Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I review yet another fundamental of accomplishing work that seems to have been forgotten.

In order for us to accomplish our work and our mission, we need you to do something. Here is the work. Here is the schedule. Here are the resources. Please.

I suppose we leave off most of those words in meetings when we look around and say, “You do that.” Too bad. Perhaps we should say those words. Perhaps remembering the context will help us all.

This is the humble action item. Add this item to your “To Do” list. We do still have “To Do” lists, right? Or has that one been forgotten as well?

Tips:

Have a notebook and pen. Don’t like notebooks? Get a blank book that you do like. Something you want to be seen carrying. Leather, vinyl, trimmed, emblazoned, whatever it is you like. Get a pen. Something you like. Go to all the trouble and expense. “Hey look everyone. Look at the pen and book I have with me here at the table.” Love it.

Make notes. Yes, write things in that great book with that great pen.

When you are assigned a task—one of those action items—draw a small square in the left margin. Write the task. Write just enough in the meeting so you will remember it later. Leave a few blank lines so later you can fill in details to help you accomplish the work.

When you complete the task, fill in the square. Make a check mark. Get a pen with gold ink and use that to fill in the square. Find something you love.

You flip through the great book you carry and you see all those things you are still working and all those many, many, many things you have accomplished.

Simple? Yes. Easy? It becomes easier with practice. Practical? Yes. Try it for a while.