Tim Cook runs one of the most successful companies in the world. With a simple principle, he achieves more than others and thus makes Apple more productive.
Some people tend to deal with too many different tasks at the same time in their work. As a result, you lose track of things and feel like you don’t get anything done during a working day.
There is a simple trick to combat this accumulation of tasks for which you are not at all the ideal worker. You concentrate on the things that only you can do and hand over all other tasks at the same time. Tim Cook shows how Apple can become more productive.
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The “just you” principle can save a lot of time and energy
What does the “only you” principle mean? This principle is about focusing only on certain activities. This includes all tasks that can only be completed by yourself because you have the necessary skills.
For a senior Apple executive like Tim Cook, this means limiting himself to tasks that involve strategic decisions about the direction of the company. This is where his strengths lie and he has the necessary knowledge.
Cook consistently delegates all things that can be done just as well or even better by someone else in the company. He cited Apple’s product designers as an example.
Their specific activity can only be carried out best by them. That’s why he trusts these Apple employees. He is clear that design is an important part of the company. However, he does not manage or determine it down to the smallest detail.
Why is this trick so effective? At first you might think that you can do less. You hand over tasks and don’t take on any new things in return. In reality, however, you now have more time for tasks that can and must only be completed by yourself.
This leads to more concentration because you no longer have to worry about completing the assigned tasks. You become more effective in completing your own tasks and simply have more energy for them.
It makes sense not to pass on the other tasks to just anyone. Ideally, these things will be handled in the future by someone who is more effective at it than you and your colleagues. Then everyone’s productivity increases.
Can everyone apply the “Only you” principle? Yes, generally yes. But of course it also depends on what profession you pursue. Added to this is the way of working. Are you the only one in your position or do you work in a larger team?
If you want to hand over some of your tasks to colleagues, it may also be necessary to talk to your own manager about it. In this way, your own manager may also come up with the idea of concentrating on his or her own strengths.
Tim Cook has big shoes to fill as Steve Jobs’ successor. But unlike his predecessor, he didn’t pay Apple designers daily visits and invest his own time in their work. But without Steve Jobs’ ambition, Apple would not be one of the most successful companies in the world today: Steve Jobs only earned an annual salary of $1 when he returned to Apple – 8 facts about the Apple founder
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