We all have those days: we show up to work after not getting enough sleep, or getting too much, and find ourselves with our chin in our palm staring blankly at the screen. While it’s hard to get out of this mood, as we try to keep our eyes from falling shut, we have to keep these principles and quotes in mind for when we wake up and get back at it.
1. We should hold periodic meetings
Meetings are a great way to touch base with our team and make sure that everybody is on the right track. Keep in mind, however, that most actual work gets done outside of these meetings.
As Thomas Sowell said: “The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.”
Let’s keep meetings brief, with a clear focus, and make sure to summarize key takeaways at the end to ensure everyone is on the same page.
2. We need to test new ideas
We should be careful not to get comfortable simply doing what’s “good enough”. Let’s make sure to continuously test new ideas in search of a more productive or efficient method to complete our workflow.
Mark Zuckerberg was right when he said, “In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
3. We mustn’t multitask
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand,” said Alexander Graham Bell, “the sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
When approaching our work, we should give our full attention to one task at a time. Time spent transitioning between tasks can add up to hours out of your day. Not to mention, when we dedicate our focus to a single task, we’ll surely produce higher-quality results.
4. We need to give ourselves a break
If we find that our productivity has hit the wall, let’s try getting away from our desk and giving our mind a chance to refresh. We need to take a a nap or spend the day at home.
“Being lazy does not mean that you do not create. In fact, lying around doing nothing is an important, nay crucial, part of the creative process. It is meaningless bustle that actually gets in the way of productivity. All we are really saying is, give peace a chance.” -Tom Hodgkinson
5. We have to “Automate”
With so much new technology, many human processes can now be replaced with apps and programs. Where automation isn’t possible, we can try to create a simple process that can be recreated.
“Improved productivity means less human sweat, not more,” said Henry Ford.
The easier our process becomes to repeat, the more time we’ll make for what’s most important.
6. We should delegate when possible
A wise man, J. Paul Getty, once said, “I’d rather have 1 percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of my own efforts.”
He had a good point. Our energy should be put to use to accomplish tasks that require our brainpower and expertise. Keep in mind, once we delegate a task, we have to let our team take care of it. Hovering over the tasks once we past them down wastes as much time as keeping them on our desk to do ourselves.
7. “Never mistake motion for action”
Just because we’re writing a to-do list and organizing our email doesn’t mean we’re actually getting things done. Let’s put aside small distracts that get us off track, and make sure we recognize the difference between busywork and actually getting work done. Do we really need to color code those sticky notes?
8. We should get to work early
Our hours probably look like something from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Rather than walking in the door at 8:59 AM so we can clock in right as the clock strikes 9, let’s try showing up 10-15 minutes early. This will give us time to focus in on the work in front of us, so we can hit the ground running as soon as we punch in for the day.
Now perk up! It’s time to get started.
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