Task splitter

Function-Strength Tasks and daily work

A big task broken into steps, with check-ins along the way.

A big task is often not hard to do, but hard to start: you can see the end point, but not the route to it. Steps that each have their own end point, a first step that is small enough and fixed interim checks make the route visible.

When to use it

  • Tasks grow bigger than asked, or never get finished

Tip

Make the first step ridiculously small: open the file and type the title. Starting is the most expensive moment; after that, things often flow.

What you fill in

  • The task
  • What is it for, and for whom?
  • Done by
  • The first step
  • The steps after that, in order
  • Interim checks
  • Good enough when
  • If you get stuck

The tool runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Example result

Made with the example in the tool. With your own details you get your own version, ready to copy.

Plan: Guide to the new customer system What it is for: So that new colleagues can find the five most used screens on their own. Done by: Friday 11 December Start here: Open the document, type the title and add the five screens as headings. Then: 1. Take a screenshot of each screen (Monday) 2. Write three sentences of explanation for each screen (Tuesday and Wednesday) 3. James asks a new colleague to read it (Thursday) 4. Make the improvements and send it (Friday) Interim checks: • Wednesday 9 December at 11:00: ten minutes together on the first two screens Good enough when: Five screens, each with an image and three sentences. Formatting and extra screens are not needed. Stuck? Send Hannah a message; you will get a reply the same day.