Ivy Lee Method: Simple Organization for Maximum Success
We are not robots. Being productive every day can be a real challenge. Surely you have already experienced one of those days where motivation has abandoned you and you are unable to produce anything. In those moments, you almost regret getting out of bed.
Even if it seems difficult, it is still possible to be productive every day. However, this requires a minimum of organization, motivation and discipline as well as the establishment of a daily routine. Above all, do not neglect the breaks to change your mind, let your brain rest and process the information received. In this way, you will regain your energy and greatly improve your concentration.
Finally, use the Ivy Lee Method, a simple and effective 100-year-old technique that helps you perform and be productive every day.
The origin of the method
The Ivy Lee method owes its name to its creator. Ivy Lee (1877-1934) was an advertising expert and a forerunner in the field of public relations. He advised major industrial groups in the fields of steel, automotive, tobacco and rubber, but also banks, public institutions and even foreign governments.
In 1918, Charles M. Schwab, at the head of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, a major company specializing in shipbuilding and steel production, called on Ivy Lee, recognized as a productivity expert, to increase the effectiveness of his team.
Ivy Lee then talks to each of the company's executives for 15 minutes to explain her routine to them. Then he tells Charles M. Schwab that he will be able to pay what he wants in three months, if it worked out. Three months later, Charles M. Schwab, delighted with the results of his business, signed Ivy Lee a check for $25,000 (the equivalent of $400,000 today). This is how his famous method was born.
The principle
To achieve optimal performance and high productivity on a daily basis, Ivy Lee recommends following this 5-step routine every day:
- At the end of each workday, write down the 6 most important tasks you need to do the next day. Do not list more than 6 tasks.
- Prioritize these 6 items in order of importance.
- The next day, start with the first and most important task. Just focus on this task (remember that multitasking is detrimental to your productivity) and work on it until it's finished before continuing with the second task.
- Work on completing all 6 of your tasks in the same way. At the end of the day, write down the tasks you have not completed on a new list of 6 tasks for the next day.
- Repeat this process daily.
The advantages and limitations
The Ivy Lee method has numerous advantages that, 100 years after its creation, are still applicable.
To start with, it's a simple and easy method to set up. That's exactly why it works. You don't need to read a book or acquire any materials to get started. It is this simplicity that will help you quickly turn this method into a habit.
Then, this technique imposes discipline on you and forces you to make decisions (define a list of 6 tasks to be completed) and to stick to them.
Choosing only 6 tasks allows you to focus on the essentials, i.e. the really important tasks that will move your project forward. This way you avoid getting scattered and getting lost in long lists where you don't know where to start.
It is often difficult to get started and start a task. Preparing your list the day before allows you to get right to work on your first task the next morning. In addition, the method works like a domino effect: as soon as you have taken the first step and started your first task, you will follow the others without asking yourself any questions.
Finally, with the Ivy Lee method, you are forced to focus on completing one task at a time. And when we know thatMultitasking ruins your productivity and can damage your IQ, that's a good thing, isn't it? You're much more productive when you focus all your energy on doing one task at a time, rather than trying to juggle multiple activities.
There are no limits to the Ivy Lee method. If emergencies or unexpected events occur during your day, you can deal with them and then go back to your to-do list. Tasks that could not be completed due to these unforeseen events will be put on your list for the next day.
Conclusion
The Ivy Lee method has worked for over 100 years. In addition to this technique, remember that to be productive, you must:
- Start your day with the most important task
- avoid multitasking and focus on one task at a time
- impose daily discipline;
- follow a method that is simple and easy to implement.
Finally, for more efficiency, adopt a project management software like Wimi. Such a tool only offers advantages: it allows you to improve productivity and facilitate collaboration and communication within your team. How? By bringing together all your projects, documents, data and discussions on the same platform, accessible everywhere and by everyone concerned.
