ALWAYS Clarify The Next Action

The Next Action is the next physical, visible activity that progresses something toward completion. And I mean this literally… For example:

A Next Action should be so clear and simple that it needs very little thinking or effort to complete.

Every time you start working on a project, you spend too much time clarifying and remembering where you left off and what you have to do next. This phase can be completely eliminated and in doing so will save you hundreds of hours.

It’s not rare for project plans to be detailed and clear, but most don’t clarify and update the Next Action.

Additionally, too many ideas end up dying a slow death because a single Next Action is never identified.

1. As soon as you're responsible for a project, whether it has been assigned or it’s a project that you created, clarify the single Next Action needed to push the project forward

2. Whenever you're done working on the project, again clarify the Next Action

With a clear Next Action, the next time you start working on a project, you don't have to clarify what was to get done, you simply jump into it.

The goal with Next Actions is to create momentum instead of worrying about success or completion.

This also makes it easy to get small wins even while you’re on the go because you don’t have to think, only do.

The Next Action in this case is likely to follow up with said person.

If you own the project, you ALWAYS own the Next Action no matter what.

See you all next Thursday 👋

PS. Whenever you're ready... Here are three ways I can help you systematize & automate operations: