Most productivity tips start with getting organized.
Google: How to be more productive
There are over 14 million results on Google for “how to be more productive.” Most of them look something like this: 14 tips to be more productive, including buzz words like:
Prioritize, Organize, De-clutter, Purge, Set Boundaries, Tidy Up, Throw Away, Stack, Turn on, Turn off, Line Up, Color-Code, Ask for, Say No , File, Highlight, Set Aside, Tune Out
There are literally thousand, if not millions, of tips for productivity. That’s because different things work for different people and because different people have different issues that hinder personal productivity at work. However, most workers have 1 thing in common- they all waste too much time at work. And, whether they are aware of it or not, whether they follow Tip#2073 or not, you as the manager should be aware and should take action.
- Encourage your workers to assess time-wastes in their offices or cubicles.
- Encourage them to take a few of the tips seriously and get their work spaces in order.
You can’t physically turn off their cell phones or ban personal email- and you don’t need to. Most workers resent such micromanagement, and being Big Brother doesn’t win loyal devotion anyway. You can respond to an overly stimulating (aka noisy, distracting) work place by implementing “quiet time” or a sound masking unit. Companies like IBM and Intel encourage tech-free time, where they protect their workers from interruptions (and from themselves). Other entities like hospitals, Boeing, and the Air Force installed sound masking units to cover intrusive speech and noises. That way the sales guy wouldn’t distract the writer next to him. Whether you set aside and manage time for specific tasks for your employees or provide a quieter area in which to work, bottom line it is your job to do just that- manage time better.