Looking busy has a bad rap.
Sometimes you have to look busy so you’re able to actually work on the things that matter.
Sometimes evil is justified, and other times, knowing evil means knowing how to beat it.
Check out our evil week tag page.
In short, looking busy reminds everyone that youarebusy, and gives you some freedom at the same time.
How urgent is this?
As in, how quicklyif at alldoes this need to be done?
Will the storm pass before it matters that Ive done it?
How visible is this?
Who is this important to?
Is that person important to me?
Whats the likelihood that said important person will forget about this before its a non-issue?
Keep this mental checklist handy.
The former is composed of items and projects youre actually working on.
The latter, not so much.
Your to-do listis the list of things that youre already familiar with.
If youve been assigned something visible, drop it here too.
If its important to someone who is important, it goes here too.
Think of it as insurance.
Unfortunately, none of us work in a vacuum, so get ready for coworkers and managers to interrupt.
Have your lists at the ready?
Heres what to do:
Start saying no.
Use your lists to support you.
Or rather,say no tactfullyand professionally.
I dont think I can fit that in.
Be ready for pushback, and be ready to be flexible.
Keep moving and dont get stuck in one position.
Remember, the goal here is to maximize your appearance while minimizing effort.
Dont shove it in their faces, just smile and be proud you’re able to contribute.
Never say Not much when someone asks you Whats up?
Dont make that mistakewhen someone asks you what youre working on, have an answer.
The more detailed and varied, the better.
Pull from your Whatever list if you have to.
UseScottys Principle, but dont talk about it.
Dont make that mistakealways pad the time required to do something, but only deliver ahead of schedulesometimes.
Also, dont give away your secret.
Loose lips and all that.
Get a second display and keep your email client open in one screen and your work on the other.
Keep a few apps open in the background at all times.
(Excel is a favorite.
I love MS Project for this, but that was because I was a project manager.)
Set up aBoss Key with AutoHotkeyorProcess Manager.
Use technology to your advantage.
Bonus: youll always bebusy, but you wont always bestressed, which is a huge bonus.
Be an Email-Responding Ninja
Heres a productivityandan evil tip: clean out your inbox.
Remember, being busy is not the same thing as being productive.
Title image remixed fromminoru suzuki(Shutterstock).
