Holly

Interruptions

Do you ever get interrupted when you’re trying to get something done?  Have you ever not been interrupted when you’ve tried to get something done?

I read a scary statistic the other day.  An office worker is productive, working on a task, activity or project, on average  1 ½ hours per 8 hour workday.   The rest of the time is spent on email, phone calls, meetings, chatting, looking for files, surfing the net, staring into space, going to the restroom, you name it.

Increasing your productivity is not that hard.  The last post had tips to help you with… Continue reading

Time Robbers

Email and Phone Calls

Email – this is a hard one for so many.  Are you addicted?

Tip 1:  Stop checking your e-mail every second.  It takes up enormous chunks of time.  This is a huge drain on energy and productivity.  Schedule when you’ll look at your email.  Perhaps it’s three times a day.  Turn off the “ding.”

Tip 2:  Here’s a tip that you may want to check with your boss first.  Use this tip if you are addicted to checking email and you are not required by your job to check as it comes in.  You… Continue reading

If only my employees would…. (part 2)

Have you ever said that?  All you can affect is the environment that your employees work in.  That environment can encourage good work habits or allow bad work habits.  You get to decide.

Warning:  For any of these to work, you’ve got to apply them to everyone – consistently.

Here are some more tips you can use if your employees are:

Moody!  People who are highly emotional are tough to work with.  It’s a roller coaster ride for everyone around.  Allowing the drama only encourages more drama.  Not dealing with the drama sends a signal to all your staff… Continue reading

If only my employees would….

Have you ever said that?  Motivating your employees can be a tricky thing.  All you can affect is the environment that your employees work in.  That environment can encourage good work habits or allow bad work habits.  You get to decide.

If you haven’t read the post before this one, go back and read it, before you try any of these tips.

You can test these tips to see if you can encourage the good work habits.  Warning:  For any of these to work, you’ve got to apply them to everyone – consistently.

Here are some more tips you can… Continue reading

If only…

My employees were just like me!

Have you ever said that?  Are you a perfect employee?  Do you set the best example ever?

To be a good boss you have to be a good employee.  Each day and with each action you’re being judged.  If you were hiring someone to fulfill your duties – would you hire you?

For the most part, your employees are just like you, sometimes more than we’d like.  Here’s a few of the biggest complaints that I hear from supervisors and managers.

Late!  You can never be late, not even a little late if… Continue reading