I have options for all kinds of work I want to do today:
- The creative work, which includes a wide variety of writing (articles, blog posts, and yes, more books) and more workshops
- Paperwork. Yes, I have accounting and all kinds of spreadsheet reconciliation.
- Client preparation work for when they return from their summer vacations.
But the single most important thing I have to do today is the index for the Effective Public Speaking book. That's the last piece before I can go to print and really finish this book.
That's the most important option I have today.
I hate all this finishing work. It's tedious, time-consuming, and necessary. So I'm treating myself to a little bit of writing before I dive back into the index.
Many managers have this exact problem. You have a ton of work on your plate—all your WIP (Work in Progress). While your most important work is probably not a book index, it probably requires that you make time to focus on it so you can finish it.
That's the management minute today. Choose one option. Focus on it. Finish it.
Which option? Consider the one thing that will enable other people to be more effective. That's a guideline, not a rule.
Effective managers choose one option. Invest the time to finish that work.
Okay, back to my indexing.