I recently interviewd Dave Kutayiah, SR. VP of HR at ING Clarion Partners about how to increase employee productivity during down times. I specifically asked him,"How do you get more work out of fewer people?" He gave me permission to share his reply, because I believe my readers will also benefit: Laura, I am currently going through the same scenario with my HR team and my business partners are experiencing the same due to a recent workforce reduction. In a case like that, as a manager, you have to do the following: - ensure everyone understands why the team is leaner and meaner, - make sure everyone understands the strategy or gameplan and how they fit into the refined organization, - reinforce the importance of each team member and the fact that the stakes are much higher than … [Read more...]
Being Productive During the Slow Times
Unless you’re in accounting or retail, many businesses slow down dramatically between now and mid-January. Or maybe your normally-humming business has slowed down to a slow sputter due to the economy. Take the opportunity to relax a bit and enjoy your family, but also take advantage of the lull by completing some of those projects that have been sitting on the back burner. You always say, “I’ll get to that someday,” or “I’ll do it when I have more time.” Well, now’s the day you have more time. So knock some things out before things pick up again in February. What could you work on? · Purge your filing cabinets of outdated materials you never refer to. · Pull all your 2008 tax information. · Move old client files to archive boxes in your basement. · … [Read more...]
Time-Saving Tips for the Holidays!
When was the last time you had a really relaxing holiday? I don’t mean that peaceful thirty-minute aftermath that follows a successful dinner party or the kids’ gift-opening extravaganza. I mean a holiday that is relaxing, from beginning to end. That includes travel, dinner preparations, and shopping. All it will take is a little organization and advance planning. Here are some tips to get you started. Plan your travel now. Need to be out of town to see family or friends? If you haven’t already made arrangements, make it a priority. Especially if you plan to fly, the best deals disappear fast. Get online and start shopping around as soon as you know where you need to be and when. Once the arrangements are made, start getting things squared away with work. Whether you need to … [Read more...]
Social Media – What, Why – And How To Be Productive
Like it or not, social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are here to stay – and it isn’t just kid stuff anymore. In fact, businesses and individuals worldwide keep finding interesting ways to use social networks and other interactive online media to do some pretty amazing things – from building their brands to getting to know their customers. Where do you stand in this new phase of the internet revolution, which many techies are calling “Web 2.0”? Perhaps you avoided it altogether…or you’re an addict…or you’re somewhere in between. Like most technology, social networks and other social media tools are great resources but lousy masters. You could spend all day hopping around to different sites, updating your information, and connecting with people all over the … [Read more...]
Importance of Productivity during Down Times
In the summer of 1900... • The average life expectancy in the United States was 47. • A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11, which was an incredible sum because the average American made .22 cents an hour, or about $400 per year. • Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo. • Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from high school. • Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. • There were about 230 reported murders in the US annually. Amazing what a century will change. Amazing what a few months will change. Growth ends, recession sets in, the stock market stops booming, and companies go bust. The recession is impacting our clients in various ways: we're hearing of … [Read more...]
Are Your Social Networking Profiles Helping or Hurting You?
Social networking is all the rage today. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace - the list goes on. It seems like everyone has one or more of these services, but how many people are thinking about how it can affect them professionally? And how does it affect your productivity? In terms of your professional image, there have been many news stories and articles about people getting fired or not getting hired for jobs because of the things they post on their profiles. In one of my time management seminars, a participant told me she didn’t hire an applicant because she researched his social sites and saw that he “wanted to do as little as possible for as much money as possible.” If you want to keep your social networking just "between friends," pay close … [Read more...]
Please take my poll on to-do lists
I will be on QVC between January 1 and January 8, 2009, selling my new Productivity Pro branded Day-Timer. In preparation, I'm conducting a brief survey about the to-do list habits of the typical person. When you think of something you need to do, what do you usually do? Please visit the survey on my LinkedIn page and respond to one of five choices. Thank you for your assistance! … [Read more...]
Laura Stack to present public productivity seminar in Denver on December 9, 2008
Working long hours and feeling like you aren't accomplishing enough? Are you ready to learn to be more productive? Laura Stack is presenting her flagship productivity class at a rare public seminar in Denver on Tuesday, December 9, 2008! Here is your opportunity to learn from The Productivity Pro® herself. Get the tools you need to become more productive at work so that you can achieve Maximum Results in Minimum Time® and Leave the Office Earlier®! Become a Productivity Pro(R) with Laura StackDate: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Location: Denver, CO, EKS&H Public Accountants Nearest Airport: Denver International Airport Grab a colleague! Reduced rates are available when registering three or more people from the same organization. To register or view … [Read more...]
Are Punctuation and Grammar Quandaries Punching Holes in Your Productivity?
Ever had an argument with a colleague about the commas in a sentence like the following? The battery pack gives you several options: 6 hours, 4 hours, 3 hours and 40 minutes, 2 hours and 45 minutes. Is that four options or five options? A comma before the last and makes it clear. But do you ALWAYS need a comma before that last and? Answer: No, the serial comma is optional. But you’re always safe to use it for clarity sake—as illustrated in the “battery-pack” sentence. Here are a couple tips to prevent grammar gaffes and save you a few minutes in reaching for a reference book: • The assure/insure/ensure dilemma: (All three words mean to give a guarantee—but they aren’t interchangeable.) Use assure only when you’re referring to someone talking or writing. Use insure only when … [Read more...]
