Productivity boosters
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More is being asked of us than ever before. We’re deluged with email and other inputs, all of which have to be dealt with somehow. At the end of the day, we may wonder what we did with our time, and whether it was well spent. At this program, you’ll start new habits of thought and action that will make you more productive, engaged, and confident that you’re making the best use of your time.
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Productivity boosters
- 1. Productivity Boosters Kevin R. Thomas Manager, Training & Development x3542 kevin.r.thomas@williams.edu
- 2. Objectives • You’ll know how to apply theories, tools and techniques that can improve your productivity. • You’ll make a commitment to taking some next steps.
- 3. Basic Premise • You are the instrument of your work • Anything that develops your: – Health – Resilience – Concentration – Mental and emotional well being Will also improve your productivity. • Half the game is what’s between your ears
- 4. Agenda • From Overwhelm to Focus • Energy and Attention Boosters • Action Planning
- 5. Agenda • From Overwhelm to Focus • Energy and Attention Boosters • Action Planning
- 6. From Overwhelm to Focus
- 7. Characteristics of Overwhelm and Focus
- 8. From Overwhelm to Focus • Get it out of your head • Process • Prioritize • Focus
- 9. Get It Out of Your Head • Anything you consider unfinished in any way must be captured in a trusted system outside your mind. • Sample systems: – Wunderlist – Active Inbox – Google Tasks – Notebooks
- 10. From Overwhelm to Focus • Get it out of your head • Process • Prioritize • Focus
- 11. GTD Processing System Part 1 of 2 Is it Actionable? Do it Get clear and specific about the action Will it take <2 minutes? No Archive Yes Yes No
- 12. GTD Processing System Part 2 of 2: Action Needed, >2 min Are you the best person to do it? Delegate it Does it need to be done today? Add it to your list to prioritize. Schedule it Yes No Yes No
- 13. From Overwhelm to Focus • Get it out of your head • Process • Prioritize • Focus
- 14. Attention is a Limited Resource
- 15. Attention as a Limited Resource • If you respected attention as a limited resource, what would you do differently?
- 16. Activities
- 18. From Overwhelm to Focus • Get it out of your head • Process • Prioritize • Focus
- 19. Focus • Lower the stakes • Give your brain instructions • Time-limited work periods • Centering Exercise
- 20. Lower the Stakes • Loss aversion impairs performance • Reduce the fear of loss/failure by preparing for it.
- 21. Giving the Brain Clear Instructions • The brain evolved to deal with concrete situations. • For your highest priority activity, what specifically do you need to do next? • Camera check.
- 22. Time-Limited Work Periods • Notice what happens when I say: – “Go to your office and don’t come out until you finish your report.” – “Go to your office, turn on your computer, open a web browser, and spend 30 minutes starting the research for your report. Then get outside and go for a walk around the block.”
- 23. Productive Self Talk Counterproductive Productive I have to. I must finish. This project is so big and important. I must be perfect. I don’t have time for fun. I choose to. When can I start? I can take one small step. I can be perfectly human. I must enjoy myself. In Sum: I have to finish something big and do it perfectly by working hard for long periods of time without ever having fun. In Sum: I choose to start on one small step, knowing I have plenty of time for play.
- 24. Focused Work • What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Focused Work”? • What specific actions can you take to create greater focus?
- 25. Increasing Focus in 12 Breaths • 3 breaths: letting go of the past • 3 breaths: letting go of the future • 3 breaths: coming into the present moment • 3 breaths: arriving at the right level of energy, creativity, concentration, etc.
- 26. Agenda • From Overwhelm to Focus • Energy and Attention Boosters • Action Planning
- 27. Energy and Attention Boosters Activity Benefit Exercise Greater energy, increase sense of agency Nutrition Increased energy, better mood, lower stress, Meditation Increased concentration, lower stress Naps Increases productivity and alertness Walking Boosts creativity Breaks (brief diversions) Increases task focus Experience of nature Reduces fatigue, decreases stress
- 28. Agenda • From Overwhelm to Focus • Energy and Attention Boosters • Action Planning
- 29. From Preparation to Action
- 30. Focus on What You Want Instead of trying to suppress an unwanted behavior, focus on new, desired behaviors
- 31. WOOP It Up Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan • Wish – What you hope will come from this session. • Outcome – the best outcome you can imagine for your meetings • Obstacle – what might get in the way? • Plan – make a plan to make it happen
- 32. Make a Specific Commitment • What? • Where? • When? • Research is mixed on sharing the goal publicly or with significant others … your mileage may vary
- 33. • Program evaluation link will be sent by email. • You’ll get a link to a course page with all the materials. Kevin R. Thomas Manager, Training & Development x3542 Kevin.R.Thomas@williams.edu
Editor's Notes
- People want to be free. They automatically resist intimidation and control. The brain interprets “Have To” as a message of intimidation and control. The result: Resistance. The brain interprets “Choose To” as a message of freedom and empowerment. The result: Energy and Motivation. Read power if choice story 65-66 The brain is not equipped for finishing: Example: Finish my needs assessment report perfectly before I do anything else. The brain accepts concrete instructions for starting: Example: Sit at my desk, gather my notes, open up my needs assessment folder, and open a new Word document. When we say “this must be perfect”, the brain perceives a threat (“What if it’s not? How could it possibly be?”). The result: fight, flight, or freeze When we say “Let me just start a very rough draft,” the brain perceives safety and its higher functions are available. When we say “I must finish before I do anything fun,” the brain hears that pleasure is being withdrawn as a result of this activity. The result: resistance. When we schedule play and social activities first, the brain knows that pleasure is guaranteed. The result: willingness.
- Combine the breaking of a habit with the making of a new habit. This is a very effective approach for smokers. If a smoker normally wakes up and lights a cigarette before their feet hit the floor, they will instead head straight to the shower. They will slowing transform their habit and redirect every last one of their triggers to other non-smoking related behaviors. Who can share a story about a habit you broke by replacing it with a new habit? Here’s some more good advice from Joyce Meyer… Focus on the good habit you want to do, not the bad habit you don’t want to do. Overcome the bad with good. This is so key because it allows you to celebrate your success in forming the new habit, rather than focus on failing to suppress the old habit.