Plan, then execute

Planning and execution (the doing part) are often treated as the same activity. They are clearly separate; they have different names to begin with. When I say that they are treated as the same activity what I mean is that I often find that people will think about what they are doing (planning) as they are doing the task (execution). By this time they are already on a specific path and so the effect of their planning is limited.

Planning can be seen as another task to be completed. Another thing to do on an already straining ‘to do’ list. This is understandable with how workload’s seem to be nowadays. However, planning can be done very quickly, and can help to reduce the amount of work required to complete a task.

So, a small amount of planning could actually reduce the total workload you have in front of you. Coming up with a quick planning method that suits the way you work is the trick here, and that requires you to have a think about how you work best and what results you need.

I wonder what solution you come up with.


Smartspeed Consulting Limited
Taking the frustration out of on time delivery.

Huddles need to be quick

A daily meeting to organise, prioritise and focus team efforts are invaluable. They also need to be quick.

Businesses that have put these ‘huddles’ into place run the risk of the meeting becoming stale, boring, routine and long. The first three of these problems are OK, but the fourth ( huddles becoming long) is the real stumbling block. If you become quick at running the meeting then the first three problems can disappear altogether.

If your huddles are becoming stale and long winded then refresh the meeting through speed.

A daily meeting to increase productivity and performance is just too good to miss.


Smartspeed Consulting Limited
Taking the frustration out of on time delivery.

How big are the packets?

When I first start working with clients, one of the complaints they often make  is that their projects are not progressing quickly enough. Upon further inspection their diary seems so stuffed full of things that they don’t have time to get anything done in the first place!

Sometimes this problem is due to procrastination, and when that is the case then breaking the overall project down into small packets is a great way to move forward. Small chunks of time that are easy to schedule that have a clear start, middle and end.

These small packets of time work even better when they are done at the start of the working day. You can also put a number of small packets together if you feel inclined.

If you are feeling stuck with your projects then consider re-planning the work and putting it into palatable chunks of work and trying to schedule those instead.

Smartspeed Consulting Limited
Taking the frustration out of on time delivery.