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Ten Point Productivity Tune Up
Are you getting the best possible return on your investment of time and energy? Run through this ten point checklist to see whether your productivity engine is purring along at top speed or about to seize up.
- Focus on value. Invest chunks of time in important projects that aren't yet urgent. It's the best way to keep those projects from cropping up as crises further down the road.
- Triage the work. Make time at the beginning of each month, week and day to prioritize. Refer to your lists as you start working. Use them to refocus your attention after inevitable interruptions.
- Guard your prime time. Protect it from time wasting people and piddling, low priority projects. Devote your best time to your highest level priorities.
- Delegate strategically. Share tasks – not just to get things done – but to build capacity and confidence in members of your team.
- Invest in key relationships. Not only is it personally rewarding, but connections that are well cared for are more reliable and resilient in crunch times.
- Become a groupie. Group errands and meetings. Group phone calls and your questions for others. Group tasks to create high value trips to files, fax machines and photocopiers.
- Say no. Decline requests and tasks that are: a) outside your priorities; b) easily done by someone else: or c) likely to drive you into overload.
- Clear the decks. Dejunk and unclutter your main workspace. Trash the duplicates. Toss the distractions. File according to next action required.
- Filter your e-mail. This is the electronic equivalent of having an administrative assistant prioritize your messages and trash the junk before it hits your In Box. If you don't know how, find out.
- Take your breaks. If you're skipping them, your productivity is taking a nose dive and you're headed for a crash landing.
© - Patricia Katz MCE CHRP of Optimus Consulting is a speaker, author and consultant who helps individuals and organizations restore the rhythm of renewal to work and life. To bring Patricia's expertise to your organization, contact her at www.patkatz.com or toll free at (877) 728-5289.
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Note: You are welcome to reprint or repost this article with the understanding that: 1) Optimus Consulting retains full copyright. 2) Contact information is included as it appears at the end of the article. 3) Patricia Katz of Optimus Consulting is contacted and sent a copy of the publication or notice of the link in which the article appears.
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