Getting things done efficiently isn’t just about working harder, it’s about working smarter. A recent article I read by one of my favorite columnists, Ilya Pozin, got me thinking about productivity. A lot of entrepreneurs simply don't know how to be productive. They think juggling a bunch of tasks simultaneously is saving them time. It's not. I asked a few friends and co-workers what they do to supercharge their productivity. Here's what they came up with:
1. Stop Multitasking
You’re not Superman and you never will be. Trying to do too many things at one time will drastically reduce your productivity. Sharí Alexander, co-founder of Expert Message Group, says, “Many of the tasks we try to juggle are merely distractions that are disguised as important. Define what your number one priority is and don’t divert your attention to anything else.”2. Remove All Distractions
Humans are biologically hardwired to be susceptible to distractions. We literally get a shot of dopamine every time we’re pulled in another direction. Chuck Rylant, author of How to be Rich: The Couple's Guide to a Rich Life Without Worrying About Money, says the first step in removing distractions is to create a clear distinction between work and play. “When you’re working you should remove any distractions that are slowing you down, which means sign out of Facebook, put the cell phone away, and lock the door if you have to.” Same goes off the clock. “When you’re playing, it’s equally important to eliminate anything related to work.”3. Pick Up The Phone
Not to hate on technology or anything, but after a few back and forth texts or emails, it’s safe to say you should have just picked up the phone and called the person. Shawn Graham, a top marketing and brand strategist, says, “The biggest benefit of using the phone for a conversation in the business world is being able to get to know the person without having to rely on frowny face emoticons.” It’s also far less time consuming. “Unless you’re an Olympic Gold Medalist on the keyboard, a brief email exchange will almost always take longer than a quick chat over the phone.”4. Micro-Manage Yourself
Nobody likes being micro-managed by someone else, but micro-managing yourself is a highly effective way to boost productivity. Doug Tetzner, Shopify's head of Talent Acquisition, says you should create a list of everything you need to do on a given day. “Break everything down into digestible chunks that can be done in under an hour, and add some rough instructions on how to get it done – the more specific the better.” Luckily there are productivity tool like the 10x Journal, designed to help you do this. You can use the 10x Journal to write down these tasks and track your progress to stay on track.5. Don't Be A Perfectionist
6. Cut Tasks Into Small Chunks
Working nonstop isn’t productive – it’s stupid. Eric Papp, author of upcoming book Leadership by Choice, says working on a specific task in 20-minute intervals is more productive because it encourages you to focus on what’s most important. “It gives you a greater degree of focus because you have limited time, and you’ll find yourself wanting to go back and do more as opposed to being burned out.” It’s also important to take breaks throughout the day. “It’s easy to reach the saturation point, so step away from what you’re doing and take a few minutes to recharge your batteries.”
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4 comments
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March 28 2012, 02:57PM
All excellent strategies to boost productivity!
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March 29 2012, 10:37AM
I enjoyed reading the collection of tips. Thanks for the mention.
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April 12 2012, 08:39AM
Thank you for this insight / window into marketing your own business
For tip 6, I’ve found the Pomodoro extension for Chrome to be invaluable. It blocks time wasting sites when you should be working, and makes you take a break at whatever interval you specify. Very handy.