The Fewer Requests the Far better

Right now, I have asked Todd Rogers to share his Suggestion of the Week.

One particular morning, I left a note on the counter for my daughter, inquiring her to get treatment of three points prior to likely to university:

Supply: Character Lab

Hey Kiddo!

This morning, be sure to recall to:

1. Circle which of the two shirts on the printout you want me to order for you.

2. Provide your new pencils to university.

3. Full the variety on the desk and carry it to school (ought to get ~5 minutes).

The shirt and pencils were easy. The sort required much more effort, but it was a lot more vital. The night time ahead of, we’d discussed the repercussions of not receiving it carried out: She would not be suitable for a sporting activities group she required to engage in on.

Later that day, I noticed that she wished the inexperienced shirt, and the pencils were being absent. But the blank form was still on the table.

I had only a few requests. How could she have skipped the most crucial one particular?

Research finds that when we ask folks to do numerous responsibilities, with an quick one particular and a hard just one, most men and women do the uncomplicated one particular first. Psychologists simply call this tendency the lesser jobs lure, which leaves persons vulnerable to receiving distracted prior to they can full the harder just one. Other investigate finds that asking people today to do a whole lot of duties can consequence in them performing less in total than inquiring them to do a lesser variety from the get started.

On the lookout back again, I should really have taken stock of my priorities that early morning and only questioned my daughter to deal with the form. I needed the shirt preferred and the pencils packed, but they could be completed on one more day—a working day when they wouldn’t distract her from a extra important assignment.

Do not generate very long process lists for other persons. Also quite a few requests can guide to fewer receiving done.

Do prioritize what you question of younger people today. This may well mean holding off on some much easier, considerably less important tasks, but it can be worthy of it. Being selective in what you talk to for can carry out far more in the long operate.

With intention and gratitude,

Todd

Todd Rogers is a professor of general public policy at Harvard College and the writer, with Jessica Lasky-Fink, of Creating for Hectic Readers: Communicate Extra Properly in the Genuine Entire world. Also posted on Character Lab.