Ultimate Productivity
Create a More Productive and Fulfilling Business (and Life) Next Year
By Claudine Motto
As the end of the year approaches, our thoughts turn to what we need to do to make next year better and more productive. The problem is, when we think productivity, we tend to forget that true productivity is the result of many different factors, different links in a chain that are interconnected and affect one another, and go beyond your “gadgets” and “systems.”
When clients tell me they know they need to make changes so they can become more productive and organized, I take them through my “7S Business Productivity Checklist,” which gets them thinking about all the not-so-obvious pieces that affect their ability to reach their goals. Use it to craft your very own “Ultimate Productivity Plan” for the year coming.
Surroundings – take a look at your office – or wherever it is you spend most of your time working.
This is the time to take an objective and realistic inventory of the essentials every business owner should have: a desk spacious enough to work on comfortably, sufficient filing and storage space so that files are easy to access and look organized, pleasing wall colors, proper lighting that isn’t too harsh or too low, working equipment well suited to your needs, and a comfortable chair.
Take your working space seriously – spending hours in a crowded, uncomfortable, or unattractive space saps you of inspiration, makes you less productive, and can affect your well-being.
Self – take inventory of your habits and beliefs – list the habits that worked well for you in the last year, and how they benefitted you, and those that did not work well for you, and how they kept you from growing. Then do the same for your beliefs – list the ones that encourage you and push you forward, and those that you’re using as crutch and keep you from doing what you know you need to do.
Your habits and thoughts affect the choices you make, the possibilities that present themselves to you, and the results you can get – being aware of them can help you reinforce the positive ones and eliminate the ones that keep you from being your best.
Schedule – take inventory of how you spend your time – look at your general work schedule, as well as activities you participated in.
Be selective with your commitments – see if you can eliminate any meetings, networking events, or volunteer activities that don’t leave you feeling energized, or are no longer providing any benefit. And if you’ve been wanting to make changes in your general work routine (for example, taking a pre-determined afternoon break and then putting in a few hours in the evening, perhaps because that’s when you feel most alert) now’s the time to see how you can make the switch as slowly as you need to.
Social – take inventory of the people in your life – who has made a positive impact on you by encouraging and believing in you? Who has made you feel less than great? Who can you count on to be truthful with you when you ask for advice?
Surround yourself with those who inspire you to succeed and be your best – go out of your way to make sure they’re always in your radar screen by putting them into your calendar and staying in touch.
Situations – take inventory of the situations in your business that you are you tolerating but know you need to do something about. Perhaps you have employees, partners, or vendors, who are not coming through the way you expected. Or perhaps you have not come through and need to clear the air and make right.
Unresolved issues take up mental space and energy, and are bad for business – pursue the solutions.
Structures – take inventory of the major “structures” of your business – like your customer service, products, and marketing. What processes are wasting time, or are overly complicated? Where do you need to improve? Which structures have you neglected?
Simplify and standardize whenever possible – and listen to feedback from your customers, who can tell you which processes take too many steps or seem disorganized.
Skills – take inventory of your skills – what do you need to learn, or get better at, so that you can create better results?
List the big skills (like becoming better at sales, or speaking in public, for example) but don’t forget the every-day skills that so many business owners put on the backburner – like mastering the software you rely on, learning how to process emails and paperwork quickly and effectively, or learning how to keep your space and files accessible and organized. These skills affect not only how much you can accomplish, but how in control you feel.
Now that you have your master plan, don’t let it overwhelm you – it is meant to inspire you and remind you of what’s important to you. Prioritize it, starting with the change that you most need to make, or the one that will make the most impact for your time and effort. And then work through the list – even if you make just one significant change this coming year, you will be better than you were the year before. And that’s something to celebrate.
Happy Holidays, and may this coming year bring you productivity in your business, and happiness in your life.
2010 Claudine Motto, All Rights Reserved.
Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto helps home office geniuses, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals get organized and in control of their workload so they can reach their goals with less struggle and less stress. She offers one-on-one coaching and group training programs – please visit http://www.vistalnorte.com or call 561-641-9500 for more information, to sign up for her monthly newsletter, or to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.