With the holiday season right around the corner, NOW is a great time to do some purging in the office and at home. December is a big month for donating used materials, household items and clothing---not only because of the holiday spirit of giving---but because December 31 is the last day of the year to get in your tax-deductible donations! With this in mind, do you really want to spend your precious holiday time frantically cleaning out your closets, office and basement, instead of spending it with family and friends? So start now! Do just a bit at a time so as not to become overwhelmed, but still in time to get it all done well before the end of the year. Pick one place to start like your office or your bedroom closet, or your kitchen cupboards. Really take stock of what is there. … [Read more...]
Laughter is Good for Productivity
Humor in the workplace is a productive thing, according to Psychologist Maren Rawlings from Swinburne University of Technology. In a recent study, Rawlings "found a direct correlation between the climate of good humor in a workplace and employee satisfaction." Previous research found a link between job satisfaction and productivity, so the logical leap is that humor is good for productivity. Of course this doesn't mean we can spend our entire days cracking jokes, but it says to me that we can lighten up and laugh a little. Rawlings also noted "If employers take measures to encourage a positive humor climate in the workplace, they are more likely to retain their staff." Keeping the staff you have rather than experiencing turnover is clearly more productive than re-hiring and training … [Read more...]
The Why of Productivity – Who Cares, Anyway?
Why is productivity important? More importantly, why is productivity important to you? There is not just one pat answer to this question. My “why” is likely different than your “why.” One of the keys to productivity is finding YOUR “why.” For most people, an external reason like “My boss expects more of me” is not always the most motivating factor. For me, getting to the heart of why I do what I do is most motivating. Is the need to be more productive exciting and motivating to you, or does it drain and exhaust you just thinking about it? If the latter is true for you, perhaps you haven’t gotten clear on why being productive is important. It all comes down to your personal goals and what you want the picture of your life to look like. Sure, you may need to be more productive at … [Read more...]
Results-Only Work Environment
I found an article at BNET.com very interesting. Separating hours on the job from results has been a boost to productivity in many situations. Outside of the service based or retail environments, should our productivity be based on hours spend on the job, or on what is accomplished? Some companies, like Best Buy, have implemented the Results-Only Work Environment or “ROWE,” and finding success. When I chat with audience members after giving a keynote speech, they tell me about coworkers who spend 10-12 hours a day in the office and get nothing done. That's because being physically in the office has little to do with productivity. Some people can be there ten hours a day and get virtually nothing done, while others can accomplish great amounts of work in just a few hours. Part of … [Read more...]
Paper Planners are Not Over!
I'm the Day-Timers community expert on productivity. So I asked them to put a brief survey on the Day-Timers Web site, asking, “When you think of something that you need to do, what do you usually do?” In this day and age of technology, the surprising answer was overwhelmingly “Write it down.” To date, 55% of respondents chose this option over others. This demonstrates that even with Blackberries, Outlook, cell phones and web based to-do lists, we still need and use paper and planners. Picture this…you’ve dutifully put all of your information, appointments, phone numbers etc. into your Outlook and synced the information with your handy-dandy Blackberry. All is well. You hop on a plane for a business trip, Blackberry in hand. You’ve arrived at the Miami airport and whipped … [Read more...]
Would you rather vacation with your spouse or your Blackberry?
People love their Blackberries, no doubt. A recent study confirmed this, according to an article on WCBSTV.com. They may be terrific productivity tools for some, but at what cost? The article by Scott Rapoport states “The study of 6,500 traveling executives says 35 percent of them would choose their PDA over their spouse.” Wait a minute – people would choose a communication device over a loved one? If this is true, where have we gone wrong? It is important to keep track of your business, be connected to your co-workers, clients and employers. Blackberries certainly have made this easier, particularly for those who don’t spend most of their time in the office. With this easy connectivity, are people losing the ability to know when to turn it off? It would seem that technology … [Read more...]
No Email Days?
Would you be more productive by taking a day off each week from emails? Some companies have tried to implement no-email days and have received mixed feedback. This story from ABC News tells of co-workers who discovered that they were across the hall from one another rather than across the country. It takes time to adjust, but taking a break from email can actually boost productivity and enhance your business relationships. While it may seem quicker to dash off an email, taking the time to pick up the phone to contact a client or walk down the hall to see a co-worker personalizes the contact. In this era of “crackberry” communication, it seems like a rare thing to have actual conversations with people. What would your office be like if everyone took the day off from email and just … [Read more...]
Organizing Your Blog Reading
There are many terrific blogs on the Web that I enjoy reading. However, it's easy to waste a lot of time book marking each individual blog in your “favorites,” and then visiting each one individually when you have time to do some reading. It can be even worse if you have numerous email subscriptions clogging up your inbox. When you have more than just a few blogs you like to read, make it easy on yourself and try a free, simple solution like Google Reader. Google Reader allows you to organize your favorite blogs and read them all in one place. When you subscribe to the RSS feed of a blog, instead of opting to receive emails, select Google Reader as your method of delivery. You can organize your feeds into folders much like your favorites or bookmarks in your browser. That way you can … [Read more...]
It’s OK to say “No”
Have you ever found yourself trying to make plans with a friend, just play with the kids, or do something fun for yourself, only to find your planner so full that “maybe next month” is the best you can do? If so, you probably have that old Ado Annie syndrome…you’re “just a girl who cain’t say no.” We all want to feel like great parents, accomplished at work, and like we’re giving back to the community. It is human nature to want success and to please others. It’s good to feel that way – to be ambitious, to be busy, and to get things done. But how much is too much? “Yes” is a good thing – in moderation. Productivity doesn’t mean filling every moment of every day with tasks that further some agenda. Prepare yourself for upcoming burnout if your schedule is so full that there isn’t time … [Read more...]
