5 Productivity Tips to Win at Work

At CoCreativ, we believe in helping you be more productive; because when you get things done every day feels like Friday. As small business owners ourselves, we understand how easy it is to be pulled in multiple directions with your business and then feel like you’re not getting as much done as you’d like. That’s why we’re sharing our team’s favorite productivity tips to win your workday!

Productivity Tip #1: Embrace the Power of ‘No’
For some people, the most productive thing they can do at work is to learn to say ‘no’. You can’t be productive when you’re taking on too much. Less is more! Instead of trying to get too much done, say no to non-essential items so you can focus on your priorities.

For example, if you don’t ‘have a second’, say when would be a better time. If you say ‘yes’, you may feel helpful, but it diverts your attention from the current task at hand. Then you’ll have to get that momentum back again. ‘Yes’ is a slippery slope that can lead to a sense of overwhelm, burn out, and could stunt the growth of your business.

Productivity Tip #2: Flip the Meeting
In a recent study, nearly 60% of Americans workers say that meetings are what get in the way of work most! If you’re in meetings most of your workday, you may notice a pattern of ‘planning the plan’ of what to get done. When this happens, you’re more likely to leave the meeting without real progress being made.

To be more productive at work, change the way you approach meetings. Flip the meeting and create a shared agenda so everyone comes prepared with their proposed action items already in place. Then based on the agenda, the team can determine if a sit-down meeting is even needed or if the meeting merits 20 minutes instead of the hour you have blocked off.

Flipping the meeting maintains focus on results and accountability for next steps, rather than rehashing tasks.  Another quick tip? Simply cut all meeting times by half to keep everyone aligned on the task at hand.

Productivity Tip #3: Schedule Everything
Bring a notepad with you for meetings and calls to write down any action items. This isn’t your typical to-do list though because we recommend that you schedule everything from the notes on your calendar, and then throw the list away!

When you schedule the items on your list, you can prioritize items, things don’t fall through the cracks, and you’ll get a better idea of how long your projects truly take you. The caveat is: when you’ve scheduled a project that you’re focused during that time!

Add in a 15 minute break in between items on your calendar. This way, if it takes a little longer than expected the next thing doesn’t get pushed. Plus, if you have an extra 5 minutes in between work projects, perhaps you can reward yourself with social media time or by stepping away from your desk for some fresh air.

Productivity Tip #4: Eat the Big Frog First
Being productive sometimes means getting outside of our comfort zones. Brian Tracy’s book, Eat That Frog, explains that you should do the tasks on your list that you don’t want to do first.

These tedious items or harder projects may get put on the back burner in favor of other tasks that we feel more comfortable doing. Then we run the risk of never getting them done or struggling through them at the last minute fulfilling on the angst around it.

Productivity Tip #5: Review Your Productivity
It does take some effort to become more productive. Therefore, it’s important to take time to see the results of your efforts and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment; self-reflection can go a long way!

Schedule a time block at the end of each day or week to check in with yourself on what you have on your calendar. Did you get all the tasks completed? If not, schedule more time and reprioritize projects where needed. If other people are involved with the project, communicate your progress, any delays, and next steps.
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To be more productive, all the hacks and tips in the world won’t work unless you’re honest with yourself about what’s working and what’s not in your current workflows. Without self-evaluation, you can’t determine what you can feasibly get done during the work week.
Ready to see work results like never before? Honestly, simply being around like-minded business owners is the best way to get things done and succeed in your business. Give us a call at 1-888-505-OFFICE to see the difference in your work productivity when you work at a CoCreativ Tampa virtual office!