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Making Time for Strategy and Tactics

Posted on 04/10/2013 by ·

"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved." -- Sun-Tzu, Chinese strategist. "Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in." -- Napoleon Bonaparte, French general and (later) Emperor Which function should demand the lion's share of a leader’s time: short-term tactics, or long-term strategy? The short answer, as is often the case, is “it depends.” Good leadership requires a continual balancing act. On the one hand, you've got to keep the team fueled up and running smoothly on a day-to-day basis; on the other, you have to set strategic priorities and plan for the future. For those at the executive leadership level, the stakes become especially high. Let's look at a few points … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Leadership & Teamwork · Tagged: , ,

Helping You Helps Me

Posted on 04/08/2013 by ·

In some situations, the concept of taking accountability for productivity and performance extends beyond your own job—especially when you find yourself in a leadership position—and team productivity becomes paramount. In situations like these, doing your job well also means helping others do their jobs better and more efficiently, so their performance dovetails with yours in a satisfyingly synergistic way. Carefully cultivated, the result can be a fruitful cycle of productivity, forming a positive feedback loop that expands into all aspects of the workflow process, making work life easier for all involved. As a manager, you must constantly refine your organization’s workflow processes and streamline your systems. Actively pursue opportunities to eliminate nagging time bandits, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged:

Strategic Planning, Then and Now

Posted on 04/03/2013 by ·

"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy." -- Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, nineteenth century Prussian Field Marshal. "Plans are nothing; planning is everything." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower, American five-star Army general and 34th President of the United States. Recently, the concept of strategic planning has become a popular business focus, especially among companies scrambling to keep up with our brave new world's frantic pace. We've always practiced strategic planning at some level, of course, but what we meant by the term a few years ago barely resembles today's reality. This should come as no surprise in an era when last week's smartphone can't even run this week's apps. Once upon a time, strategic planning was a leisurely process, hidebound and bureaucratic. Some managers … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: ,

No, It’s Not ADD or OCD!

Posted on 04/01/2013 by ·

"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things." -- Henry David Thoreau, American philosopher "It is very difficult to be learned; it seems as if people were worn out on the way to great thoughts, and can never enjoy them because they are too tired." -- George Eliot, British novelist Inattentiveness and impulsivity aren't just symptoms of psychological disorders like ADD and OCD; indeed, they also apply to many people in the workplace. The go-go-go nature of modern business, with its constant stress and distraction, drives this pseudo-disorder—and it'll kill productivity if you let it. External factors like background noise, foot traffic, visitors, and ringing phones jerk you out of your productive trance, while internal distractions such … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged: , , ,

Voluntary vs. Involuntary Attention: What Grabs Your Focus

Posted on 03/27/2013 by ·

"I'm so poor I can't even pay attention." -- American folk saying. "The cobra feeling is an almost muscular albeit mental bearing-down on a subject or object, which you rise above, hood flaring to block distractions, and hold steady in your unblinking focus." -- Winifred Gallagher, author of Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life. What we call "civilization" dates back no more than a few thousand years—and in many ways, our biology has not yet caught up to our culture. Back in our nomadic hunter-gatherer days, Mother Nature shaped us to respond to the natural environment in ways that kept us safe. Those who listened to their protective instincts lived to fight another day—and to have babies. When a dry whirring at your feet meant Snake! and a glimpse of movement out of the corner of your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged: , ,

How NOT to Decide What to Do Next

Posted on 03/25/2013 by ·

"Procrastination in the name of reducing risk actually increases risk." -- Colin Powell, retired American four-star general and former Secretary of State. "Many people go through life making nothing but 'if' decisions. These are not decisions for success but preparations for failure." -- Zig Ziglar, American motivational guru. It happens every day: You finish a task, check it off your list, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Great—now what? It’s important to quickly decide what to do next. But it's equally important to decide what NOT to do next. Making the right choice can be difficult when you’re drawn to distraction, react to requests, or randomly select the next task. We must choose the correct course of action by design, not by default. So I’d like to give you some guidance on how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged: ,

The Anchor of Procrastination: How Dragging Your Heels Weighs You Down

Posted on 03/22/2013 by ·

There may be a few perfect employees out there who have never once dragged their heels on a task…but I doubt it. While procrastination is nothing to brag about, we all do it—some more than others. Sometimes procrastination seems reasonable: when work is scarce and efficiency will put us out of a job; when we fear a backlash for being too efficient later on; or when our personal circumstances force us to cut back to a more realistic workload. Sometimes, though, the self-imposed anchor of procrastination stems from more unworthy factors. We may hate a task, find it difficult, or simply want to duck the responsibility. Other factors holding us back can include: • Workload • Fear • Inertia • Lack of self-confidence • Uncertainty • Perfectionism • Distraction • Excessive time pressure • High … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged:

How to Be a Fixer, Not a Finger-Pointer

Posted on 03/20/2013 by ·

"When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself." -- Louis Nixer, noted American trial lawyer. "I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the suspicion or dislike to the one who found pleasure in pointing out the defects of another." -- Jane Porter, nineteenth century Scottish novelist and dramatist. Few of us truly appreciate criticism, because no matter how valid or constructive, it can be embarrassing or annoying (especially when someone fails to offer a solution to the perceived problem). Poking holes in something is much easier than repairing them—yet most critics don't let that stop them. Hence the saying, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach; … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: ,

New iPhone App for The Productivity Minute Podcast

Posted on 03/19/2013 by ·

We've got a new iPhone app for our Productivity Minute audio podcast! Boost your personal productivity any time with a quick productivity tip from Laura Stack! Instructions: 1. On your iPhone, visit http://theproductivitypro.podbean.com/mobile/. 2. Click the arrow button to add the Quick Launch icon to your home screen. 3. Visit the app and listen to The Productivity Minute at your convenience! You can also sign up for FREE to watch the Productivity Minute videos. When you sign up, you'll receive a weekly email with a link and password for that week's video.  Enjoy a year's worth of productivity tips! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged: , ,

Customer Engagement Magazine Special Promotion

Posted on 03/18/2013 by ·

To help you get to where you want to go faster and easier I struck a deal with Customer Engagement Magazine to give you 3 months access on your iPad. They just featured me in a video interview and I think it can help your business. This is a new premier multi-media magazine that features Business Executives, Business Owners & Industry Experts that are passionate about The Customer Experience throughout the Solution Lifecycle leading to True Customer Loyalty. This magazine helps Business Owners and Executives: Build a Team of Success Oriented Customer Driven Employees; Build Solutions Customers are Excited about Using; Build Marketing Programs that add value; and, Build a Sales Process that helps customers make an informed buying decision. This is accomplished through a Blue … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged: