In the 21st century, the notion of productivity is very different from what prevailed during the late 19th and 20th centuries. It's not just about producing more widgets per hour, but about maximising the efficiency of each working day, which includes nurturing relationships with customers and/or clients, co-workers and family.
Inundated by emails, text messages, tweets, and phone calls, business owners and executives are experiencing a decline in productivity.
A typical manager is interrupted approximately seven times an hour, which adds up to 56 interruptions a day, 80% of which are considered trivial, according to time management experts.
In his new book, "The Daily Edge: Simple Strategies to Increase Efficiency and Make an Impact Every Day", author David Horsager provides thirty-five easy-to-follow strategies for overcoming inertia, prioritising and keeping mind and body refreshed and energised. The key objective is to become so effective in the little things that you have enough time for more meaningful interactions.
Perhaps it is time to set a personal or even company-wide “power hour,” during which you do not attend meetings, answer the phone, or reply to emails, creating the time and space to really focus and get things done.
As a term, ‘multitasking’ is a bit like ‘downsizing’ - a nice word for something that is not really good for most people. Modern culture, with all of our technology and time-saving gadgets, has left us with a distorted view of productivity.
Mobile phones, email, and even open office doors can invite unwanted interruptions. It's not just the time that the interruption takes, but more significant than that is the time it takes to get your mind back to a focused productive state. For every interruption it will take you 20 minutes to regain your concentration to where you were prior to the interruption!
Humans are simply more efficient and effective when they concentrate. That is, you can do five things better and faster by doing them one at a time, with your mind focused on each single task. It doesn't matter if you're working on the most important proposal of your life or an email to your manager.
Multi-tasking, simply does not work.
You will do a better job if you're focused on what is right in front of you. Decide which task gets your attention and then focus on only that one until it is finished.
Reference: David Horsager: The Daily Edge: Simple Strategies to Increase Efficiency and Make an Impact Every Day
Business Tips
The Daily Edge: How to get the Best out of Your Day
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- Parent Category: Business Tips
- Category: Time & Organisation
