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How do You KNOW When You’re Busy?

Posted on 05/09/2012 by ·

I've come up with a few questions that you can ask yourself to see where you stand: Are you productive -- or just busy?  Watch out for this one, because it's an easy trap to fall into.  Everybody likes to look busy.  Some workers make a career out of it while actually accomplishing very little in the average day.  People zoom around the office, guzzling coffee and stomping back and forth to the copier; they scatter paper across every inch of their desks; and they furiously clack away at their keyboards while they talk on the phone.  Busy, busy, busy! But having lots of plates spinning at once doesn't necessarily mean anything was accomplished.  We all know what it's like to have a really busy day, but still feel like we've accomplished very little and were unproductive all day. Set your … [Read more...]

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Poor Communication Can Kill Personal Productivity

Posted on 05/07/2012 by ·

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate." -- Actors Strother Martin and Paul Newman at various times during the film Cool Hand Luke, 1967 "It seems rather incongruous that in a society of super-sophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners." -- Erma Bombeck, American humorist. "Communication—the human connection—is the key to personal and career success." -- Paul J. Meyer, American motivational guru. Most people just don't talk anymore. Oh, we blather on about this and that, but too often we don't actually communicate. Even in our private conversations, it sometimes seems like too much effort to say more than the bare minimum; and of course, really getting into a conversation takes away from our limited store of time. How ironic that in the … [Read more...]

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Do You Have Written Goals?

Posted on 05/04/2012 by ·

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), discusses the importance of having written goals. (C) 2011 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

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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...]

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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...]

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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...]

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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...]

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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...]

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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...]

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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...]

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