The Ivy Lee method: The simple method for peak productivity.
The Ivy Lee method: The simple method for peak productivity.
5 minutes, 5 steps, 6 tasks. Simple as that.
The Ivy Lee method is a stupidly simple productivity planning method, yet the idea got him $25,000 in 1918. $2,500 in 1918 is worth $49,807.95 today. Charles M. Schwab, one of the richest men in the world in 1918 paid Ivy Lee for teaching this idea to his executives.
It was from then, called “The Ivy Lee Method”.
As I said, it is stupidly simple. It comprises 5 simple steps.
Before leaving from the work in the evening or at the end of the day, write down the 6 important things you want to do for the next day. If you have many tasks pending, just choose the 6 most important tasks from the list.
Now order them by priority from 1 to 6.
Next day morning, start to work out the list from 1 then through to the 6th task. It’s better not to skip or reorder the tasks now. Just work through the list, one at a time. You are allowed to start 2nd task only if you finished the 1st completely.
Work through the list, and try to complete them all before focusing on any new tasks for the day. Move the pending task if any to the next day’s list.
Repeat the same process every day.
Simple right? But to make it effectively work, you need to remember the following 3 things.
Be cautious about picking and prioritizing tasks. It only takes 5 minutes to work your list everyday evening.
Little discipline and commitment to work through the list for the day.
Need to do it consistently.
If you ensure the above 3, the Ivy Lee method will definitely lead you to peak productivity.
I compiled 20 reasons why the Ivy Lee method is an efficient system which will be posted soon. Stay tuned. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter which only takes 1 minute to read every single issue.
The Ivy Lee method: The simple method for peak productivity.
Thanks for sharing this. The method is appealing in its simplicity, but the subtle challenges arise when the person focusing on these 6 priorities is working interdependently with others. S/he may require input from others or may be helping others. If that's the case, it may make sense to work on priority two or three while one awaits feedback on a draft of a section of priority one, for example, before completing it. Or there may be pressing incoming communication whose response is more valuable sooner than later in a collaborative environment — i.e. a colleague asks for quick feedback on something they have to finish that day. So while in theory the simplicity is appealing, the challenges in implementation of a method like this one may benefit from additional nuance in addressing how this works in modern collaborative work situations.
I've read this before but you've presented it very effectively.
Thanks a ton!
You are totally total and the master of all masters. :-)
However, this point is not completely clear:
"Little discipline and commitment to work through the list for the day. " [#2]
Do you mean you must have the discipline and commitment to work through the list for the day
OR
it needs very little discipline?
(I think you need the former. The "little" is a little misleading.)
Sorry for nitpicking.
I'm looking forward to reading your 20 reasons in the next issue.
Many smiles and much metta,
Rohi