“We often fool ourselves into thinking we are being productive when we are simply getting ready to get ready.”
-Intentionally Refined –
Let’s be clear on one thing: Productivity at work can never be achieved when you are not willing to cooperate. Whether you are aware of it or not, we all do procrastinate. Perhaps, we may not be noticed that we are already procrastinating since some of them are small. But mind you, these small things when frequently done, it will also give a great impact to your performance at work. How much more when you are working in an SEO Company? Slacking off is a no-no, to prevent receiving calls from disappointed clients. Procrastination is a struggle you need to beat!
But if you think that procrastination is the only reason why we can be productive, then you better think again. Our attitude towards our work also matters. When we tend to be passive, sluggish and lax, then we are also losing our productivity at work. And since we are already used to that attitude, it might be difficult for us to cope with the things around us such as meeting strict deadlines. Again, you do not want to entertain angry clients.
Productivity is a major factor at work. It gives a great impact to the growth of your one’s business. However, if you think that you or your employees are already slacking off, then you have to do something to prevent such. Below, we list down top ten laws of productivity that you might want to apply to your work or business.
1. Break the seal of hesitation
Whether you realize it or not, we tend to hesitate especially when we are not sure of the things that are going to happen next. Of course, we do not want to act impulsively that might pose risk to our business. However, this can also cause some delays in our plans. We tend to lose ourselves in planning (and dreaming) indefinitely. You should break the seal of hesitation and must challenge ourselves to take some action sooner rather than later. The minute you start acting, it will give you valuable feedback that will also help you refine your original idea.
2. Start small
Itis good to think big, especially when we already have a good concept on our mind. In fact, through thinking of a bigger idea, it can give us motivation to do and achieve such goal. However, there will always be some dangers when you tend to dwell on that “big idea” of yours. Achieve such would be impossible when you do not start from scratch. Perhaps, you can do some trial and error on your plan. One way or another, you will realize that there are flaws in it that you need to improve. With that, you will learn how to improve through your personal experiences.
3. Prototype, prototype, prototype
Every successful strategy will always have a plan. A trial and error is an essential part of any creative’s life. That simply means, you have to test each strategy whether or not it applies to reach a particular goal. If there are flaws in the process of planning, then you have to improve a particular tactic to achieve the outcome that you want. A prototyping and iteration is the key to transforming a so-so idea into an effective and successful outcome. Instead of being stuck on the failures, you have to move forward and try a new strategy to make it better.
4. Create simple objectives for projects, and revisit them regularly
Whether you realize it or not, we usually have hundreds to thousands of ideas when it comes to a particular project – which leads to a bigger picture. However, if you want to have a higher possibility of success, then you need to create an objective what your project is all about. In this way, you will have a clearer view of the possible outcome.
5. Work on your project a little bit each day
When it comes to working on in-depth projects, it requires us to have a serious infusion of our creative skills – to develop an engaging business plan, or just learning a new skill. Having a momentum and the right focus is important to achieve a desirable output. But if you tend to do a serious project urgently without any assurance of success, you may not get the right result of a particular project. That simply means you have to make sure that whatever strategy you use, it should be the right one.
6. Develop a routine
Developing a routine is one way to ensure productivity at work. It is a part of being able to work on a specific project without any doing some other things that are not related to the project. Yes, having a routine can be dull and uninspiring, but it can create a founding for sparking true insight. Moreover, a routine is also helpful especially when it comes to strict deadlines to meet since there will be an assurance you will do that particular project.
7. Break big, long-term projects into smaller chunks or “phases.”
Whether you like it or not, you cannot achieve more major project when you don’t start with the smaller ones. That means you have to break the project into smaller phases for you to be able to accomplish each task faster and easier. This is also crucial when it comes to staying motivated and inspired to finish a particular project.
8. Prune away superfluous meetings (and their attendees)
There are activities such as unnecessary meetings that can drag down the productivity of one’s person. Perhaps, it is understandable why there are meetings. However, there should be a concrete reason as to why there is a meeting, and make sure that there is a clear objective on what the meeting is all about to prevent any delays with the projects.
9. Practice saying “No.’
It is nice to know that you can do anything for as long as it is related with the projected that is assigned to you. However, you also have to know that creativity is not infinite. To achieve a better outcome, you should be aware the right pacing when it comes to the tasks you are handling.
10. Remember that rules – even productivity rules – are made to be broken
Although you may have a daily routine of your work, always remember to be flexible enough when it comes to sudden changes. Your task would depend on the situation you are in. And whether you realize it or not, breaking habits offers a new perspective and helps you recharge to head back into the fray.