Presented by
Laura Stack
www.TheProductivityPro.com

Leave the Office Earlier
by Laura Stack
Leave the Office Earlier (Broadway Books,
2004) discusses how you can be more
productive in the workplace. Being more
productive at work helps you accomplish
maximum results in minimum time, so you
can leave the office earlier. This
presentation outlines the ten characteristics
of productive people. Each factor is a
chapter, with the first letter of each chapter
spelling out the word PRODUCTIVE.

The Ten Components of
Personal Productivity
P = Preparation
R = Reduction
O = Order
D = Discipline
U = Unease
C = Concentration
T = Time Mastery
I = Information Management
V = Vitality
E = Equilibrium

P = Preparation
Get ready to be productive
Get ready to be productive
Preparation: plan every day and lay
the foundation for your daily activities
before you begin working.
Do you have a
prioritized
schedule
outlined that ties
back to your
goals?

R = Reduction
Plug time leaks
Plug time leaks
Reduction: eliminate things
that waste your time, so you
can gain time to accomplish
what’s really important.

O = Order
Your level of organization
Your level of organization
Order: manage the paper, email,
inputs, and information into and out of
your office; the ability to sort,
process, and filter information
The ability to find
what you want in 30
seconds or less

D = Discipline
Persistence and self-control
Persistence and self-control
Discipline: maintain consistent,
productive behavior; do what needs to
be done, even if you don’t feel like it;.
follow a self of
personal rules
that govern your
behavior and
activity

U = Unease
Overload and stress
Overload and stress
Unease: avoid the “faster,
cheaper, do more with less”
atmosphere.
Stress creates an environment
where workers are always in
high gear, causing productivity to
decrease and stress to increase.

C = Concentration
Focus and attentiveness
Focus and attentiveness
Concentration: stay on
target and focus on the task at
hand; ignore distractions and
interruptions
So many things compete for our attention in the
workplace that it’s often very difficult to concentrate.

T = Time Mastery
Activity- and self-management
Activity- and self-management
Time Mastery: give thoughtful analysis and
planning to your day; make the best use of
every minute, every day.
Bad time management = missed deadlines, late nights, crisis &
overload.
Good time management = results, recognition, free time, clarity &
focus.

I = Information Management
Technology and tools
Technology and tools
Information Management: use your computer, email,
phone, handheld, and the Internet productively
Technology can improve your productivity,
but it can also reduce your productivity
if you’re not careful!

V = Vitality
Physiology and self-care
Physiology and self-care
Vitality: Possess the energy to
accomplish the things you want to do
•Eat healthy
•Pacing
•Exercise
•Sleep
well

E = Equilibrium
Balance and boundaries
Equilibrium: Achieve balance by allocating appropriate
time to the various activities in your life.
• You love your work.
• You love your personal life as well.
• You find it difficult to participate
fully in one area without sacrificing
the other.

Buy the book
Laura Stack’s bestselling book Leave the
Office Earlier is available wherever books are
sold:
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