Need a briefing on the basics of getting the right work done effectively? Look no further.
Getting Work Done is one of the volumes in the 20 Minute Manager series created by the editors at Harvard Business Review Press.
About 90 pages in length, prepared in collaboration with several experts who are identified, each volume provides essential material in the form of a crash course or brief reminder, “a concise practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic.”
Its purpose is to provide a briefing on the basics of an important business activity.
It is NOT a comprehensive examination such as David Allen’s excellent Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. That book deserves its Five Star rating for an abundance of information, insights, and counsel.
Getting Work Done is a NOT an anthology of 10-12 HBR articles in their entirety.
Rather, it authors suggest, “Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work you need to accomplish? Being pulled in different directions by competing priorities? Getting Work Done runs you through the basics of being more productive at work.”
For example, when
o Aligning your schedule with priorities.
My Comment: One of the most important alignments.
o Focusing your attention and avoiding distractions.
My Comment: First, make absolutely certain what is most important. See previous comment.
o Creatibg effective daily routines.
My Comment: You need routes, not ruts.
o Setting boundaries and learn to say no.
My Comment: As Warren Buffett once observed, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
If you need more substantial guidance, there are other sources to consider, including aforementioned Getting Things Done as well as recommendations on pages 91-99.
The list price is $12.95 for the paperback edition but Amazon sells it in several formats and editions for less. The return on a modest investment will be limited only by how hard and how smart each reader applies effectively relevant material.
One final point: There are no feedback issues. Only business issues.