Technology has revolutionized the way we do business. It changes the way we communicate, the way that we work, and the way we collaborate with others. Productivity is crucial in business, and with technology becoming such a pervasive element in today's business, it's not uncommon for the pursuit of productivity to become quite the time waster.
Every business owner is concerned with increasing efficiency and boosting productivity. Justin Rosenstein, one of the founders of Asana, a San Francisco-based company that develops collaborative software, said, "The crux of inefficiencies of work come down to lack of clarity." Most people spend 70 to 80 percent of their day in meetings and answering emails. It's work, but it isn't actually the work that needs to be done. Large and small businesses both encounter these problems, but they have, perhaps, more long-lasting impact on small businesses. In a small business, any time wasted means wasted money. A few hours wasted a week could mean the difference between making payroll or not being able to keep the lights on.
The three principles developed by Rosenstein and his Asana co-founder, Dustin Moskovitz, are designed to center the work day around the actual work, instead of around meetings and emails. Having worked at Facebook and Google, they understand the atmosphere of a large corporate office, and that it can be difficult to break away from those very "corporate" things, which take up too much time and leave almost no spirit left for real work. The understand the importance of maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit. Their principles are: clarity of purpose, clarity of plan, and clarity of responsibility.
Clarity of Purpose
Each employee should not only have an understanding of his purpose, but also of the overall purpose. Once he understands his role in the big picture, he can make decisions and set priorities that harmonize with the needs of his position and the company as a whole. Without this kind of clarity, his work may seem meaningless and most employees will lose their drive.
Clarity of Plan
If every member of the team doesn't understand the entire scope of the plan, most will be unable not only to move forward, but to adequately complete the current step. By discussing and drawing up a full plan, everyone involved can give their input, ensure that every detail is covered, and keep things from falling through the cracks. When everyone knows what will have next, they can better direct their efforts and contribute to a better end result.
Every business owner is concerned with increasing efficiency and boosting productivity. Justin Rosenstein, one of the founders of Asana, a San Francisco-based company that develops collaborative software, said, "The crux of inefficiencies of work come down to lack of clarity." Most people spend 70 to 80 percent of their day in meetings and answering emails. It's work, but it isn't actually the work that needs to be done. Large and small businesses both encounter these problems, but they have, perhaps, more long-lasting impact on small businesses. In a small business, any time wasted means wasted money. A few hours wasted a week could mean the difference between making payroll or not being able to keep the lights on.
The three principles developed by Rosenstein and his Asana co-founder, Dustin Moskovitz, are designed to center the work day around the actual work, instead of around meetings and emails. Having worked at Facebook and Google, they understand the atmosphere of a large corporate office, and that it can be difficult to break away from those very "corporate" things, which take up too much time and leave almost no spirit left for real work. The understand the importance of maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit. Their principles are: clarity of purpose, clarity of plan, and clarity of responsibility.
Clarity of Purpose
Each employee should not only have an understanding of his purpose, but also of the overall purpose. Once he understands his role in the big picture, he can make decisions and set priorities that harmonize with the needs of his position and the company as a whole. Without this kind of clarity, his work may seem meaningless and most employees will lose their drive.
Clarity of Plan
If every member of the team doesn't understand the entire scope of the plan, most will be unable not only to move forward, but to adequately complete the current step. By discussing and drawing up a full plan, everyone involved can give their input, ensure that every detail is covered, and keep things from falling through the cracks. When everyone knows what will have next, they can better direct their efforts and contribute to a better end result.