Whether you’re a startup or have been in business for decades, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter some common growing pains as you scale. And given the current economic climate, one of those growing pains will likely include figuring out how to do more work with fewer people as layoffs and hiring freezes are put in place. 

Naturally, when faced with such a daunting dilemma, it can be challenging to recognize that not all the tasks in front of you require the same effort. And thanks to the LNO Effectiveness Framework created by the renowned product leader, Shreyas Doshi, you can build more efficiencies by learning to prioritize your tasks and allocate more time and effort to the tasks that move the needle forward. 

So, what does ‘LNO’ stand for, and how can you start applying it to create efficiencies in your organization today? 

L – The ‘L’ stands for leverage tasks. That means these are priority tasks that will result in the most significant impact when given maximum effort. For example, the effort and time you’re likely to invest in identifying your product fit or go-to-market strategy to guide your business successfully. Furthermore, this is an area that you should continually raise the bar on, or as Shreyas says, “Do a great job. Let your inner perfectionist shine.”

N – The ‘N’ stands for neutral tasks. While these tasks are still important, there’s no upside in putting 100% or even 90%. The baseline for these tasks can be good enough, not great, and still allow you to achieve the outcome you’re aiming for. An example of a neutral task might be planning your week, writing a brief, or cranking out a monthly report. Unlike leverage tasks, you can let your inner perfectionist take a step back.  

O – The ‘O’ stands for overhead tasks or, as I like to say, ‘outsource tasks.’ Because these tasks produce the least impact and don’t require much effort to complete, they should be pretty easy to outsource. However, if you’re not in a position to delegate, the next best thing you can do is spend the least effort to complete overhead tasks like typing up notes from a meeting or following up on emails. 

Now that you have a better idea of how to categorize your tasks take a moment to revise your current to-do list by labeling each task as either L, N, or O so you can start focusing more time and energy on things that truly matter and help you scale your business. 

Speaking of scaling your business, I’ve coached countless startups on using this framework, the Eisenhower Matrix, and other helpful frameworks to increase efficiencies, decrease burnout, and take control of their business and personal lives. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at b@bpagelsminor.com or schedule a consultation to learn how I can help you and your business do the same.