Short description: In this article, I share advice on sorting, taking action, and organising to improve productivity and overcome analysis paralysis in the workplace.
One frequent occurrence I notice with responsible and organized people is that they try to sort everything before they start working on the problem. This can mean delving deep into it and trying to understand the root causes. However, sometimes it is simply about setting up your work environment and making it cozy. When you think about it, it actually makes sense. In order to solve complex issues, you first need to have clarity and understand how we got to this point. However, this stage can often lead to something better known as “analysis paralysis,” where we end up in a procrastinating phase that is really hard to escape.
This article will follow a couple of pieces of advice that can vary substantially depending on the circumstances but could be helpful in clearing up the mess.
Just do it
Don’t overthink it, just do it! We need to keep our brain engaged. Now, I’m not saying we should just dive headfirst into the challenge, but simply don’t overthink it. Start working on your first iteration as soon as possible and see how it goes. This usually motivates your brain to develop creative thinking and unblocks most of the projects.
Scream test
There is one funny thing that I heard some time ago from my former CTO. The client wasn’t responsive, and we weren’t 100% confident that shutting off some legacy systems would cause problems for them. He said, “Just perform a ‘scream test.’” The scream test usually involves shutting off a certain service that we are unsure if anybody uses. If nobody screams, we are good.
Deadlines and estimates
If you are working with developers, you probably perform refinement and planning sessions where the team tries to give their estimates for certain chunks of work. This is one of the most important events in your sprint, but are you doing it for your own work as well? Try to come up with units of measurement for your tasks and plan them out. Over time, you will get better at it and know your limits. It is beneficial for both your work/life balance and overall efficiency.
Focus time
I recently started blocking my calendar for periods when I need more focus, and so far, it has been a great improvement. I was hesitant to apply it since there are always a million topics floating around, and I tend to involve myself, sometimes even a bit too much. However, I’ve managed to find some time in the early mornings when the “traffic” is low, and I find it really useful. I use this time to go over my notes, emails, and checklists. I also use it to try to resolve the simpler tasks and plan next steps. Give it a try!
Let me know which methods are you using in the comments below.
Thank you,
Adnan
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