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Management, Business












Ditch the to-do list and focus on the impact of your work!
Ditch the to-do list and focus on the impact of your work!

Is it time to ditch the to-do list?

Are you busy all day, yet somehow failing to make progress? DOUG FLEENER encourages you to escape the workday overload trap.

Many store owners fail to realise that one of the biggest obstacles in the path of successfully leading a business is the dreaded ‘to-do’ list.

Using these lists feels like a responsible, productive, and efficient way to use time; however, it’s a habit that quietly pulls you away from the factors that drive performance.

Indeed, many business leaders are productive without being effective because they chase the feeling of ‘completion’ over impact and priority.

The to-do list is an example of this, as you feel a sense of accomplishment as you mark and check tasks as complete. But what can be said for the intangible goals that are important, yet impossible to list?

- Leading by example in the business

- Inspiring staff to reach new heights

- Coaching staff to improve performance

- Observing and learning

Those aren’t tasks, and yet, they’re essential aspects of everyday leadership within a business. They rarely happen when you’re focused on completing a checklist.

Consider the following quick tips for leading and succeeding within your business, beyond the to-do list. Dedicate a set amount of time each day to make an impact, compared with merely doing things. That is a significant shift.

Include learning and observing in your daily responsibilities. I like to force myself to answer this question: What could we be doing differently today?

Ditch the to-do list and focus on the impact of your work!

Thriving in uncertainty

You start each day determined to accomplish everything. You jump from task to task, power through meetings, phone calls, and interactions with customers on top of trying to respond to every email as it hits your inbox.

"Dedicate a set amount of time each day to make an im-pact, compared with merely doing things. That is a significant shift."

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?

By the end of each day, exhaustion sets in, and despite all your effort, it feels as though you’ve barely made a dent in what truly matters.

This is what I like to describe as ‘workday overload’ – the hidden drain on your productivity and performance. The harder you push, the more you find that your effectiveness suffers.

Consider the following signs that you may be caught in the workday overload trap.

  • You’re always busy; however, progress feels slow. Your to-do list increases, and meaningful work gets buried under demands.
  • You’re constantly reacting. Your day is dictated by emails, last-minute requests, and unexpected fires.
  • Your focus feels scattered. Multitasking and rapid task-switching leave you feeling busy but unproductive.
  • You wish you had spent more time on results. You realise most of your time was spent ‘firefighting’ instead of making an impact on your goals.

There are three obvious ways to break free from the workday overload trap.

  1. Prioritise with purpose: Each morning, define the three most impactful actions to complete. This keeps your efforts directed toward results, not just activity.
  2. Create pauses to advance a priority: Instead of working nonstop, schedule short, focused breaks to move forward a priority, whether it’s calling a top customer, coaching an employee, planning a new marketing initiative, or making a key decision.
  3. Reset how you work: Shift your focus from effort to effectiveness. End your day by sharing how you were more effective, not just how much you accomplished.
Stop selling to increase sales

Once upon a time, I worked with a sales representative who had everything going for her – charisma, product knowledge, and excellent communication skills. Despite all this, she struggled to make sales.

She was afraid of being ‘pushy’ and that minimised all the good qualities she naturally brought to the table. Specific sales techniques didn’t help her situation, and neither did giving her key lines to use. The switch wouldn’t flip.

One day, I said, “What if you stopped trying to sell altogether? Think about it. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

She came in the next day and said, “I still don’t get it. My job is to sell, and now you’re telling me to stop selling?”

“Exactly,” I said. “Forget selling. Just care. Care more about the person in front of you and what will make them happy. Instead of thinking about closing the sale, focus on helping them walk out feeling great about what they got."

That advice clicked. She loved people, so it made sense. Make them happy. Within a week, her sales had increased by double digits. The following month, she was the top salesperson.

What stood out more than these figures was how different she felt. The pressure was gone, and her conversations were lighter and natural. She wasn’t trying to get people to buy—she was helping them feel good about making a purchase.

The shift wasn’t about changing her technique; it was about changing what she cared about most. She stopped fighting to be a sales person and started focusing on helping people have a better, happier day. And that’s the twist.

When she stopped selling and focused on helping others feel joy, everything changed. Service – not persuasion – is the ultimate advantage in sales, leadership, and life.

That’s real impact beyond a to-do-list!

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Doug Fleener

Contributor • Sixth Star Consulting


Doug Fleener is the author of a new book titled The Day Makes The Year (Makes The Life). Learn more: dougfleener.com

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