Karla Brandau Presents Seven Steps to Avoid Crunch Time

Nov. 11, 2008 - PRLog -- Lilburn, GA - What time is it, if you have two minutes to go and your team is down by 10 points? What time is it, if your presentation to the biggest possible client and sale you’ve ever had is due tomorrow? What time is it, if your annual progress report for your manager is due by 5:00 tonight and you are only half finished? It’s Crunch Time!

Crunch time means it’s now or never. You have to produce. You have to get it done.
So when you break out in a sweat from pressure, take 10 deep breaths then move quickly through these steps in the upfront, planning part of execution.  First, survey exactly what has to be done to complete the project. This will force you to move from the more emotional right brain that is afraid you won’t finish on time to the more logical left brain.

List every task that is remotely connected to completion of the project. Tasks out of your head and onto a list become less intimidating. By using Tasks in Microsoft Outlook you can make your task list digital which can be saved, searched and tweaked at will. With a red marker, circle the tasks that absolutely MUST be done to complete the project. Through this process you simplify your work by weeding out tasks that might be window dressing.

In Microsoft Outlook, prioritize the tasks with the exclamation point. Count the actual tasks that are marked in red or have a red exclamation point in the prioritizing column. This is the step that brings a sigh of relief: Typically there are fewer essential tasks than you had imagined. Next, estimate how much time it will take to do each task, then reverse schedule the tasks, then give each task a due date or a deadline on your Microsoft Outlook Calendar.

Finally, remember to tackle one task at a time.  Paying attention to this front-end planning process will save you precious time in execution.  Avoid crunch time! Do the upfront stuff, the planning part of completing your work, and you’ll be in control of every project, presentation and game.

For more information on topics like this, visit www.karlabrandau.com

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About Karla Brandau:
Karla Brandau, CSP is a speaker, trainer & successful entrepreneur. She is "A wealth of empowerment information" who provides "real help, not theory" to improve, enhance & energize your leadership skills. Need Help Now? Download free articles by going to www.KarlaBrandau.com. You are welcome to republish these articles in your company newsletter or employee bulletin, even on your corporate intranet. Please keep all contact, bio & reference information intact.

Contact Information:
Karla Brandau
Karla Brandau & Associates
Tel: 770-923-0883
karla@karlabrandau.com
www.karlabrandau.com