Six weeks into the new year, many people are already feeling overwhelmed. The relaxed feeling of the holiday season has become a distant memory, along with their pledges to improve work practices. To regain balance, here are some helpful tips:
Time is flexible
There is always time to do what you want - it's just a matter of priorities, says consultant Mark Harrison in Dumb Little Man blog. If something is really important, you can find the time for it; if you can't, you probably don't want to do it, or find it too boring or difficult. "You can't do everything, but you can do what matters," he stresses.
The clock wins
Don't try to race against the clock because the clock will always win, Mr. Harrison adds. Deadlines are fine and necessary in many instances, but don't allow your life to be a series of constant deadlines. Focus on how well you do things, rather than how long it takes, and you will be more effective.
Say yes instead of no
If you take on too much work because you can't say no, then say yes instead - but a carefully circumscribed yes, advises consultant Ann Gomez in her e-newsletter. Consider whether you can help someone by doing a piece of what is needed.
Don't offer prime time
If you must say yes to a colleague's request for a meeting, try to keep it out of prime time, Ms. Gomez also suggests. If you are available only before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., the individual might be more inclined to keep the conversation tight.
Plan transition time
Life will seem less hectic, and you'll wind up coming later to fewer meetings, if you plan for the transition time - the time it takes to get where you are going or is required to shuffle between meetings, consultant Peter Bregman notes on Harvard Business School blogs.
End on the quarter-hour
If you schedule meetings to end 15 minutes after the hour - say, 10:15 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. - you'll find you'll get a little breathing room: People who look up your schedule in group calendars won't set the next meeting they need with you back-to-back, but will leave a few minutes that you can use as a break, consultants Jason and Jodi Womack note. So the next meeting will be set for 10:30, instead of 10:15. "We're not sure why this is, but it's true," they write in their e-newsletter. .
Conquer your inbox
If your inbox is depressingly overcrowded, try the system that productivity writer Gina Trapani recommends on FastCompany.com. Start to use your e-mail inbox like your postal box, emptying it every single time you check it. Make three folders in your e-mail box: to-do, reference, and wait. If you can quickly respond to an e-mail when reading it, do so. If the message is about a task you need to complete, put it in to-do. If it's about something you are waiting for, put it in the wait folder and maybe on your calendar. Everything else goes in reference - your library of e-mail you can search any time.
Power Points
How do you spell productivity?
Productivity in 11 words: One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now. Skelliewag.org
Employees trust bosses who answer constructively
The biggest driver of employee trust is the extent to which leaders respond constructively to employees who bring them work-related problems. In a survey, consultant Mark Murphy notes, that factor ranked 10 times higher than whether or not employees saw the boss as honest and truthful. Leadership IQ newsletter
Read your audience and change your play
We were reminded of the importance of audibles during the Super Bowl - the instances when a quarterback assesses the opposition's defence, and changes the play at the line of scrimmage. Consultant Dave Paradi says you need to have that same facility for reading your audience - and changing your plan - at presentations. Design a talk that has several different modules, and ask the audience where they want to go next. As well, when the audience is not reacting the way you expect, press the "B" key on your keyboard to blank the screen and ask them a question to start discussion. ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com
