5 Ways to Improve Your Productivity and Get More of the Right Stuff Done

5 Ways to Improve Your Productivity

Loretta Love Huff

The Dream Leader for Business™

One of my speaking gigs is being an Actor for a local hospital.

They give me a script and I act out various patient roles for nurses in

training or those going for a professional certification.

The hospital staff and I evaluate them and provide feedback on their patient

care style and medical expertise.

On my last gig, we were conducting certification testing for trauma nurses.

It quickly became evident that those that followed the system they had been taught,

were WAY more likely to diagnose my ailments and save my life than those who were just 'shooting from the hip' trying to figure out what was wrong with me and

what they should do about it.

That experience started me thinking about the value of process and

systems in improving productivity and efficiency at work.

Here are some tips you can apply even though you may NOT be a nurse.

1. Have a process and use it.

Shooting from the hip wastes time.

Without a process, you won't get the desired results as quickly as you

might need them.

Even for simple activities, using a framework will keep you focused, on task and produce more consistent,

reliable results.

2. Make a list of your next day high priority activities BEFORE you leave work.

This will allow you to 'hit the ground running' first thing when you get in.

You won't waste that early morning quiet time (if you have any) trying to

figure out what to focus on.

Even if, especially if, you have a full day right off the bat, knowing what you'll do

before you get in will allow you to allocate precious time more quickly than if you get

caught up in the back-to-back meeting syndrome so many people suffer from.

3. Keep the big picture in mind.

The trap many people fall into is dealing with the emergencies that

land on their desk first.

Of course, if the 'emergency' is a critical one, you will have to deal with it quickly,

but keeping your own important goals top-of-mind will help you triage situations and give things demanding your attention their

proper place in the larger scheme of things.

4. Don't answer the phone or check your email until AFTER you've done

the top thing on your list.

This may seem like sacrilege or heresy to some, but think about it...

Incoming phone calls and emails are things on the top of SOMEONE

ELSE's agenda, not yours.

This one takes courage, but if you're prioritizing things correctly, you'll

make the right decisions.

If you're really worried you'll miss something from your demanding and

irrational boss, scan your inbox if you must, but resist the urge to do anything you don't absolutely have to until you've

knocked out your top item(s).

5. Take a break every 90 minutes.

Imagine a police officer yelling this next sentence at you if you need

some outside motivation.

"Step away from the computer!"

Go outside if you can. Or just go to the restroom or some other quiet

location and relax for a bit.

Close your office door and play your favorite music video or a snippet of

an iTunes playlist.

Taking a short 10-minute break, even in the midst of a critical project, will

rejuvenate your brain cells and reignite your creativity.

Incorporate these tips and see, not only how much more you

accomplish, but also how much better you'll feel in the process.

Did you enjoy these tips?

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www.lorettalovehuffblog.com