“You are right about the visibility part,” Erica explained. “When I delegate a project, I always write down things to follow-up on. I just never seem to get around to do the follow-up. I think I have too many things to do.”
“Visibility is the key. I am great at writing things down, making lists, but it’s so easy to let things slide when you are not the person actually doing the work on the project. So, how can we keep the follow-up steps in sight so we don’t forget them?” I asked.
Erica did not respond, just shook her head.
“How did you remember our meeting today?” I continued.
“Well, that was easy. I know this meeting is important and I had it on my calendar,” Erica smiled.
“You mean this meeting was not part of a to do list?”
“No, remember, we set a time to get together. You put it on your Palm and I put it in Outlook.”
“So, what was different about our setting this meeting and remembering to follow-up on your delegation?” I pressed.
“I don’t put delegations on my calendar. I put them on my to do list. That’s why I never get around to the follow-up.”
“What could you do differently?” -TF
I put everything on my Outlook calendar and use the reminder feature. It beeps at me until I clear the task. However, at very busy times, I get so many calendar reminders it gets frustrating because I can’t get everything resolved. Anyone have a comment on busy times and how to keep up?
Thanks, Barbra
Barbara, with so many deadlines due at the same time why can’t stagger them earlier then the deadline so you can go over the work. I mean you control the calendar and have an idea of what the project entails for completion. Would anyone get in trouble if projects were a day or two done earlier?