Do you have a to don’t list?

The concept of a to-don’t list isn’t a new one for me. I’ve frequently used the “do more, do less, start and stop doing” model to reflect on what I’m doing and where I should be spending my time. It’s interesting to understand therefore, this concept is something used by Daniel Pink (New York Times bestselling author of 7 titles), and that it’s evidence-based.

A 2021 study “People systematically overlook subtractive changes” [i] found that when trying to make improvements, respondents were more likely to try to add something to create a solution, rather than removing one.  It’s a bit like our desire to reuse and recycle plastic to help protect our planet – these are both positive options, however, they require huge amounts of ‘additive’ activity to achieve.  The act of reducing plastic usage is potentially far simpler and could have a significantly greater impact.

As Daniel Pink says “Subtraction is Underrated”. 

A recent pilot study in the UK on reducing working hours, in the form of a 4-day week trial[ii] demonstrates that reducing working hours can increase productivity and revenues.  As a nation we tend towards working long hours, taking lunch at our desks, dealing with work emails once we are home and propping up an ‘always on’ culture.  However, the evidence suggests that working 20% fewer hours, without a drop in pay, results in improved outcomes for individuals and businesses.

Cosmetics Company 5 Squirrels claimed that since the start of the experiment:

“productivity has increased, staff and customers are happier, the amount of sick leave taken has dropped and the business has been able to attract higher-quality candidates. Revenue is also up 40%”

It’s a question worth pondering for a few minutes. What might you put on a to-don’t list? Some previous answers to this question have included:

• Draining my energy and diverting my attention from key tasks by responding to emails in the morning

• Saying ‘yes’ to things I don’t want to do

• Attending meetings where I’m not adding value

• Producing reports that nobody ever reads

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can increase your organisation’s productivity, take a look at ‘The Secret to Solving the Productivity Puzzle’ here.

[i] Adams, G.S., Converse, B.A., Hales, A.H. et al. People systematically overlook subtractive changes. Nature 592, 258–261 (2021).

[ii] https://www.raconteur.net/future-of-work/four-day-week-trial-success/