I’ve never really been the best or smartest at anything but usually found a way to be effective through a strong work ethic. As I was promoted to more senior roles, my way of coping to the increased targets and responsibilities would be to essentially work harder. Then in 2006 everything changed while I had a job in a significant leadership position - I burnt out.
Start with intent
Sunday 2nd April marks the end of daylight saving for the south-eastern states of Australia. By turning our clocks backwards 1 hour we gain an extra hour. What will you do with the extra hour? Do you plan to intentionally do something or will the hour just come and go without doing anything in particular?
Too much work or just ineffective?
How to stop wasting time in 3 simple steps
With too many unnecessary meetings, emails and interruptions there’s so much time wasted at work that it’s hard to get everything done in the allotted hours. To survive in an environment like this, workers either work longer hours, produce work to a lesser quality due to being rushed or miss deadlines altogether.
The most stupid time management rule ever
We are all different, with different needs, preferences and pressures. Many productivity programs deliver a ‘one size fits all’ approach that works for some but not for all. I believe modern productivity needs a more tailored and flexible approach aligned to how the individual works best. The most stupid time management rule ever is to assume that one size fits all.
How to stop forgetting to action important tasks
Which tasks do you need to embrace?
The first 14 years of my life were on a 1200 acre farm in Clarkefield which is a small town with a population of 430. It was great place to grow up as I was always experiencing lots of different adventures, but I also responsible for various chores. Values that are important to me today were instilled in me from life on the farm.
Are exceptions restricting your productivity?
How to stop overpromising and underdelivering
Do you find it frustrating dealing with people or companies who overpromise and underdeliver? We either don’t have the time or simply can’t be bothered having to tolerate those who damage their credibility or trust. Look at the share market as an example. Case in point is November 2015 when electronics retailer Dick Smith didn’t meet previously set expectations. This resulted in the market reacting savagely and slashing the share price by 50%.
What's your excuse for not getting work done?
If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse - Jim Rohn
Excuses paralyse productivity and progress. At work the 2 biggest excuses are:
- I’m too busy
- I don’t have enough time
Improve clarity to improve results
There’s an old saying about not being able to see the woods for the trees. I reflect on this because I think it’s hard to have clarity when feeling a sense of overwhelm. This is especially true at work. It would be less than ideal if a minority of workers felt overwhelmed but it’s a real issue when two-thirds of the workforce are overwhelmed. (Source: Deloitte 2014 Human Capital Trends Study).
With productivity outcomes are more important than speed
I’m not trying to offend anyone but I want to share a trend emerging of how misinformed some in the workforce are becoming regarding the topic of productivity. You know the people who proudly state how productive they are because they work so fast. Now speed is an aspect of productivity but it’s only 1 element and nowhere near as important as outcomes.
Don't let complacency be your comfortable
Make progress a habit from the start of 2017
The 6 questions that dramatically changed how I work
Overworked and overwhelmed employees need help
How not to waste time at work after the Christmas break
What to do if you’re struggling to make progress
Achieving outcomes in less time in 2017
With the end of the year upon us, it’s time to assess the key pieces of work you need to complete before Christmas. If you’re behind schedule the good news is you still might have time to make an impact. Whereas if you’re fortunate to be on target or even ahead of schedule then it’s timely to plan the key outcomes you need to deliver in early 2017.
How to create an effective Weekly Plan
It’s necessary for business owners or people employed in leadership and key roles to plan effectively. A simple way to achieve this is to complement the work you schedule each day with a weekly planning regime. To take the time to reflect and strategize and set the course for next week to ensure you’re working towards achieving your key targeted outcomes. If you’re not doing this then maybe you feel you’re too busy or don’t need to do it, but with all due respect, I think that’s just excuses for not having a weekly planning process.