Availability is driven by Activity. Just as setting valid priorities and goals is important, so is accepting your responsibility in carrying them out. You have to structure your schedule very carefully to ensure that things get done—because if you don't, other people will be perfectly happy to structure your schedule for you. Think about it: how many times have you attended a meeting and asked yourself, "Why am I here?" Often, it's because someone decided you should be—without bothering to consider if that was best for you and your productivity goals. You have to be willing to protect your time from everyone who wants a piece of it. Among other things, you must learn to say no when appropriate, to delegate, to cancel unnecessary meetings, to let some tasks go, and to eliminate … [Read more...]
Workplace Productivity: Monthly Educational Opportunities from The Productivity Pro(R)
Announcing a public seminar sponsored by the Colorado Human Resources Association (CHRA) and Jobing.com! On March 5, 2010, attend a half day of training on Advanced Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Outlook: Discover Little-Known Tips and Tricks for Managing Your Workflow (morning session 2003, afternoon session 2007). Are you buried by hundreds (or thousands!) of email messages? Do you spend hours every day in your inbox? If you have a hard time keeping up with your email, attend this training with Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro®, a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) in Outlook. She will demonstrate ADVANCED Outlook methods with her actual Outlook software and an LCD projector. This is not simple computer training—it is workflow processing—where you’ll learn to use Outlook … [Read more...]
Time Management: The Productivity Minute #24 – Procrastination
Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R) talks about the productivity killer - procrastination! (C) 2010 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Implementing Employee Engagement in Your Organization
Several months ago, I published an article on the importance of employee engagement to any organization's effectiveness and bottom line. The topic has proven to be a fruitful one, and I've gotten some excellent responses from my readers. The original article soon led to an application of the concept to the ideas I outlined in my recent book SuperCompetent, which directly resulted in last month's topic: the Productivity Management Employee Engagement/Performance Matrix. The Matrix classifies employees based on the factors of engagement and performance, which, as I've indicated, aren't necessarily congruous. In fact, it's possible to be highly engaged, but an absolute zero when it comes to productivity, and vice versa. However, if you can bring together maximum engagement and high … [Read more...]
Top Ten Tips for a More Organized 2011!
Top Ten Tips for a More Organized 2011! By Laura Stack, MBA, CSP There will always be more things to do than time to do it. Working longer isn't going to save you. (I’d bet you’ve never gone to sleep at the end of a long day with everything on your to-do list completed.) To counter this never-ending battle, you’ll need to learn to be more efficient and get your work done in less time. If you can figure out how to be more productive during the day and achieve greater results in less time, you can leave the office earlier and get a life. Learn how to use your software. One of the many ways professionals waste time during the day is with Microsoft Outlook (or whatever email software you use). I estimate people waste 30 minutes to 2 hours a day with incorrect or inefficient information … [Read more...]
Workplace Productivity: SUPERCOMPETENT KEY # 1: ACTIVITY
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #1: ACTIVITY. Activity demonstrates value and reflects importance. 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 simplycompetent; you have to be SuperCompetent(TM) to get an edge. Laura Stack's new book, SuperCompetent: the Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best (Wiley 2010), gives high potentials proven methods to reach peak performance and achieve breakthrough results. You'll discover the six keys to unlocking your full potential: Activity, Availability, Attention, Accessibility, Accountability, and Attitude. The Productivity Pro®, Laura Stack, gives you a clear and practical system for achieving Maximum Results in Minimum Time®. By contrasting … [Read more...]
Time Management: The Productivity Minute Video #23 Do NOT Make New Year’s Resolutions
Are New Years Resolutions really productive? Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), talks about how resolutions and how to really make positive changes for the New Year. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Workplace Productivity: Tips for Wonderful Webinars
You’ve decided to conduct a webinar for your association member, corporate employees, or your team members spread around the country. How do you ensure the Webinar goes off without a hitch? Here are the top ten tips on how to have a successful webinar: 1. Select the best format for your objectives. Each of these popular formats has pros and cons: • Single speaker who presents and administers the webinar—easy to coordinate but can be less interactive if participants are hesitant to ask questions. • Interview style with a moderator—more interesting than just one voice but harder to coordinate the discussion. • Facilitated conversation with multiple panelists—more people to train and the potential for panelists to talk over each other; adds a variety of perspectives and can increase … [Read more...]
Audio Podcast: Greensizing for Productivity
We all want to do our part to help the environment. But if you can give the Earth a break and increase your productivity at the same time, that’s a real no-brainer! Luckily, a lot of the things you can do to help sustain the planet can help sustain your productivity as well. (C) Copyright 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. Powered by Podbean.com … [Read more...]
Audio Podcast: Engaged Employees Are More Productive
Hopefully by now we all get it: this economy is challenging, things are changing, and everyone is looking for ways to do more with less. Unfortunately, as many companies struggle to adjust to this new reality, opportunities are being missed. Often we are so focused on stretching an organization’s financial and other resources that we become less effective in managing our human resources. (C) Copyright 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. Powered by Podbean.com … [Read more...]
