From Chaos to Control: Here's the best business productivity framework

The EDA Method

This method might just be the best productivity framework any business can follow to beat time and crush goals. To ensure effective time management across the hundred and one items on your to-do list, you need to start Eliminating, Delegating and Automating. Here’s how:

Eliminate

The first step in the framework is to look at tasks that are not critical to your goals, and then simply get rid of them. These could be tasks that are time-consuming, and don't create any significant value for your customers or your business in general. By eliminating these non-essential tasks, you free up your time and energy to focus on tasks that are more important.

To begin the elimination process, start by creating a list of all your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Next, evaluate each task and weigh up whether they are necessary.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What value does this task bring to the business, the customers and my team?
• Is there a more efficient way to complete this task?
• If you find that you're not spending your time on more important work that creates the most value, then look at what you can get rid of. Often business owners can get bogged down in following processes that exist just because 'that is the way they've always done it'. Break from these bad habits and take time to critically review these steps - are all of them really necessary? Because the reality is, industries evolve, so steps that may have been critical a few years back are no longer necessary today.

For example, if your goal is better marketing, take a look at what’s working and what’s not working. Most platforms or channels are able to show you data, so if you find that you’re putting in a lot of time and effort on a marketing channel that’s not working, feel free to bin it.

Delegate

The next step is to give out tasks to other team members that may be better suited to that task. Delegating tasks allows you to focus on more important tasks while your team members develop new skills and crush their own career goals. However, it’s important that you delegate tasks so that you're setting your team up for success and tasks are completed to a good standard.

So how do you delegate specific tasks to other team members? Take a step back and ask yourself:

• Does the task require a specific skill set?
• Is the task time-sensitive?
• Will delegating the task provide opportunities for growth and development for the team member?
• Once you have identified tasks that can be delegated, choose the most appropriate team member for each task. Be clear and specific about your expectations for the task, including the deadline and any necessary resources. But be reasonable with these requests, and make sure you provide necessary support and guidance so that the task is completed successfully.

For example, if you’re not exactly sure how to run Facebook Ads but you need leads coming in, it might be a great idea to hand over those tasks to someone better suited or more knowledgeable. Doing this saves you the hassle of wasting hours and hours trying to figure it out on your own, and gives someone else who knows a thing or two an opportunity for career progression!

Automate

The final step in the framework is to automate tasks that can be, well, automated. Automation allows you to complete repetitive tasks more efficiently and frees up your time and energy to focus on more critical tasks. Additionally, automation can reduce the risk of human errors and improve the overall quality of your work. Automation is all about finding more time to spend on tasks that need creativity and critical thinking, and remove as much of the rote-work as possible. 

To automate tasks, start by identifying tasks that are repetitive or can be completed using technology. Consider the following factors:

• Does the task require manual input or data entry?
• Are there existing software or tools that can automate the task?
• Will automating the task improve the quality of the work or reduce the risk of errors?

Once you have identified tasks that can be automated, research software or tools that can help you automate the task. Consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility with your existing tools, and cost.

For example: ChatGPT has revolutionised the automation aspects of so many businesses. This tool has incredible potential for streamlining so many systems, processes and activities within a business. And it's free! 

Read How to Leverage AI and Boost your ROI in 2023

Once you have selected the most appropriate software or tool, integrate it into your workflow and ensure that your team members are trained on how to use it. As with rolling out any new software, tool or process, make sure you make appropriate change management considerations so that the new introduction is fully embraced.

Benefits of Eliminating, Delegating and Automating

The EDA method requires change within processes and management ways, and we know that kind of change is scary. Yet, there is so much to look forward to with the right application. Whether you’re trying to manage your distribution processes, generate better leads with Google Ads, or write better content for SEO, the EDA Method works for quite literally anything and anyone in any job.

Increased productivity

By focusing on important tasks and delegating or automating other essential tasks, you can increase your productivity and accomplish more in less time. Kick bad habits and change your to-do list to a to-done list with the best productivity framework you should be following!

Improved quality of work

By automating tasks with AI technology and other productivity tools, you can reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall quality of your work. Tick off your long list of action items faster, free up more of your available time, and get better focus into deep work, to produce your best work.

Opportunities for growth and development

Delegating tasks to the right team members provides them with opportunities to develop new skills and progress in their careers. Most humans want the opportunity to grow and progress; they want to learn and they want to be challenged. Ensure you're giving them what they need to be able to do that within your business.