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Burning the Daylight Oil

Posted on 08/15/2011 by ·

"The early bird gets the worm." -- Traditional Western proverb. "By getting up early in the morning, one also gets more time at his disposal for work as compared to late-risers. Scholar and thinkers get up early in the morning and contemplate." -- Rig Veda, Hindu sacred verses. You've got to admire those night owls—the co-workers who stay well past quitting time to get their work done, displaying an impressive level of productivity in the process. But if you don't fit that mold, there's no reason to let them hog all the glory. You can hit the ground running as the sun comes up, and get a head start by burning the daylight equivalent of their midnight oil. Your goal here is to get into the office before your co-workers do, so you'll have that quiet, pristine time all to yourself before … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged:

Four Things to Stop Doing at Work

Posted on 08/12/2011 by ·

"Ill habits gather by unseen degrees/As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." -- John Dryden, English poet (Absalom and Achitophel, 1681) Have you updated your NOT-to-do list lately? Most of us are pretty good about compiling daily to-do lists to guide our workflow, and there's no denying that those lists are vital for maximizing productivity. However, in many ways, a list of things you refuse to do is just as important. A not-to-do list doesn't have to be fancy. You simply start by writing down the time-stealing behaviors that you prefer not to take part in; then you review and revise your list periodically, to make sure you don't accidentally slip into habits that damage your productivity and keep you at work too long. Obviously, not-to-do lists will vary from person to person, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity, Time Management · Tagged: , , ,

Tracking Down People For Follow-Ups, Answers, Reminders: Creating An Effective Babysitting System

Posted on 08/12/2011 by ·
Tracking Down People For Follow-Ups, Answers, Reminders: Creating An Effective Babysitting System

Modern business protocols often require high levels of teamwork in order to achieve the company's goals. More than ever, workers interact like cogs in a machine, and most of us have to mesh with lots of other cogs in order to get our work done. Fair enough, assuming everything runs smoothly. But as we all know, human beings don't always work together with mechanical efficiency. Occasionally, things get caught up in the metaphorical gears, causing work to slow—or even stop. This might happen, for instance, if someone doesn't get a piece of information to you when you need it. Similarly, if a supplier can't provide a certain part or computer program, you may be stuck waiting. And if a project needs approval to proceed, and you don't have it, then find yourself at someone else's mercy. If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged:

Time Management at Work: Mobile Technology for HR Professionals

Posted on 08/10/2011 by ·

So many of my readers are HR professionals, so I like to keep an eye out for technologies and tips on how to improve productivity in that area. Moblie technologies for specific industries are exploding on the market today, and HR apps can be very useful for busy professionals. As the HR Analyst at Software Advice, Kyle Lagunas regularly writes HR software reviews on his blog. Recently, he highlighted a few of his favorite mobile apps for HR professionals so I wanted to share his article with you. Please let me know if you've tried any of these apps and let me know what you think! Human Resources Goes Mobile: Highlighting Top HR Apps … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged: ,

What Does Office Clutter Cost You?

Posted on 08/09/2011 by ·

According to a recent CareerBuilder study, clutter could be costing you quite a bit! More than a quarter of employers said they are less likely to promote someone who has a messy work space. A large percentage of employers also feel that having paper piles on desks gives them a more negative impression of those workers. Surpisingly, a third of workers admit to having hoarding tendencies with 13% saying they have files which are more than five years old. If you're facing challenges with office clutter, we've got help for you! Spend an hour with me on my pre-recorded webinar "Organize Your Office and Your Life: Survive Information Overload and Clear the Clutter." You'll learn expert tips on keeping the clutter at bay so that you have more time to tackle that to-do list! … [Read more...]

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

How To Manage Crises While Maintaining Workplace Productivity

Posted on 08/05/2011 by ·
How To Manage Crises While Maintaining Workplace Productivity

As much as we try to structure our work time, there's no scheduling the unexpected. Emergencies and other crises overwhelm us all occasionally; unfortunately, no one has ever invented a predictive model (or crystal ball for that matter) that can actually warn us about everything that might blindside us during the average business day. In a perfect world, we would expect the unexpected, since we all know from experience how quickly things can go south. But somehow, it rarely turns out that way. Ever the optimists, most of us look forward to the workday proceeding smoothly and according to plan, so we can keep to our schedules and maximize our productivity. And sure, optimism has its good points; but sometimes, we let a positive, can-do attitude blind us to the reality that things can and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged:

Productivity Minute Video: Take Back Your Time From Technology

Posted on 08/02/2011 by ·

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R) discusses the use of technology and how to keep it from controlling your time. (C) 2011 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

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

Interview with Women’s Insight Project

Posted on 08/01/2011 by ·

I recently spoke with Jennifer Ward of the Women's Insight Project about tuning a childhood vision into reality. If you feel stuck in your current situation, get off your butt and MOVE! It takes effort. You can choose to sit in front of the TV or choose to take action." —Laura Stack, President, The Productivity Pro, Inc. Read the full article HERE. Make it a Productive Day™! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Management · Tagged: ,

Laura Stack’s EFFICIENCY DIGEST: July 2011

Posted on 07/29/2011 by ·

While we commend you for setting proper boundaries and not getting caught in digital quicksand, here’s a little digest so you can catch-up with Laura all in one place … what WILL you do with the extra time YOU have? Productivity Pro® Blog Leaders: Get More Done Through Others! How Micromanagement Can Kill Productivity & Creativity Productivity Minute Video: Procrastination – Can We Talk About This Later? SuperCompetent Speaking: How to Cram LOTS of Information in Limited Time During Which Period of the Day DO YOU Feel Most Productive? Facebook Fan Page Laura Stack > I'm pleased to be featured with fellow National Speakers Association board member and legendary speaker Brian Tracy in the Success Magazine Audio Series "Boost Your Productivity." Laura Stack > You … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Management · Tagged:

Lessons from the 2010 American Time Use Survey

Posted on 07/28/2011 by ·

"The business of the United States is business." -- Calvin Coolidge and several other American presidents "Last year continued to show the effects of the weak economy. The amount of time spent watching T.V. and other nonproductive activities remains extraordinarily high." -- Alan Krueger, American economist, in response to the 2010 American Time Use Study. "On an average day, 20 percent of men did housework -- such as cleaning or doing laundry -- compared with 49 percent of women." -- Citation from the 2010 American Time Use Study. On June 22, 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the results of its annual American Time Use Survey (ATUS) for 2010. A yearly tradition since 2003, ATUS offers a fascinating glimpse into the ways that Americans spend an average day. This time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity, Life Balance · Tagged: