How to Break Your Habit of Delay and Benefit Your Business

MANY OF US have heard about the 3-second rule.  You know-the rule
that states that you can pick something off the floor and use it
(ahem…eat it) if it was only on the ground for 3 seconds.  Personally I
am a 3-second person; my husband is adamantly not.  Occasionally arguments ensue…

Lately I’ve been considering the institution of a new rule.  This one
I’m calling the One Touch Rule (although I’m pretty sure I’m not the
first to call it this).  The One Touch Rule has nothing to do with
things falling on the ground (thankfully for my marriage) but everything
to do with getting more done.  The rule is this:

The One Touch Rule:  “touch” communication only once.

The application of this rule is simple.  It means that you respond to
or delete an email the first time you read it.  Likewise, you open,
read and act on all of your mail the day you receive it.  And you return
the voicemail or text right after getting it.

Sounds simple, right?  Well, that’s what I thought until I started
practicing this rule.  Needless to say, it didn’t take very long (less
than two hours) for me to realize how often I read an email but then
wait to respond, and how I let mail stack up before opening it.  In
other words, I was astonished at how often I start simple correspondence
but then delay finishing it.

What’s the Big Deal?

On the surface this habit of delay seems harmless.  What is the big
deal, after all, if I read an email and then respond 2 hours later? 
What if I don’t have time to reply right away?  What if I’m not sure of
what I want to say?  The truth is that it isn’t that big of a deal…until
all of these necessary follow-ups start accumulating.  Before long,
your mind is cluttered with a list of follow-ups that you need to do. 
Not much longer after that, some of the follow-ups begin to fall through
the cracks.  You forget about that voicemail.  The email you meant to
respond to gets buried in your inbox.  Time passes.  By the time you
remember it, it’s too late, and your professionalism has been
compromised.  The bill is paid late.  The sales opportunity gets cold.

Needless to say, a habit of delay is a detriment to business as well
as life.  A habit of responsiveness and follow-through is an asset,
though, and it is the true habit you want to cultivate.  Keep reading
for some thoughts on how–

Secrets to Following the One Touch Rule:

Here are seven tips for breaking your habit of delay in communication:

1. Keep your inbox closed until you are able to read and follow through with your messages in one session.
2. Cancel your push notifications on your smart phone and tablet to reduce temptation to check messages while you are out and don’t have time to respond back.
3. Designate times during the week specifically to open and process your mail.
4. Refuse to listen to voicemail, read text or email, check social media, etc. unless you are committed to replying immediately.
5. Turn off your ringer when you aren’t available to talk or return text/voicemail.
6. Respond to one message at a time.  Don’t read all
   of your new emails before replying to them.  Instead, read the first one
   and then reply.  Then move on to the second.  When you’ve run out of
   time to respond, shut down your computer or phone with any
   unread/unheard messages and come back to them when you have more time.
7. Create a standing list of priorities for
   communication.  For instance, decide that family messages are always
   answered first, followed by existing clients and then prospects.  Keep
   this list handy and refer to it right before you open your inbox, social
   media account, or your phone.

Getting Real with the Rule:

Does the One Touch Rule take discipline?

Absolutely.  Resisting the ding of a new text or email can sometimes
feel like walking through a grocery store when you’re starving and not
buying anything.  It. Is. Hard, especially if you’ve been indulging
instant gratification for a long time.  But it gets easier to curb the
impulse to check a new message the more you practice proactive
resistance.  Likewise, prompt follow-through–with all of its inherent
benefits–gets easier, too.

Does the One Touch Rule take more time?

Yes…and no.  Yes, it takes more time in the moment when you have
committed yourself to responding to communication right away.  For
instance, opening up a medical bill with the One Touch Rule can mean
that you have to make a few phone calls to clarify the billing, write
the check, address the envelope, and mail it all at once.  It can mean
that you have to sit and think about how you want to respond to an email
and come up with a reply before doing anything else.  Sometimes this
can add up to an extra hour on something you thought would only take a
few minutes.

BUT once you’ve followed-through you actually begin to save time. 
The truth is that the longer you stretch out the communication, the more
total time you add to the follow-through.  This isn’t a case of 10
minutes now or 10 minutes later.  Rather, it is 10 minutes now or 30
minutes later.  Why?  Because clear focus enables us to accomplish
things much faster and more efficiently.  When our minds and lists are
cluttered with half-finished communications, everything takes longer.

When you practice the One Touch Rule, on the other hand, you save
time because you aren’t mulling over your responses and adding things to
your to-do list.  Getting communication off your plate as quickly as
possible frees you up mentally to focus on other tasks, and productivity
soars.

Is the One Touch Rule feasible all the time?

Of course not.  But the more you challenge yourself to practice it, the
more you’ll be able to recognize the exceptions to the rule.  And of
course the more benefit you’ll reap from following it when you can.

Is it really worth it?

Yes.  Prompt and thorough follow-through is one of the most important
factors in how successful your business will be.  Indulge a habit of
delay and you will lose money and opportunity, guaranteed.  Cultivate a
habit of prompt follow-through and you will increase your sales,
bookings, contacts and deals.

 | stephaniehillberry.com