Are you being Effective or Efficient?

I have not been able to put it down since I picked it up. Tim Ferriss’ book, The 4-Hour Workweek that is. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that two aspects of my life I have wanted to work on for quite awhile are being a morning person and enjoy reading. I still struggle to roll out of bed in the morning, but I have found myself reading more and more. I heard a quote once, “the only difference between the person you are today and you are in five years from now are the books that you’ve read and the people you’ve met.”

How often in our daily lives do we focus our attention on what is urgent (e.g. phone ringing, constantly checking email) and spending time being efficient at non-important tasks?

Ferriss discusses the concept of effectiveness compared to efficiency. Ferriss states, “Effectiveness is doing things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task (whether important or not) in the most economical manner possible” (2009, p. 69). This concept tied into what I implement from Stephen Covey and discerning what is important compared to what is urgent.

How often in our daily lives do we focus our attention on what is urgent (e.g. phone ringing, constantly checking email) and spending time being efficient at non-important tasks?

If my allergies are any indication, spring is in the air in the great Pacific Northwest. This is a wonderful time that is filled with extra hours of sunlight and a perfect opportunity to de-clutter our lives. I plan to spend some time in the next couple weeks analyzing how I spend my time and if I am being effective in all aspects of my life. Focusing attention on important tasks and being effective will make me a better professional, partner and friend.

What ways do you as an individual or as a department or company ensure that you are being effective? Do you organize your daily calendar to set yourself up to succeed?

Tim has some great resources available on his blog. I recommend checking it out.

Ferriss, T. (2009) The 4-Hour Workweek. New York, NY: Crown Publishers.