Use a 6×6 to accomplish more

In his book Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs, Bill Hybels talks about creating a 6×6 to accomplish the 6 most important tasks of the next six weeks.

Bill Hybels found that by narrowing all of your tasks down to the six most impacting tasks and giving yourself six weeks to accomplish them, he was able to keep focus much better and accomplish much more. Why six weeks? For him, six weeks was just the right amount of time. Any shorter and its hard to accomplish anything big. Any longer and its hard to keep that pace up. Why six tasks? Its very easy to get distracted with lots of urgent items that pull you away. By focusing the six goals that you need to get done it provides you with purpose and focus. It allows you to say no to other tasks that would normally distract you, and you’ll find that you get much more accomplished when you focus a smaller list.

Try it out. Maybe a 6×6 isn’t the best for you. I’ve found a 4×4 works much better for me. It gives me a better idea of the due dates. Its easier for me to think of my tasks for the month. I know exactly how much time I have left.

The key is to find what works best for you. If your tasks are much bigger in scope, try a 2×6. If you don’t have any large tasks, but would like to knock off a lot of smaller projects, try a 6×2.

Whatever you choose, be sure to write it on paper and set due dates. I would also recommend reading Axiom. Its a great book with a ton of short chapters full of great leadership ideas.

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