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How to Drive Workplace Productivity in a Virtual Office

Posted on 04/20/2012 by ·
How to Drive Workplace Productivity in a Virtual Office

In last month's newsletter, I discussed workplace delegation in light of the technological innovations that allow us to reach halfway across the world if desired to find ideal outsourcing providers. But in truth, you can apply this whiz-bang technology to employees in just about any category. Given access to reliable channels of instant communication, you no longer have to keep team members close at hand in order to maximize team and personal productivity. The virtual office, administered and maintained via cyberspace, has truly come into its own. Your virtual assistant can live in Michigan and your receptionist in Florida, while your prestigious professional address may place you in downtown Manhattan, even if you run everything from your home in the Hamptons. When managed properly, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: ,

Sleep Your Way to a Productive Day!

Posted on 04/17/2012 by ·
Sleep Your Way to a Productive Day!

Sometimes I wish I were a bear, so I could hibernate for six months. Alas, I’m only human. How much sleep do you think the average adult gets per night? A National Sleep Foundation poll of 1000 adults found that 1/3 get less than 7 hours per night and only 1/3 are getting the recommended 8 hours per night. John Shepard, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, says that most adults need between 7 ½ and 8 ½ hours of sleep per night, teens need 9 hours and 15 minutes, and small children need more. In 1910, the average adult got nine hours of sleep per night, because without electricity, people generally went to sleep when darkness fell. Now we just flip on the lights and keep working. Americans tend to under-sleep by choice, burning the candle at both ends due to hectic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged: ,

Executive Excellence – Shaping Emerging Leaders as Productivity Resources

Posted on 04/16/2012 by ·

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." -- Peter Drucker, Austrian management consultant and social ecologist. "Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other." -- John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President.   "Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways." -- H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American author.   Succession planning—i.e., providing for future leadership—is crucial to any organization's long-term success. Essentially, this process boils down to "buy or build." Either the organization hires proven leadership from outside as needed (often at the expense of loyalty), or it cultivates new leadership from the ground up. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Leadership & Teamwork · Tagged: ,

Super Competent: Achieve More in Today’s Workplace

Posted on 04/10/2012 by ·

In this competitive economy, just being able to do your job is no longer enough. Competence is simply expected in today’s workplaces. But you can’t be simply competent; you have to be super competent to get an edge. Part of being super competent is discovering the six keys to unlocking your full potential: Activity, Availability, Attention, Accessibility, Accountability, and Attitude. Once you do, you’ll find you have reached a clear and practical system for achieving maximum results in a minimum amount of time. By contrasting super competent hero thinking with simply competent zero thinking, you’ll see that transforming your performance is not about mantras but mindsets. When the rubber hits the road, the difference between merely having ability and being exceptional may be the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: , ,

Productivity Minute Video: Discrepancies Occur When Work is Returned To You

Posted on 04/05/2012 by ·

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), talks about the importance of coaching and training to avoid mistakes. (C) 2011 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Management · Tagged: , ,

55 1/2 Easy Ways to Boost Productivity Today

Posted on 04/03/2012 by ·
55 1/5 Easy Ways to Boost Productivity Today

Okay, let’s face it. We’re all trying to do more with less. And chances are that you and your company have already made the big, tough decisions needed to streamline operations. But what about the little things? You can still boost both personal and team productivity in lots of smaller ways that are easy to implement and provide immediate results. Read on for quick tips on getting more done. 1. Hit the ground running. Don’t waste the first hour of the day. As soon as you arrive, focus on getting something done before you even think about checking Facebook or dropping in on a coworker. 2. Decline a meeting. Meetings are necessary. Every meeting is not. Don’t automatically accept every meeting invitation you receive, especially if there is no clear agenda or outcome. 3. Close your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged:

Lean Processes and DOWNTIME

Posted on 03/27/2012 by ·

While it hasn’t always been practiced with any great rigor, the concept of waste reduction has long been a part of American business tradition. Ben Franklin's common- sense reminders of "waste not, want not," and "a penny saved is a penny earned" have been well taken by such luminaries as Henry Ford, who introduced the modern assembly line, and the founders of time-and-motion studies and scientific management, Frank Gilbreth and Frederick Winslow Taylor. By the 1970s, Japanese industrial engineers had integrated all these concepts and more into a framework that eventually came to be known as lean manufacturing. Mostly derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS) and guided by industrial engineers Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo, lean manufacturing is based on the idea of preserving (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: , ,

Business Productivity: Crises are Flying Saucers

Posted on 03/20/2012 by ·

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), gives advice on mitigating the effects of unexpected crises. (C) 2011 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: ,

Increasing Productivity: Adequate Sleep

Posted on 03/19/2012 by ·

One of your greatest productivity resources is adequate sleep—especially when you find yourself facing an extreme work week. But knowing you need a good night's sleep and actually getting one can be two different things. What if you just can't get enough sleep, no matter what you do? If the problem persists long term, I recommend you have yourself tested at a sleep center in order to determine whether you have an organic problem interfering with your sleep habits. However, you can often handle short-term sleep issues "in house," so to speak, by changing certain aspects of your behavior. In this tip, I'll outline a few simple practices that can help you get the sleep you need. First off, never watch TV, work, or even read while you're in bed. Use your bed for sleeping only. Otherwise, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Life Balance · Tagged: , ,

Productive Travel: Tips for Business Travelers

Posted on 03/15/2012 by ·

Too often, business travelers use their trips as opportunities to rest up for the next bit of work. However, it pays to shift your mindset. The savvy worker never wastes travel or hotel time. You should always be willing to make good, productive use of those periods that most travelers would consider "lost hours," because doing so offers a unique opportunity to get work done with few distractions or interruptions. In this article, I'll outline a few simple things that you can do to maximize your business productivity while you're on the road. Plan Efficiently Spontaneity can be fun, but save it for vacation time. Before you ever set foot outside your home, it's best to make certain that every step of your trip is mapped out (doubly important for international travel). Start well in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: