Dear Reader,
Welcome back. It has been a while since I've blogged and I certainly need to get back into a regular rhythm. Lately, I've been tied up with a long list of action items. We all have lists of items that we need to work on and get done. One list for yourself, one list for your family, one list for work, etc. 'ToDo' lists are a very useful way to keep track of the things one needs to do and make sure you get them done. They also serve as an effective way to not forget things and have them written some where for reference. For some, writing them down is a form of committing to getting it done. For others, crossing items off a list gives them a sense of accomplishment.
I too use ToDo lists. I have a ToDo list for things that I need to purchase from the grocery store. I have a ToDo list for things that need to get done in general, such as, 'Clean the car', 'Pay my insurance premium', 'Buy gifts for someone', etc.. They usually don't have a deadline associated to them. They are just there so as not to forget things. When an item on my ToDo list is time bound, I put in on my personal calendar. For example, 'Pay the electricity bill' is a monthly reminder on my personal calendar. Since the item does not really require any prior work, it transitions from an item on my Todo list to a reminder on my calendar. Items that I do on a daily basis, that I usually don't forget, or that has been trained by my muscle mind; I don't put them down on a ToDo list.
I've seen some people get really fancy with ToDo lists. Almost to the point that they have an item on their list, to create a new list. Even things as regular as brush your teeth or take a bath, are on their ToDo list!! But I'm sure they have good reasons for it.
At work, these lists are most often also called Action Items: things that need to get done by a specific person within a specific time frame. BUT there is a big difference when an action item is assigned by someone else vs. an action item that you assign to yourself. An action item assigned by someone else is, most often, perceived as 'extra work'. 'I already have a ton of things to do during a day and I certainly don't need someone assigning me more work'. Most often action items are not scoped out appropriately enough to know if they can really be done within the time frame or need more time or are simply complex enough to warrant its own list ;-)
At work, I maintain a list of items in a hand written book along with other notes for quick and easy reference in the future. However, for me it is just a way to not forget things or to refer to an important discussion point in the past.
I was once in a meeting where the meeting organizer was assigning items to someone who was not even in the meeting and not even in the organization!! In the next meeting, the meeting organizer was calling on to them to give a status update and they weren't even invited to the meeting. How wierd is that!! I've also been in meetings where the debate is on what exactly should be written as an item on the ToDo list!! And the person assigned to the item was not even part of the debate. How crazy is that!!
There is tons of research on why ToDo lists work and why they don't work. I haven't come across an article yet where a successful leader has said, 'I live by ToDo lists'. I also believe that's not how a leader should lead i.e. by making ToDo lists and assigning them to others. I don't do it.
So, what's next on your ToDo list? ;-)
Until next time.
Jyothin