Did you know the Parkinson's Law ?
Mathis Vella
3 replies
Parkinson's Law and the key to unlocking productivity:
Cyril Northcote Parkinson, a renowned British historian and author, once observed a peculiar trend in his work and that of others: "Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."
Sounds counterintuitive, right? But here's the deal:
When given a week to complete a two-hour task, the task becomes more complex and daunting, often filling the entire week. It's not just about the work itself but about the perceived space and time we allow it to occupy.
Here's why Parkinson's Law traps us:
- Overthinking: With too much time, we overcomplicate things, leading to analysis paralysis.
- Procrastination: Human nature leads us to push things off until the pressure builds.
- Inefficiency: More time often leads to less efficient work methods and more distractions.
So, how do we outsmart Parkinson's Law?
Strategy 1: Set Tight Deadlines
Shrink your timelines intentionally. By limiting the time you allocate to a task, you force efficiency and focus. It's about creating a sense of urgency that drives direct action.
Strategy 2: Break It Down
Divide larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This approach not only makes tasks seem less daunting but also provides multiple mini-deadlines, keeping the momentum going.
Strategy 3: Prioritize Ruthlessly
Not all tasks are created equal. Identify what's truly important and what can wait. Focus your energy where it matters most, and don't let trivial tasks inflate in importance.
In essence, challenge Parkinson's Law by setting tighter deadlines, breaking tasks into smaller pieces, and prioritizing effectively. You might just find that you're capable of far more in far less time.
Replies
Rayan Zeggari@rayan_zeggari
Thanks for sharing Mathis! Just found an article on Parkinson's law and sent it to my team 🤝
I knew this concept from Elon Musk's saying: "If you give yourself 30 days to clean your home, it will take 30 days. If you give yourself 3 hours, it will take 3 hours." Had no idea about the name of the law tho.
There's a pretty similar concept in the book "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz where he mentions how to program one's subconscious and the importance of setting goals. "Our subconscious mind acts like a goal-striving mechanism, working tirelessly to bring our desires into reality. By setting specific goals and vividly imagining their attainment, we effectively program our subconscious to work towards their fulfillment. This programming process helps to align our thoughts, actions, and behaviors with our desired outcomes."
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@rayan_zeggari
Super interesting stuff! It's just like how pro athletes keep their eyes on the prize, imagining their wins to up their game, I recently heard stars like Messi, Usain Bolt... were doing that kind of projection.
@mathis_vella Yeah any athlete at the pinnacle of their sport seem to operate that way. Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Connor McGregor all operated that way too. That's what is cool about entrepreneurship: you inspire yourself from all walks of life and come up with your creation 🤝