How to Write a Task

Purpose

Also see: OKRs

Before anything, let’s define just what a task is. A task is a quick piece of work that can be assigned to anyone. Now, let’s make it more specific to the company. For us, a task is an initiative that should be aligned with the Key Results for the quarter, which are then aligned with the Objectives of the same time period.

Ideally, this is what the system breaks down to, in this hierarchy.

Figure 1. Objectives and Key Results Hierarchy Chart

The tasks at the bottom of Figure 1 should produce what we call deliverables, also known as outputs. These outputs will then contribute to the outcome, which is the Key Result.

Procedure

Every process has a procedure, and this is the procedure for writing tasks. Writing tasks will be done on SmartSuite so we can log the records of our progress. It can be numerical or categorical. What matters is you should be able to look back on the quarter and remember you’ve achieved a lot!

Inputs	SmartSuite

Step 1. Come up with a Project that aligns with the quarter’s Key Result

Say, the Objective may be to Eat Breakfast. It’s simple, and it’s very general. The Key Results can be to Prepare food and to Set up the table. Easy, right? So, if you were to make a Project under the Key Result, Prepare food, it would fall along the lines of Make a sandwich. The Tasks would then be Get mayo, Get ham, Get Bread, and then Put them all together.

If you see this logic, it would be easy to imagine how your tasks would align with the bigger picture. It also helps you feel less lost with what you’re doing, so you have a better sense of direction.

So, for a more concrete example, if your Key Result this quarter would be, say, Come up with more means of revenue, you can pitch a project to the team that would be beneficial and achievable for your department, such as Marketing the videos.

Step 2. Break the Project down into Tasks

Now, for the part that you came for. It may look easy at first glance to make a task, but once you’re there, you might end up with a ton of open tasks, and only a handful of them that are actually finished.

Outputs	Tasks are created Tasks are linked