{"id":6770,"date":"2017-01-19T20:26:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T20:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arliemediadesign.com\/?p=6770"},"modified":"2025-03-09T20:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T20:56:55","slug":"10-simple-ways-to-be-more-productive-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happy.co.uk\/blogs\/10-simple-ways-to-be-more-productive-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Simple Ways to be More Productive at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here are 10 of the most popular tips from this session, with feedback from our last group on what they implemented:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Cut one-hour meetings to 45 minutes: <\/strong>\u201cJust because Outlook defaults to one hour doesn\u2019t mean we have to. Our standard meeting time is now 45 minutes. An added benefit is I get 15 minutes to deal with any actions, saving me an hour or two later in the day.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Make something positive the first item on the agenda for team meetings:<\/strong> A round of \u201cnew and goods\u201d or \u201cwhat\u2019s going well\u201d as the first item on the agenda starts each session in a positive way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Cut one-to-ones to 45 minutes too:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve reduced my standard time for 1-to-1s with my people. We seem to get through as much and leave as satisfied.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. 321zero:<\/strong> This is the system I used to solve my email overload and have described it here. Open your inbox only three times a day, set a timer for 21 minutes and reduce your inbox to zero emails. Not everybody used the system exactly like that but the core points (only checking your inbox a handful of times a day and dealing with emails promptly) enabled some to say \u201cI\u2019ve got my email cracked.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Turn the email alert off:<\/strong> This is basic. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing the effect it\u2019s had, just not being continually distracted.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. No emails until 11 am:<\/strong> Instead of checking email first thing, work on your most important tasks. \u201cI\u2019ve got a lot more done.\u201d This can be formalised with \u201cEat 4 frogs.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Eat 4 frogs:<\/strong> This is the old Ivy Lee method. At the end of each day, write down the four most important tasks to complete the next day. And do those before you do anything else, including email. (Frogs because they are chewy tasks that you tend to avoid \u201ceating\u201d.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. 10 at 10:<\/strong> \u201cOnce a week we hold a ten-minute catch-up at ten o\u2019clock. It\u2019s a great way to check in and know what\u2019s going on.\u201d (Of course, in Agile environments this is often done daily.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Don\u2019t send that email:<\/strong> On the first day of the Programme, we covered the Chimp Paradox and how our initial emotional reaction doesn\u2019t get the best results. \u201cA couple of times this week I\u2019ve written an email response and then thought \u2018hang on, that\u2019s my Chimp talking\u2019. I haven\u2019t sent it, and so have avoided escalating an issue.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Time for me:<\/strong> Each participant chooses a buddy to work with throughout the programme. \u201cThat meeting with my buddy is the one time I get to put myself first, talk openly and build each other\u2019s confidence.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Other points included using Skype for meetings (to cut travel time), replacing minutes with action points, giving people equal time to speak at meetings (and don\u2019t allow interruptions), sharing the chairing of meetings around to different staff members each time, and focusing on creating a happier team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What I like is not that these revolutionary ideas, but are simple practical steps that have freed up time and enabled people to be more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Are you productive or just busy? What can you do to take control of your time and create some slack?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Related blogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n