Organized Workdays with Leslie Shreve’s Expert Task Management Tips
Imagine you’re a social chameleon on an epic jungle expedition. Your goal is to traverse the dense, tangled forest with efficiency, stop by the vibrant watering holes (your tasks) swiftly, all while keeping an eye out for any dangers lurking in the foliage (your email and information overload).
Task Management - The Jungle Path
Just like a clear and marked trail helps you avoid getting tangled in vines, effective task management keeps you from losing precious time between tasks. Stick to the path, and avoid detours like checking vines (emails or voicemails) that don’t need your immediate attention.
Proactive Task Selection - Fruit Picking
As you skip along, sometimes you’ll spot ripe, low-hanging fruit (tasks that can be completed quickly). Having a clear list helps you pluck these fruits during your short breaks between meeting the jungle’s inhabitants, boosting your efficiency and productivity.
Streamlined Processes - The River Route
Navigating by river instead of hacking through the underbrush can save you lots of time. Similarly, streamlining your task, email, and information management helps maintain momentum and keeps your productivity at full flow.
Inbox Zero Strategy - The Trading Post
vThink of your inbox as a trading post where you gather supplies (emails). To avoid clutter, archive old supplies (last year’s emails) in storage (a separate folder) and only keep the freshest ones (last three months) to deal with current needs, preventing your pack from overflowing.
Action and Reference Sorting - Your Backpack
Your trusty backpack has separate compartments for immediate-use items (actionable emails) and reference guides (emails that need to be preserved). Regularly sort through and discard any unnecessary items to keep your load light.
Centralized Task List - The Expedition Map
Just as a comprehensive map helps you keep track of landmarks and dangers, a centralized task list acts as your expedition guide, ensuring you don’t forget key tasks or get lost in the jungle of competing priorities.
Flexibility and Customization - Your Scout Skills
Sometimes, the jungle path will be blocked, and you'll need to take an alternative route. Similarly, Leslie Shreve’s task management system allows for flexibility, letting you adapt your day while keeping priority tasks in focus.
Avoiding Distractions - Jungle Birds
Finally, keep alert! Jungle birds (workplace distractions) might chirp interesting songs (social media notifications), but a focused chameleon knows to stay on the path to prevent falling behind.
By treating your productivity practices like a well-planned jungle expedition, you ensure that you reach each milestone without getting lost or overwhelmed. Leslie Shreve’s Taskology system equips you with all the tools and strategies needed to navigate the thickest forests of work, ensuring you emerge victorious on the other side.
Enjoy the episode!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/geuNN_xmBCw
Show Notes: thesocialchameleon.show/Leslie-Shreve
You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, Substack, or your favorite podcast platform.
🔑 Key Themes 🔑
- Effective Task Management System
- Proactive Task Selection
- Streamlined Processes
- Inbox Zero Strategy
- Centralized Task List
- Different Communication Methods
- Customization and Flexibility in Scheduling
🎓 Lessons Learned 🎓
- Effective Task Management
Smooth transitions between tasks prevent time loss and distractions, ensuring efficiency. - Proactive Task Selection
Organized lists boost productivity, allowing quick task completion within short windows. - Streamlined Processes
Efficient systems for task, email, and info management enhance productivity and save time. - Inbox Zero Strategy
Manage emails daily, archiving or acting promptly to avoid backlogs. - Centralized Task List
Consolidate tasks into one digital list to prioritize and manage effectively. - Managing Pending Tasks
Keep track of tasks waiting on others, with notes and follow-up actions. - Methodology Over Tools
A structured approach to task management is more essential than relying solely on software features. - Time Blocking Flexibility
Flexible time blocks help manage tasks and emails efficiently without rigid schedules. - Daily Theming for Entrepreneurs
Thematic days can streamline work for entrepreneurs with control over their schedules. - Continuous Learning and Improvement
Engage in ongoing learning and adopt productivity strategies to boost efficiency and prevent burnout.
Meet Leslie Shreve
Creator of Taskology® The Science of Getting Things Done
Author of “Taskology: How to Unleash the Power of Your Most Productive Workday”
Leslie is a seasoned productivity expert who has been working with C-level leaders, executives, managers, business owners, and professionals across North America since 2003. Her expertise spans over thirty industries, where she has helped hundreds of clients improve their efficiency and productivity by as much as 300% in as little as four weeks. Her method, Taskology®, equips clients with strategies to reclaim 1-2 hours in their workday without needing overtime or working on weekends.
Leslie's clients, who were once overwhelmed by overflowing emails, excessive tasks, and time management issues, now praise the system as a game changer that enables them to gain control over their workload. Taskology® helps them prioritize tasks, organize information, and manage time effectively, which leads to greater clarity, confidence, and control throughout the workday. Clients who adopt Taskology® report working more proactively, with less stress, and achieving more in less time. As a result, they have more time for themselves, their families, and other personal pursuits outside of work. The system is often described as life-changing due to its simplicity and effectiveness.
Outside of her professional life, Leslie resides in the northern suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. She enjoys cooking, reading, playing the piano, and decorating her home. Additionally, she loves spending time outdoors, socializing with family and friends, and traveling. A native of Maryland, she has a special fondness for steamed crabs and the Chesapeake Bay.
For those interested in learning how to boost their productivity and enjoy a more balanced life, Leslie invites them to schedule a call and discover how Taskology® can transform their workday.
Taskology: How to Unleash the Power of Your Most Productive Workday
If you’re like most busy professionals today, you're tired of the stress and frustration of working long hours in rushed, reactive workdays that leave you without a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
You're committed to success, but with too much to do, too many emails, and not enough time, you don’t feel as productive as you could be, which is both frustrating and defeating.
Now imagine a workday in which you…
- Proactively drive your most important tasks and projects forward
- Gain 1-2 hours BACK in your workday—EVERY day—to use more productively
- Easily manage the never-ending flood of email and dispense with it faster and easier
- Eliminate the worries of forgotten tasks and follow-ups, lost information and missed opportunities, as well as the costs and consequences of these
- Less stress, more peace of mind, and a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction at the end of the day.
- Have more time—STRESS-FREE—at home to enjoy for yourself and with your spouse and kids.
In this easy-to-read business story based on actual client experiences, workload management and productivity expert, Leslie Shreve, reveals how to apply a simple, logical and easy-to-use system to take control of your workday—once and for all—so you can increase your workday efficiency, productivity and progress.
Get The Book
*** Challenge ***
- This week's challenge is to make decisive choices about the information you receive daily. Ensure that every piece of information is either stored properly, acted upon immediately, or discarded if not useful. This focused approach aims to declutter your mind and information management systems, helping you stay organized and maintain a high level of productivity throughout the week. Don't just let information pile up—address it with a clear system in place.
Listen to this week's challenge:
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Here’s a detailed rundown from the episode:
Leslie Shreve’s Productivity Resources
Leslie provides several resources to help you on your productivity journey:
- 45-Minute Workday Breakthrough CallA free consultation to discuss your workday challenges.
- Productivity QuizIdentify your "productivity blind spot" and receive a personalized results report.
- Smart Steps Audio GuideWeekly 2 to 4-minute audio tips from Taskology to boost your productivity.
- Special Report"7 Surprising Secrets to Saving Time," an insightful guide on enhancing productivity and time management.
Outlook Software
We talked about getting and using Outlook—an older version—for the task management features. Leslie advises against using the web-based version. You need to buy Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Microsoft 365 Personal to get Outlook with the downloadable version.
There is also Office Home & Business 2021 and Microsoft 365. From my search, there may be the task problem Leslie was talking about when using Microsoft 365. I can’t confirm that at this time. There is a new Office Home & Business 2024 available. This might need a representative to figure out more of the details.
Connect With Us:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
More Podcast Apps: TheSocialChameleon.Show/Podcast-Show
#SocialChameleonShow #LeslieShreve #Taskology #TaskManagement #EmailManagementTips #Workload Management
Show notes and transcripts powered with the help of Castmagic.