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How to Get Things Done with a Master Task List

Guest post by: Anne Bachrach

Article Overview: Focusing on many responsibilities is a vital part of successfully running your business successfully. But how do you know which tasks need to be completed immediately and which tasks can wait? If you focus on the less important tasks, while the most important go unnoticed or forgotten about, you could be sabotaging your overall success. Fortunately, you can get a grip on your essential tasks by learning how to get things done with a master task list. This article contains some insight on how to use a master task list to increase your success.

How to Get Things Done with a Master Task List

Focusing on many responsibilities is a vital part of successfully running your business successfully. But how do you know which tasks need to be completed immediately and which tasks can wait? If you focus on the less important tasks, while the most important go unnoticed or forgotten about, you could be sabotaging your overall success. Fortunately, you can get a grip on your essential tasks by learning how to get things done with a master task list. Below is some insight on how to use a master task list to increase your success.

What is a Master Task List?

Using a master task will help you meet the needs of your business and will enable you to produce results far superior than those resulting from trying to remember everything and posting sticky notes everywhere.

While there are many benefits to using a master task list, they serve as great procrastination killers. By simply streamlining the way you get things done, you can get the important things done first, making the biggest impact.

How to Use a Master Task List

A master task list has one purpose: to help you complete the key tasks vital to running your business at its optimal efficiency and effectiveness. To get started, list all the activities that must be completed and by what time they need to be done. Prioritize the tasks, putting the most important at the top of your list.

If you can minimize the list by delegating, then do so. All tasks on your master task list can be categorized into the 4 D’s: Do It - Delegate It - Delay It - Drop It. This system makes prioritizing much easier. Use the 4 D’s everyday in your master task list by choosing one category for each task.

Examples of tasks that would fit a master task list

• Review independent contractors or virtual assistants before hiring
• Train new assistant on proper procedure and job duties
• Prepare for a seminar or workshop

Once you’re clear on the types of tasks to include, create subsections for each of your tasks. You should list two to seven subsections under each master task. In the subsections, list smaller tasks that must be accomplished in order to carry out the master task.

Start both your master tasks and subtasks with an actionable verb. For example, let’s say your main tasks are to market your business and interact with clients. Below is an example of a master task list with actionable words.

Master Task List

1. Marketing Management

• Locate reasonably priced billboards
  
  
• Hire a copywriter for billboard advertisement
  
  
• Hire graphic designer for billboard
  
  

2. Client Liaison

• Meet with clients over lunch
  
  
• Negotiate rates and contracts
  
  
• Up-sell clients on additional services

The goal is to accomplish the tasks on your list as soon as you can. Place the tasks from your master task list into a calendar where you can map out time limits for each task. As you accomplish your tasks, check them off so you get a visual affirmation of your accomplishment.

Remember to delegate the low-priority tasks to an assistant or employee. You, as the business owner, should only be focusing on the most vital tasks that are best suited to be handled by you.

Each person’s master task lists will differ greatly, but the most important thing to keep in mind is to not make it overly complicated. Identify the tasks you must accomplish, break them down into smaller tasks, apply the 4 D’s, and add them to your list. That’s really all it takes.

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Article Tags: get things done, increase success, master task list, task list



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