Keeping an ‘I did’ list to recognise achievements

As a leader, you will probably have a never-ending ‘to do’ list – it goes with the territory. This can be demoralising and may make you feel you are making no progress towards achieving your goals.

So, it is crucial to stay on track and avoid task paralysis. Although ‘to do’ lists help set priorities and ensure important tasks are not forgotten, people rarely achieve their overly optimistic ambitions; new tasks are also usually added throughout the day.

An ‘I did’ list, on the other hand, highlights your achievements. This not only encourages a more positive outlook, but also enhances feelings of self-efficacy.

Keep an ‘I did’ list

At the end of the working day, put aside some time to focus on your key achievements and answer the following questions:

• What did I do?

• What was this action in response to?

• Was this action planned or unplanned?

• What did the action achieve today?

• How has the action contributed to more substantial or longer-term goals?

• How do I feel about achieving this goal

 

A table, such as the one shown below, could help

The ‘I did’ technique can help you identify what you have been doing and whether those tasks are the best use of your time and energy. It can also help you see how much you are able to anticipate and control your work. To what extent were your actions planned or unplanned? Focusing on the unplanned entries can help you pre-empt tasks in the future and manage your time more effectively.

Moreover, after a challenging day in which you may believe you have not accomplished anything worthwhile, keeping a record of what you have completed, and the steps you are taking towards achieving a larger task, will help you feel more productive