Many tasks you tackle will be small enough to complete in a single sitting. But for those larger projects, you must always be able to track where you are. Marking where you left on a project is a relatively simple step you must take for your own sake and for that of your reputation, your staff, volunteers, and your church. But what is the best way to do it? Here are three tips that will you help you remember where you left off every time:
- Make a clear mark. Whether you want to use a sticky note, draw a big red X, or something else, just be sure to clearly mark where you stopped working. Nondescript marks or enigmatic notations probably won’t be helpful–they’ll be easy for you to miss later on, and other people won’t know what they mean.
- Let multiple people know where you are stopping. Send an email to everyone who is helping you, letting them know the status of the project. That way, if one of them picks up working on it they’ll know exactly where to start.
- Make sure everyone involved understands that this is an expected part of working on this project. It takes only one person not marking his or her stopping place to make it hard for everyone else involved. Tell everyone that marking where they left off is required. No one is allowed to skip this important step.
- Reward people who mark their ending spot consistently. What gets rewarded gets repeated. When members of your team mark their spot, reward them in some way. Give them a gift card to a coffee shop or special recognition during your staff meeting. Just a small acknowledgment will get them on board, helping to make this practice a permanent part of your projects.
Clearly marking the place where you left off on a project seems like a small thing, but it will pay off in big ways. You will save yourself and those on your team a lot of time and frustration. Start making this a habit today.
– Nelson Searcy and Richard Jarman
The above excerpt is from pgs. 107-108 of The Renegade Pastor’s Guide to Time Management.
Time is your most important God-given resource no matter how hard you work, you can’t make a day last longer than twenty-four hours. By mastering a set of proven time-management principles, you can regain control of your life. It is possible to manage your time so that you can stay on top of the never-ending demands of being a pastor, nurture your congregation, spend quality time with your family, and take care of your physical and emotional needs. Become the pastor God has called you to be.
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Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
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