Pozen's technique is based on the assumption that one should focus on the results to be productive, not on the time spent working.
State and rank your goals
Write down all that we are doing or intending to do to accomplish our objectives and goals. Categorize the items between yearly and weekly targets. Next is to rank the goals in terms of their importance to be achieved. Each goal can have 1-2 targets, which should further be prioritized. By comparing the time spent on each target and objective v/s the priority, any differences should be resolved.
The final product
Pozen believes that researching as the first step is wasteful method to start a project. It could lead to confusion and frustration, as you are reading too many facts with little knowledge on the subject. Rather, discuss the important issues and figure out how they can be resolved. Generate possible conclusions for the project within a day. Be flexible in terms of changing or altering your conclusions once you start working on it and review it.
The little details
It is important to spend more time on high ranking goals and targets instead of focusing on the little details that will only kill your time. Time commitment should vary according to the importance of a project and the needs of our audience.
How to go about it?
OHIO: Only Handle It Once.
Manage the low-priority items as soon as they are assigned in order to avoid backlog. If order to respond immediately, figure out whether more information is needed about the task or not. Hopefully we can respond immediately as waiting can double or triple the time involved as we may need to get re-acquainted with the task. Avoid overanalysing the little details in order to overcome perfection.
Manage your calendar
How might we ensure that we achieve our most significant goals consistently? Pozen recommends utilizing a two-column calendar. On the left, enter meetings, calls, and other appointments. We can also list targets that are less time sensitive, but ones you still want to address on that specific day. On the right, list what you want to achieve from each entry, including the targets that are not time sensitive. Write the purpose for each appointment.
Leave some time slots free in order to allow flexibility, emergency calls and to remain productive throughout the day.
Toward the end of every appointment, we should add new "tasks" to our schedule. That way we don't forget about huge issues or tasks.
Effective reading
Reading is an incredible sea of data to help with your key goals and targets. Being an effective reader helps save a lot of time. Understand the key ideas in order to evaluate and analyse where you stand and how you can do better.
Before we begin to read a document, we should take a couple of seconds to comprehend its structure. Understand the introduction and conclusion in order to get the basic idea of the concept. Skim through the rest.
Also keep these points in mind when writing, that a reader might be reading the same way you are- introduction, conclusion and just skimming through the rest.