I'm Too Busy - Oh Really!

If I had a dollar or even better a pound for every time I’d
heard a business leader say this I’d be very rich.

I’m too busy is used in so many contexts * I’m too busy – I
don’t want to * I’m too busy – I’m overwhelmed * I’m too busy –
Go Away * I’m too busy – I’m confused * I’m too busy – And
you’re not!

If we break that sentence down and look at each part, we can
then look at ways of helping you be less busy. I’M too busy –
with the emphasis on the I, the inference is that the centre of
the busyness is you. The implication is that you need to be
because you are the only person that can do all of the work that
is causing you to feel busy.

I’m TOO busy – with the emphasis on the TOO, the inference is
that your busyness level is more than you can cope with. It
implies that you have to cope with more work than is comfortable
for you.

I’m too BUSY – with the emphasis on the BUSY, the inference is
that you have lots to do but that it might not be useful or
productive work or work that you feel you should be doing.

So let’s assume that’s the case and the work you currently have
that is causing you to be too busy, is largely made up of work
you feel you shouldn’t be doing, i.e. it is work that is not
specifically contributing to your goals and targets.

So what’s the answer? Here is a process for you to try to Get
Creative, Get Focused and Get Control 1. List all of the tasks,
activities or pieces of work you currently have “to do”

2. Give each task a priority 1-5 (1 being high 5 being low)
based on their relevance to your specific goals or targets.

3. Give each ask a MUST, SHOULD COULD rating a. Must – you are
accountable and responsible for its completion b. Should – You
are accountable but not necessarily responsible i.e. you must
make it happen but someone else could do it c. Could – You are
neither accountable or responsible

4. For each must a. set a deadline for completion and schedule
it in you diary/PDA now

5. For each should a. make a list of who else could do it and
why it might be more appropriate for them to do it b. prioritise
this list

6. For each could a. decide to do it and schedule it b. delegate
it and schedule time to hand the work over c. discard it
completely

“The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule , bit to
schedule you priorities” Stephen R. Covey Just because you
assume you’re too busy doesn’t mean that you are.

You have a choice not to do something and you can choose to make
different decisions about what work you do and what work you
don’t. If you work for someone else help them to help you by
having regular discussions about you workload and what work is a
Must, Should and Could for you – don’t just accept everything
that comes your way.

Take control and get creative about how you think about and how
you manage your workload. Your level of busyness is down to you.