American economist Janet Louise Yellen once said, “productivity growth, however it occurs, has a disruptive side to it. In the short term, most things that contribute to productivity growth are very painful.”
Implementing new strategies to increase your productivity at work isn’t always as straightforward as wearing the same outfit each day or practising a ‘daily ritual’ as some high-profile CEOs would suggest.
Often, despite best intentions, challenging and changing the way you manage your work, and life generally, can be hard.
But with these helpful tips, and smart, innovative software tools like Xeppo, you can start increasing your productivity at work to get more out of your day, for tomorrow’s benefit.
Humans are not built for multitasking
You might feel like you’re being productive when you’re juggling 100+ tasks at once, but research indicates this is far from the reality.
Neuroscientists have shown that the human brain can’t effectively handle more than two complex, related activities at once.
When you multitask, not only are you getting through your to-do list at a slower rate, you’re also splitting the brain into smaller pieces, meaning you have fewer grey cells to tackle the work at hand.
So, how do you increase productivity? Focus on one task at a time, and you’ll actually end up completing it faster. Tools like Xeppo can help you achieve this, bringing together information from all your software into one platform and interface.
Double your productivity with the two-minute rule
Have an email, approval or phone call that you know will take less than two minutes to action? Take care of it before you even have a chance to add it to your to-do list. That’s the idea behind the two-minute rule, recommended by entrepreneur Steve Olenski.
The philosophy is that by finding and immediately completing tasks that take two minutes or less, you’ll save yourself time in the long run.
The added benefit of the two-minute rule is that research indicates two minutes is all it takes to kick-start a goal or habit. You might not be able to complete every task you start in two minutes, but it is the first step to accomplishing that goal or breaking in a new habit, essential for workplace productivity.
Take a break
Taking a break might seem like an unlikely entry on a ‘productivity tips’ list… but it’s a strategy that some of the world’s leading business professionals rely on.
Time off is an investment in yourself and your future performance. You’re more likely to have innovative ideas when you temporarily remove yourself from the daily grind.
Walking to the coffee shop, going for a jog on your lunch break, or heading off on a holiday is key to increasing your productivity at work.
Manage your energy, not your time
Know when you’re most productive, and use that to your advantage, writes Tony Schwartz in his Harvard Business Review article Manage your energy, not your time.
By matching a task to the amount of focus necessary to accomplish it, you’ll be able to plan your day and to-do list in the most productive way possible. This will enable you to be productive even once you’ve reached the inevitable 3pm slump.
Ask yourself “Is there a better way to do this?”
The old adage, ‘don’t work harder – work smarter’ couldn’t be truer when it comes to productivity at work.
Missed business opportunities due to complex procedures or out-of-date technology can be an endless source of frustration in the workplace, slowly wearing down your energy, tolerance and productivity.
Always question why you’re doing things the way you are, and be open to innovation and new ways of approaching tasks.
This is what Xeppo is all about: increasing workplace productivity by bringing together information from all of your specialist software solutions on one, integrated platform.
Contact Xeppo to find out how our connectivity can help increase your productivity at work (without having to wear the same outfit each day).