WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY? It’s not spending time doing something.

Productivity is the power to produce outstanding results.

So what are the 10 top timewasters – the things that stop you being productive?

  1. Shifting priorities
  2. Interruptions
  3. No clear goals – lack of focus
  4. Messy desk and looking for things
  5. Procrastination
  6. Ineffective Delegation
  7. Inability to say “no”
  8. Poor planning
  9. Poor use of technology and systems
  10. Meetings

 

It is said that there is a strong link between procrastination and perfection. “If I can’t do it right I won’t do it at all.” Never let perfect get in the way of better.

A messy desk has been called “Random Access Stack Technology”. Leave things on your desk and hunt for them when you need them. Some people even have high rise versions.

You should only have on your desk what you’re currently working on. To clean up your desk the process is:

  • Toss
  • Action
    • Action Now (next two weeks)
    • Or Action in two weeks
  • Send
  • Keep

Another version of this is the 4 Ds

  • Dump
  • Delegate
  • Do it now, or
  • Decide when to do it.

On average a piece of paper is picked up six times before it is dealt with. The same could be said for reading emails. The above strategies can help you to be more productive.

Source: RSM Prince and Partners – Trial Balance Newsletter