Does it ever seem like your tasks just keep piling no matter how busy you are? As managers, it’s crucial that we’re able to follow through on our tasks and responsibilities so we can take care of our businesses and people. But in order to do that, we must have the right tools and mindset to organize and prioritize our daily work.   

Today’s guest is Mark J. Silverman. Mark is an executive coach, author, and podcast host. He works with leaders and their teams around the world, to address the underlying behaviors and mindsets that sabotage all “time management” and “productivity tools”.

Mark and I talk about prioritization through the lens of getting the right things done at the right time. We explore the concepts from his book Only 10s: Confront Your To-Do List, Transform Your Life and how to stay focused on what matters most even when you’ve got external pressures that make it feel impossible.

Members of the Modern Manager community get access to a specialized web page for the Modern Manager Community. This page includes nine video modules on topics including difficult conversations, dealing with distractions, and energy mastery. Many of the modules include a “Taking Action Worksheet.” This page also includes a link you can use to schedule a follow-up meeting with Mark. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.

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Read the related blog article: Be The Master Of Your To Do List Every Day

KEEP UP WITH MARK

Website: https://www.markjsilverman.com

Instagram: @markjsilverman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.silverman.54

Twitter: @mjaysilverman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/

Key Takeaways:

• 10s are the things that have to be done, today, only by you.
• The only thing we own in life is our time and attention. Our 10s reflect our deepest values and priorities. 
• When we are afraid to upset others by saying no, we end up overloaded and unable to prioritize our most important tasks. 
• When delegating work, we need to teach others to meet our standards. Set up agreements for how the work will get done and what success looks like. 
• Give feedback for subpar work instead of doing it yourself. 
• A boss may assign too much work to the point where you’re unable to meet their goals. Say no through affirmative statements like “I want to help get things done but I need more resources.”
• The 3 stages of setting a boundary are through (1) anger, when you’ve reached a breaking point, (2) explaining, or making excuses for why you can’t do it, and (3) strength and love, when you own your choices.
• While some who relied on you as a crutch may leave your life, others will shift and appreciate your change. 
• The first things to delegate are tasks that are administrative or require your greatest weaknesses to get done. Have a plan for who you will hire when you reach a certain level. 
• Make an Only 10s to-do list each day. If you discover you’ve got a task that rolls over to the next day, consider why it didn’t get done and what systems you need in place to keep this from happening in the future.

mamie@mamieks.com

instagram.com/mamieks