Follow-through is the ability to make sure all requests are captured and then managed to completion (or rejection). Customers (the people you serve) and managers (the people who determine your next pay raise) value follow-through because they want to see their requests and projects completed, not dropped.
Good follow-through is the key to good raises and promotions.
Don't let requests become stillborncapture all of them. When a customer sees you in the hall and requests something, don't trust your memory. If you can't write the request down, ask the customer to send the request via email or the request-tracking software. That way the onus is on the customer to make sure you don't forget his request.
Nothing insults, infuriates, or frustrates a customer more than giving a system administrator a request and having it be forgotten.
The more tasks you have, the harder it is to track them. Soon you are spending more time tracking the tasks than doing them.
To remember requests, record them in a reliable way. The human brain is not as reliable as paper or electronic devices. Record requests the moment you receive them. Write down every request, every time. Reserve your brain for more important tasks.
To do list systems fail for many reasons. Scattered notes get lost. A single list becomes a depressing Ever-Growing To Do List of Doom. These can kill self-esteem.
The Cycle System uses a calendar for meetings, dates, and appointments; a life-goal list for long-term plans; a to do list for today (and every day); and a schedule for today that lets you plan your work.
Every day begins by investing 10 minutes to plan your day. Examine your calendar to see how much time you have for meetings and appointments. You will use the remainder of your time for your to do list. You determine whether you have enough time to do what's on your to do list and manage any overflow. You manage the overflow by moving low-priority items to future days or renegotiating with customers.
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When you begin using The Cycle it will seem awkward and difficult. However, as time goes on, it will become more comfortable. You will customize it as you start to see how it can best fit into your lifestyle. Psychologists say it takes 21 days to form a new habit; 21 days of doing the same thing over and over to make your brain treat it like a habit that can be done effortlessly. However, Tom's "one-day rule" is that you'll never get to day 21 if you don't get started. So plan on doing your new habit for one day, and make that day today. The other 20 will be a lot easier.
