In the past, productivity in the workplace was often equated with working hard, putting in long hours and being constantly busy. Today, productivity hinges on the concept of working smarter, not longer.

Less busy – more efficient

Being busy has erroneously been associated with productivity. “Productivity is all about efficiency − doing more, faster and with less”, says entrepreneur, David Lavenda. Today employee productivity is an assessment of the efficiency of a worker and of his or her output in a specific period of time.

Entrepreneurs and successful businessmen and women all have one characteristic in common: they diligently manage their time and are highly efficient in what they do!

The following workplace productivity tips may help you achieve the same success:

Establish a routine

Set up a routine that incorporates both your private life (time with the family etc) and your professional or work life (commuting to work and back, first thing you do on reaching the office, etc). Stick to it as far as possible. Without a routine your life can become chaotic very quickly and you will struggle to balance life at home and at work.

Quit procrastinating

There are many ways in which workers procrastinate; dawdle, delay and put off starting or finishing their work. In its most modern form, wasting time on non-work related activities is called digital procrastination. It is described as the overwhelming need to make numerous quick checks of personal email, voicemail, text notifications, Facebook and Twitter, throughout the day. This is a known productivity killer!

Stay on track

Do not allow incoming e-mails or even phone calls to break your concentration and interrupt your focus. Set aside a specific time each day for responding to work-related emails and answering important phone calls. Control the flow and don’t let the flow control you! Keep your goals in sight at all times and stay on track.

Don’t multitask

Make it a personal habit to commit to a single task before moving on to the next. Psychologists warn that attempting to do several tasks at once can result in lost time and productivity. Even renowned author Charles Dickens had to admit:

“I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.”

Manage your time

Make the most of the time at your disposal; manage it and don’t waste it. Focus on what really matters and make sure the things that take up your time are aligned with your priorities. If not, eliminate or delegate them. There are many different time-management methods and techniques that you can use so check them out. “Disciplined use of the time everybody else wastes can give you an edge”, says entrepreneur, business coach and consultant, Dan Kennedy. Don’t fall for the trap of working longer and longer hours; work smarter.

Minimise distractions

This means no phones, no email checking, no chatting. This may sound harsh but it is effective and will help up your productivity. If you have your own office, close the door and place a “do not disturb” sign on the door.

Take regular breaks

Research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks will do more to help you maintain a constant level of performance whereas working at a task without breaks leads to a steady decline in performance.

Avoid meetings

“Meetings are one of the biggest time-sucks around”, warns John Rampton. Avoid them at all costs, where possible.

Get the blood pumping

A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that exercising, preferably before work or during your lunch break may actually help clear your head, get your focus back and improve your productivity.

Plan tomorrow – today

Prepare for the next day before leaving the office and definitely before you hit the sack!

 

Sources

 

Fell, J. One way to beat bad online habits and be more productive. Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/video/240112
Kennedy, D. 2013. Time management techniques. Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229772
Lavenda, D. Ten simple productivity tips for organising your work life. Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242359
Rampton, J. Fifteen ways to Increase productivity at work. Retrieved from: www.inc.com/john-rampton/15-ways-to-increase-productivity-at-work.html