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Increasing Productivity: I spend waaaaay too much time on…

Posted on 07/14/2009 by ·
I Spend Waaaaay Too Much Time on

I asked readers to fill in the blank on our last monthly survey and received some great responses.  There were tons of interesting answers, but it didn’t take long to start seeing some patterns.  Read on for the seven most common responses (and what you can do about them). 1. E-mail.  Let’s face it.  E-mail can be a phenomenal productivity tool, but it will eat your day alive if you let it.  Lots of people complain that their overflowing inbox is beyond their control, but here are three steps you CAN take to start getting a handle on it right away: Do you keep one eye on your inbox all day long?  What does that do to your productivity?  If you drop everything and attend to every e-mail that comes in throughout the day, you are derailing your productivity, over and over again.  Not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance, Personal Productivity, Time Management · Tagged: , , , ,

Engaged Employees Are More Productive

Posted on 07/05/2009 by ·
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. Why do you think that is? A lot of the time, it’s just a matter of focusing on the tangible rather than the intangible. If you can improve a machine’s output by 10 percent, that’s obviously a good thing. But improving an employee’s productivity…that’s much more difficult to turn into a percentage (or a dollar figure). Regardless, it is the manager’s job to get the most out of his or her employees. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: ,

Laura Stack receives the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) in Outlook 2007 credential

Posted on 06/26/2009 by ·

The Productivity Pro(R), Inc. is delighted to announce that Laura Stack has received the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) in Outlook 2007 credential.  A Microsoft Business Certification shows employers that you have the technical skills to solve real-world problems by using advanced features of Microsoft Office programs.  Not only did she pass, but the test administrator remarked that Laura's test results were the closest to a perfect score she had ever seen on the exam. The Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) credential is a globally recognized standard that validates skills with using the 2007 Microsoft Office system and meets the demand for the most up-to-date skills on the latest technologies from Microsoft.  Candidates who successfully complete the … [Read more...]

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Time Management: Ten Reasons Tasks Never Move off Your To-Do List (and how to fix it)

Posted on 06/10/2009 by ·
Ten Reasons Tasks Never Move off Your To-Do List

I recently surveyed my readers on the eternal question of productivity: Why is it that some things on your to-do list never get done?  Some great responses rolled in, ranging from the classic (too many interruptions) to the matter-of-fact (I don’t feel like doing it).  But as diverse as the responses were, it didn’t take long to see certain themes emerge.  Below are the top ten issues at the heart of the problem and some guidance on how to deal with them. 1. You haven’t made the necessary decisions.  Your to-do list should be full of clear, actionable ideas—in other words, things you can actually do.  If you have a vague goal, like “Have a sale,” you’ve still got a lot of thinking to do before you can hit the ground running and make real progress.  Take a minute to figure out exactly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance, Personal Productivity, Time Management · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Business productivity: The Productivity Minute #14: Obsessive Compulsive Social Media Disorder

Posted on 06/05/2009 by ·

Obsessive Compulsive Social Media Disorder You absolutely need a presence in social media as a business strategy, but do you have Obsessive Compulsive Social Media Disorder? Listen to Laura Stack explain how you can be involved in social media without living in social media. Learn how to increase efficiency, reduce multi-tasking and reduce wasted time using social media. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity, Time Management, Tools & Systems · Tagged: ,

Performance Improvement: The Productivity Minute #13—Daily routines and morning rituals

Posted on 05/27/2009 by ·

Performance Improvement. The Productivity Minute #13: Daily routines and morning rituals What are you rituals and routines? Maybe coffee, socializing, facebook, twitter, email...and then it's lunchtime...and you've accomplished nothing of any significance. Watch this video and learn how to shake up your routine and boost your productivity. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity, Performance, Personal Productivity ·

National Leave the Office Earlier Day is June 2! Celebrate with Founder Laura Stack

Posted on 05/19/2009 by ·

Pledge to work only eight hours on Tuesday, June 2 (versus your normal 10-14) and receive a FREE 10-day eCourse on “How to Leave the Office Earlier,” and be registered to win valuable productivity prizes from Day-Timer®! June 2nd was designated as National Leave the Office Earlier Day in 2004 by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, bestselling author and a leading authority on productivity and workplace issues.  The annual event, which is officially listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events, is intended to focus workers on improving their personal productivity and asks them to commit to working no more than eight hours on that day. “The eight-hour workday remains a myth to many working Americans,” says Stack. “But by implementing some simple strategies and tactics, even the most overworked and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Life Balance, Personal Productivity · Tagged: , , ,

Microsoft Email: The Productivity Minute #12: Curing the “Reply to All” Sickness

Posted on 05/15/2009 by ·

Don't you hate it when someone sends an email to 15 people asking for input and someone hits "Reply to All" and creates a huge volley of 47 messages later?  AAAAAAH!  In this episode, Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), gives three better ways to handle email when you need to get ideas from a group of people.  (C) 2009 Laura Stack.  All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity, Time Management, Tools & Systems · Tagged: , , ,

Increasing productivity: 55-1/5 Ways to Boost Productivity Today!

Posted on 05/07/2009 by ·

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 e-mail. Do … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Leadership & Teamwork, Performance, Personal Productivity, Time Management · Tagged: , , ,

Check out PRODUCTIVE! Magazine

Posted on 05/06/2009 by ·

Download a free PDF of a great new magazine---PRODUCTIVE! magazine.  First two editions available.  I'm delighted to be listed on the blog roll and look forward to contributing.  Their stated mission: Our Mission: Productive Magazine is a platform where the top productivity bloggers will share their best productivity principles and tips’n'tricks. Let’s help everyone get more done and be more productive! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance, Tools & Systems · Tagged: ,