Go Ahead and Quit: 3 Steps to Help You Be More Productive

“You cannot quit.”“Don’t be a quitter.”“You better finish what you start.”Sound familiar? Most of us have heard these “lessons” throughout our lives from a variety of people. Like most pieces of advice, it can be useful to some of the people some of the time. But the truth is that in the busy lives we lead today, there simply is not time to always do every single thing, and sometimes it’s not worth your time to finish all that you start. As leaders, we are constantly looking at our situation and updating priorities, and this means some things will have to go.Understanding everything that you are spending time on is an important part of your personal productivity and effectiveness. Plan a day or two each month to evaluate all the tasks and things you are doing. I would recommend that you do this for both your 'work' time and your 'personal' time. This is an important meeting with yourself. Schedule it and keep the appointment. Ensure you have all the information you need before you start your session. Be prepared to be objective and brutally honest with yourself. Here are 3 key questions to ask when determining whether you should quit doing something and move on.

Does It Add Value?

Is what you are doing adding value to the outcome you want to achieve. Be honest with yourself and stay objective when looking at what you are working on. If you see this task through to completion will it add meaningful value to the goal you are working towards? If not, stop doing it, even if you have significant time invested to this point. If it doesn't add great value, then doing the rest of it only wastes more time. You can always keep components of what you've worked on. Apply them in other areas or to other similar tasks that do add value to the project.

Do You Enjoy Doing What You Are Doing?

Work always seems easier and time moves by faster when working on something enjoyable and interesting. And, I bet you do top-notch work when it is. We do not always have a choice in what we are doing or assigned. Where possible, volunteer for projects that you know you will enjoy and learn from. Or, look for the components in your current work that mean the most to you. Focus on those pieces to energize you through the project. When we do or where we can influence decisions, ensure you are working on items that interest and have meaning for you. Keep that in mind for projects you assign to yourself as well as others.From a 'personal' time standpoint where you can choose what you do and don't do - simply stop doing things that you don't like. Have you ever finished a book you were reading because you figured you needed to since you started it? Have you begun a hobby you thought would be of interest and then realized it wasn't what you thought it was? Then stop. If you are spending time in your personal life doing things you don't love, then change to something you do love. So, if you find that book isn't capturing your attention after 50 or 100 pages, put it down and start something new. Spend your time on things that will make a difference in your life. Look for things that help you relax, learn or enjoy 'together' time with your family and friends.

Is It Something That Someone Else Could Be Doing?

We may not always have the option to select or delegate, but it is worth exploring. If you are working on something that does add value, but you are not well suited for it, look for alternatives. Is there another project that someone else is working on that would be better for you and vice versa? When delegating projects, look for opportunities to assign work that plays to your team's strengths. They will thank you for it. Plus, you will get the benefit of better, faster outcomes.It is never easy to 'just quit' anything. We don’t want to be seen as quitters. However, in order for us to do our best work, be as productive as possible, and to help with our own happiness we need to spend more time on things we love doing, versus doing things because we started them or it is what we have always done. If you are looking for new results, then you will need to do new things. Plan time to review how you are spending your time. Assess their value. Gauge your impact on those outcomes from your capabilities and interest. Check if you are the best person for the task or if there are other options.These three steps will help ensure you are spending your time in the best possible way for you. Move past the old adages about not being able to quit something and look for ways to say 'yes' to more things you love doing.What would quitting some non-value added tasks mean for you today? Click here or on the comments button above to share your thoughts.