What are you working on? Are you making the progess you need to? If not, take a look at what you can do differently to improve your productivity. One small change can make a big difference.
Here are some important insights for personal productivity in the office:
- Focus on the benefits of accomplishing the task or project - What will you or the business gain by accomplishing your task? Or what will you risk losing by not doing it? Remind yourself of why the project is important.
- Minimise distractions - It's easy to get more done when you don't have access to your phone or email. Note what tends to distract you the most. It might be your own phone or email, or your assistant. Perhaps there are other visual or audible distractions in your environment that you need to address.
- Establish boundaries - Know when you are at your best during the day. Guard that time. For example, if you know you are most productive between 9am and 11am, request that you are not to be disturbed during that time if at all possible.
- Be disciplined - If you know you want to accomplish something important, make it a priority. Take a small action each day to make progress.
- Take breaks - If you're like many leaders, this is tough for you to do because you're conditioned to be "in motion" - pushing things forward, driving results, etc. Taking short breaks (or long ones if you need them) can help you sharpen your thinking, reduce stress and increase your energy to be more productive.