Getting Your Team to Do More Than Meet Deadlines

Charlotte  Blank; Laura M. Giurge; Laurel  Newman; A.V.  Whillans

Editorial | Harvard Business Review (website) | November 15, 2019

Getting Your Team to Do More Than Meet Deadlines

by Charlotte Blank, Laura M. Giurge, Laurel Newman and A.V. Whillans

Abstract

When it comes to our to-do lists, many of us prioritize checking off tasks that are easiest to complete or are due first, regardless of importance—a phenomenon that scholars describe as the “mere urgency” effect. This tendency becomes stronger the busier we are. But constantly prioritizing urgent tasks means that important tasks that have no urgent deadline (such as updating your resume or doing creative work) get pushed aside for later and later. Some just never get done. When we fail to do what’s important, often what matters most to us, we feel stressed, overwhelmed, and unmotivated—and firms are less productive. Research suggests managers can help employees combat the tendency to put off for tomorrow what isn’t due today: have employees set aside proactive time for work that is important but not urgent.

Keywords: Employees; Time Management; Performance Improvement;

Format: Electronic

Citation:

Blank, Charlotte, Laura M. Giurge, Laurel Newman, and A.V. Whillans. "Getting Your Team to Do More Than Meet Deadlines." Harvard Business Review (website) (November 15, 2019).

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Getting Your Team to Do More Than Meet Deadlines

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