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The following is taken from Brian Tracy’s “21 Great Ways To Double Your Productivity - number 4″ Podcast.

Brian Tracy’s ABCDE Method of time management is one of the most effective tools available. You’ll find his methods simple and easy to implement.

Learning to pick your most important task and working on that task until it is complete is the most important time management principle you can learn. The ABCDE Method will help you to identify your highest value tasks before you start working. Identifying these high value tasks before you start working is imperative to your success.

In order for you to determine which task you should be working on, or not working on, Brian Tracy says that you need to think about the consequences of doing or not doing the task. An important task is a task that can have major consequences whether it is done or not.

All highly productive people constantly think about potential consequences of the tasks they need to perform as they plan. Then they choose to work on the tasks that will have the greatest consequences.

Here’s how to use Brian Tracy’s ABCDE method:

1. Make a list of everything that you have to do.

2. Label each item with an A, B, C, D, or E.

An “A” item represents something that you must do. These items have serious consequences. These are your key tasks. Work on these first.

“B” items are “Should Do’s” but carry fewer consequences than “A” tasks.

C’s are nice to do, but not essential to do. Your long-term success will not be affected at all by these tasks.

You should always complete all A’s before moving onto the B’s. Complete all B’s before moving onto the C’s and so on.

A “D” task is a task you delegate. You need to delegate as much as possible to partners or coworkers who can do that particular task as well or better than you.

“E” stands for eliminate. You can eliminate these tasks and there will be no consequences.

It’ll take discipline for you to stop working on your non-important tasks. Sometimes it just feels good to cross something off of your to-do list. Don’t fall into this trap. Soon you’ll find yourself with little time to complete your most important tasks.

And finally…

3. Order “A” tasks by priority.

Place the number 1 by the most important task, the number 2 by the next important task, and so on: A1, A2, etc. Then immediately start working on A1 and work on it until it is complete.

If you follow this Brian Tracy Success Secret, you will be well on your way to doubling your productivity.