“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.” – Bruce Lee, Chinese actor and martial artist Mistakes are the inevitable fruit of trying new things, and sometimes they even produce something useful. A biological mistake may prove life-saving to an organism if the environment changes suddenly, and you can even frame some business mistakes as solutions. Silly Putty started life as a failed attempt at synthetic rubber but became a ubiquitous child's toy, which is still sold today. We all must make mistakes to refine our work processes, if only to discover what doesn't work. That doesn't mean you have to waste time when hordes of other people have already made certain mistakes for you. Here's a brief list of productivity mistakes to avoid: … [Read more...]

“Most productivity techniques require a little self-trickery” – L.V. Anderson, American business writer. We all have days when we feel about as productive as a limp noodle, yet we have no choice but to get into gear and do something that adds zeroes to the bottom line. So, what do you do when the motivation needle is on E? Simple: You put in the extra effort to trick yourself into productivity. It's usually easier than you might think, since, per the quote, most productivity involves self-trickery anyway. By the time you've faked it long enough, you'll have accomplished a decent amount of work and will probably find it easier to move forward. Try these tips to start your productivity engine on a down day: Harness creative procrastination. Start your morning with a … [Read more...]

“A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain and drinking largely sobers us again.” – Alexander Pope, British poet; from An Essay on Criticism, 1709. Employee disengagement remains a serious issue, with fewer than one-third of U.S. workers fully engaged. For many people, work is just a job—a way to put food on the table and cover the mortgage. If you feel this way, you're only partially engaged at best. To others, their job is a necessary evil they hate—possibly because of the work, possibly because of toxic co-workers (among whom they fail to count themselves). These fully disengaged workers are barely productive and can become a danger to other employees. As they say, one bad apple spoils the … [Read more...]

“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else's highlight reels.” –Steven Furtick, American pastor and bestselling author. Comparing yourself to other people can serve as a potent form of self-motivation, driving you to new heights of accomplishment. It can also make you purely miserable. In my 2010 book SuperCompetent, I coined the title term to describe highly successful workers at the top of their game, who always do their best to improve their personal and team productivity. This term doesn’t necessary apply to celebrities just because they are celebrities or business people just because they are rich. Daily, we hear of people like Elon Musk, Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Marissa Mayer and others who have significantly … [Read more...]

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” –Octavia E. Butler, American novelist. Some perceptive 20th century writer—some say Hemingway, others sportswriter Red Smith —once claimed writing is easy: you just sit down at the typewriter and bleed. That may be true for some writers, especially those new to the game, but I have to wonder if whoever said it did it mainly to discourage the competition. Because frankly, anyone who reads often and widely can become a decent writer. And as with everything else, all it takes to become a great writer is the old how-do-you-get-to-Carnegie Hall punchline: Practice, practice, practice. This … [Read more...]

“A wind that blows aimlessly is no good to anyone.” –Rick Riordan, American novelist. While you may not see it as the Holy Grail of your working life, personal productivity is a significant determiner of how you're doing in your career. But it's easy to get stuck in a rut, lose traction, and spin your wheels. Sometimes, gaining awareness of what saps your productivity is the hardest part, when you’re not sure what’s wrong in the first place. If you're having trouble identifying your productivity blockers, consider these seven common ones: A negative work atmosphere. We've all heard stories about a "can-do" attitude breaking records and overcoming expectations. How many times have you heard that about a "can't-do" attitude? Never. One rotten apple really can spoil the whole … [Read more...]

“One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” –Michael Korda, English-American writer and former editor-in-chief at Simon and Schuster. Lest you defer your dreams until they "dry up like a raison in the sun," per Langston Hughes, set time limits on them—this turns them into goals. But even then, it's not always easy to stay on track. As John Lennon put it, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Life can easily derail your goals, no matter how well-arranged or honestly intended. In your working life, goals are essential to maintaining and maximizing productivity. It's easy to get so busy just doing that you look up and realize the brass rings you're ostensibly reaching for seem as far away Saturn's rings. There are many reasons this may … [Read more...]

“Be careful how you are talking to yourself, because you are listening.” –Lisa M. Hayes, American advice columnist.  Your life may not have theme music, but you've probably got a little voice guiding your actions: sometimes a conscience, cheerleader, harsh critic, a chief adviser, and occasionally a real Debbie Downer. Psychologists refer to this narrator, which began with you talking your way through tasks as a kid, as self-talk. Self-talk begins overtly, out loud, before it "goes underground" to become silent, or covert. But even the overt variety never really goes away. We all still occasionally mutter things like, "All right, here's how I'm going to do this…" or tell ourselves aloud, "Okay, that was stupid." Self-talk is always there, always kibitzing, sometime a friend but more … [Read more...]

“You may think it is a waste of time to delegate because you feel you can do a better job. But no matter how good you are, you will need your team’s help to get things done effectively on a consistent basis.” – Deena Anreise, American business writer. We all know that delegation is one of the most effective ways to boost your productivity and succeed in your job, whether you're an executive, manager, or non-supervisory team member. Well, we should know this, but when we get caught up in the hustle, it's hard to remember the rules of engagement for the business world. Delegation requires careful handling to achieve true effectiveness. Thoughtless or unwise delegation can hurt team productivity, if for no other reason than that the fabric of interpersonal trust holding together a team … [Read more...]

“Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. "The Rock," American actor.   To some people, doing the same thing day in, day out is the epitome of boredom. It allows no room for spontaneity, and on the face of it, may hinder the growth necessary for you and your organization to thrive. I would disagree to some degree—routine gives comfort. Without consistency, you might never get to work at a predictable hour, maintain exercise routines, or complete all your work in a reasonable amount of time. There’s a big difference between rote, robotic, mindless activity and mindful consistency: productivity using repetition and consistent processes, overseen by thoughtful consideration. At the … [Read more...]