like (and don’t like) to work toward a goal, and you apply this self-awareness to your objective, you’ll be much more likely to accomplish what you set out to do.

Brother knows how to operate independently and prefers to work that way. Sister knows she works better with a partner or coach and is more successful when she does so.

What about you? When you’ve accomplished a goal, what did you do to make that happen? When you haven’t achieved an objective, what was it that prevented you from doing so? When you can answer these questions, you’ll have one less roadblock on your path to success.

For more tips on how to figure out your thinking style and work style to get things done, check out The Inefficiency Assassin: Time Management Tactics for Working Smarter, Not Longer.