Achieving more has been a theme for many leaders I have spoken to over the past year.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on navigating hybrid working and how working remotely had to be considered at multiple levels.
It‘s great that the daily commute has been reduced for many of us. And yet – who will admit that this time has been spent working longer, rather than walking in nature or spending more time on a hobby?
Fact: Not every post you read on social media about someone‘s perfect life is true!
So, with our new norm taking shape, maybe it is time to revisit the whole productivity and energy conversation with a new lens.
A good friend has set a goal this year of working less and hitting a stretch sales target for her company; six months in, and whatever she is doing is working; I will share some of her strategies later.
Before you mismatch and fall into the ‘yes but‘ trap that this scenario is different for you as a leader in an organisation – stop.
What if the concepts could be adapted to work for you?
The truth is our brains are amazing, and though they like to keep us safe and secure, they also want to find answers to questions that we pose.
So, what if, rather than commenting, ‘this won‘t work‘; how about, ‘that sounds a great idea – how can I make it work for me, what might my version of X be?‘.
Let‘s dive deeper with a few ideas.
Energy and Productivity
Energy and productivity are linked on so many levels. Though we can boost our energy and immune system in several different ways, it is vital to remember that our energy can be depleted.
Consequently, we won‘t achieve the results we want, with the worst-case scenario, we become burnt out, a topic I wrote about last year that you will find here.
The more energy we have, the more productive we will be. So, let me state the obvious first; good food, regular exercise, and getting outside are sensible strategies to add to your productivity regime and are the simplest of ideas to implement.
Though here are a few other possible things to consider that might be draining your energy.
- Enjoy what you do, and energy seems to be present all the time.
- Busy work that doesn’t produce results drains our energy.
- Our brains do not function well with multiple distractions and multiple tasks.
An uncomfortable question to ask: Do you enjoy your role? Are you having a bad week, or is something else going on?
If you are in a position that isn‘t right for you, then no amount of superfood or time management strategies will help your productivity.
Assuming you are in a role you enjoy, let’s explore some practical ideas that can be easy to dismiss.
Delegation
Let’s start with an easy fix. Many leaders are performing tasks and activities someone else could do in the team. Being a great delegator is one of the core leadership skills to develop. If you want a refresher on delegation, access one of my articles here.
Here is another quick fix that works.
Delete The Busy Work and Distractions
Before I developed Zestfor as a leadership training company, I worked in a corporate role too. As I reflect on my typical day, I can see so many ways I could have been more productive, especially when it comes to distractions and busywork.
Maybe this is something for you to consider too?
The friend I mentioned earlier has added so much time to her week by removing tasks that do not produce results. In addition, she has delegated tasks to her team members, allowing her to work on bigger projects and ideas that move the needle.
Planning, Parkinson’s Law and Time Tricks
There are thousands of time management books on Amazon you could download. So that being the case, why do I still need to write this post?
The truth is that most of us do not like being constrained by time limits, prioritisation and the dreaded Google or Microsoft calendar, yet this is where our freedom is.
I am an outgoing, friendly individual who can be easily distracted, yet I plan everything, almost to the hour, and consequently, I can do so much more in less time.
If you haven’t heard of Parkinson’s law, it is worth considering. It comes from an essay written over fifty years ago for The Economist that is probably truer today.
“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
I am sure you have many examples where this plays out as a truth in your own life. For example, have you ever noticed that a week or so before a holiday arrives, you somehow manage to achieve more than you ever thought possible?
Why is this?
A better question might be, how can I constrain time like this consistently during my working day?
Allocating a set amount of time and working to that deadline can produce outstanding results.
Imagine no distractions, no notifications, emails closed, and a do not disturb notice on your door; what could you achieve in 60, 90 or 120 minutes?
Sending the signal to our brain that I have 60 minutes to write this report or prepare for a meeting does speed along the process.
Prioritise Results Orientated Activity
As leaders in organisations, we are employed to produce results. Therefore, as we apply Pareto’s principle, what are the 80/20 activities we need to implement to deliver in our role?
If we know that twenty per cent of our actions produce eighty per cent of our results, where do we need to focus our energy and activities?
A tip here is to analyse where you are currently spending your time. I regularly list down my activities in the form of an inventory that I can then categorise. Putting emails in a folder or proofreading a blog are tasks someone else can do. However, writing a blog or outlining a new training module that will directly help my clients is where my focus should be.
Simply acting on these core and straightforward ideas will preserve your energy while you achieve more.
Next Steps?
Creating a productive team is critical in our current climate.
If you want help managing a remote team and would like extra support, click here to learn more about other leadership programmes we lead.
Until next time,
Julia
About Zestfor
Zestfor specialises in developing leadership Training programmes and resources scientifically tailored for technical markets – including Pharmaceutical, I.T., and Life Sciences.
Our blend of in-classroom, online, and virtual live-stream delivery methods will engage and assure even the most introverted team members from the first meeting – whether face-to-face or virtually. So, to have a brief chat, call us on 0845 548 0833. Alternatively, please email our team here.
