Work with intensity.

Work with intensity.

You’ll know the feeling if you’ve ever had deadline-driven work. You act with urgency, clear your headspace and don’t allow for interruptions. You are absorbed by your project. You are in the zone.

This is a skill that is hard to teach. Tell someone, ‘I want you to execute more quickly’ and it can be misconstrued as advice to rush. The goal is to learn how to work at pace with a desire to execute well.

Many people develop this skill after working on several projects under pressure with limited time. You don’t need to wait that long.

Try shortening the time you have available. If you have one week to complete an assignment, complete it in one day. This avoids the trap of Parkinson’s Law. In other words, if you have one week to complete a task, you will take one week to complete the task.

Try creating the conditions for intense working. Find a dedicated space, wear noise-cancelling headphones and turn off your phone. You want to work like a lion hunting rather than a marathon runner. Work intensely, then rest and repeat.

This way of working creates the conditions for creativity and problem solving as you develop your ability to focus for sustained periods of time. Develop this skill to a high standard and it won’t be long before you’re noticed for the quality of your output and the speed of your execution.