Maximize Productivity with Minimal Effort

The Pareto Principle otherwise known as the 80/20 Rule

One effective method of being more productive at work is to utilize the Pareto principle, otherwise known as the 80/20 rule.

The 80/20 rule states that 80% of effects or consequences result from 20% of the causes. The principle, coined by economist Vilfredo Pareto, was the result of his observation that 20% of the population in Italy owned 80% of the land. In other words, when there is a change in status on one end, there is a relevant change on the other. A common example Pareto used was that 20% of a plant (i.e., the seeds) produces 80% of the fruit.

At its core, the 80/20 rule focuses on cause and effect. You can’t expect a plant to produce fruit if you never plant the seeds. To maximize productivity, you have to analyze whether the amount of effort you’re putting into something is proportionate to the outcome.

How to Implement the 80/20 Rule at Work and Become More Productive

There are only so many hours you have to get work done. And unless you’re working around the clock, there’s only so much you can do in a standard 8-hour workday. However, at work, you can’t just focus on whatever you want. Rather, you have to put your energy into tasks that will support the company’s goals. In other words, you’re being paid to be productive.

So, to get you there with the help of the 80/20 rule, lay out everything you need to accomplish that day. While your to-do list can be comprised of anything, you’re going to want to categorize them by least to most important. Your high-level tasks could be anything from preparing for an upcoming meeting, a phone call with a client, or even playing catch up on all the emails you received while on vacation.

Whatever your high-level tasks are, focus on them first. Even if you don’t cross everything off your list, your efforts will have contributed to 80% of the impact you had on your tasks that day.

See, the goal of the 80/20 rule isn’t to get everything off your list. Instead, it’s to have you accomplish high-priority tasks, which in turn, will offload your plate to focus on other, less time-consuming tasks, increase productivity, and help you work more efficiently. Stated differently, the rule or principle is used to identify which inputs are the most productive.

Helpful Tips to Master the 80/20 Rule

As with anything, implementing the 80/20 rule into your daily routine may take some time to get used to. If you want to get started but aren’t sure how, here are some helpful tips:

Look at How You Spend Your Time

Before trying out any type of time management trick, you have to first truly understand how you’re spending your time and how it’s affecting you.

For example, if you’re leaving your most important tasks for later in the day when you’re more tired, you’re more likely to procrastinate. And, according to Mass General Brigham McLean Hospital, procrastination has been linked to “...depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.” These are three things that will harm you in the workplace by sabotaging your ability to be productive.

If you want to get better at managing your time, consider how you spend it and what it’s offering in return. And make adjustments accordingly.

Stop Focusing on the Pennies

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “penny wise, pound foolish?” The adage refers to someone more concerned with saving up change or small amounts of money while neglecting bigger costs.

Believe it or not, this concept can help you at work. Let’s say your boss tasks you with developing a presentation for a pitch to a potential client. If you invest 80% of your efforts in thinking about what you’re going to include and the design elements, the presentation may contain some pertinent information, but it won’t be as informative as it was meant to be. This is what is meant by not focusing on the pennies.

If the goal of the presentation is to obtain a new client, then your efforts need to be focused on the tasks that will serve that end goal. Doing anything less than that won’t yield the type of results you, or your company, are looking for.

These are just a few of the most helpful tips to maximize your productivity. With the 80/20 rule, you’ll see an uptick in your productivity, feel better about yourself and your accomplishments, and maybe even get noticed at work.

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If you liked this content, check out my article entitled, “5 Key Steps To Planning A Productive Day” at: https://www.theunreliablemind.com/blog/planning-a-productive-day

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