As the second month of the new year begins, many leaders will be looking for additional ways to increase their ability to get things done faster in the coming weeks and months.
Your productivity levels will inevitably dip throughout your work day and week. But when you consciously change your daily habits to more productive ones, you become even more effective.Don’t worry, improving your productivity doesn’t have to mean drastic changes in the way you work. Creating manageable habits that can be integrated into your daily life will make everything easier. These productivity hacks will show you that you don’t have to end the workday with a never-ending to-do list, and that you can be more productive without working more.
HERE ARE TEN IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED.
Consider which tasks you can delegate
Many leaders fall into the trap of thinking they have to do everything themselves, so they keep adding things to their already to-do list. But one of the best ways to help your employees develop and get more done is to delegate tasks to the right people. A Gallup study found that leaders who are good at delegating can generate better business growth than leaders who are stuck managing small tasks. You can’t do everything, so start thinking about who on your team has the capacity in their schedule to do more work.
Prioritize tasks using this method
Leaders often make long to-do lists and find it challenging to understand their priorities. But to make it less daunting, use Eisenhower and Covey’s Time Management Matrix to help you distinguish between important, unimportant, urgent, and non-urgent tasks. It’s also a great way to determine which tasks to delegate to others (see point 1!).
Know When to Say No
Knowing your priorities is essential to improving your performance as a leader. You need clarity on what’s important to focus on right now so that everything you do is aligned. When tasks or jobs come up that aren’t aligned, it might make sense to say no. And sometimes that ‘no’ can be ‘not now — ask me again in a few days so you have my full attention’.
Use effective communication methods
According to the Harvard Business Review, 92% of employees believe meetings are expensive and unproductive. Could this hour-long meeting have been 30 minutes? Could the 30 minute meeting have been a 5 minute phone call? Could the phone calls have been a quick email? Finding the best way to convey such messages can lead to fewer unnecessary meetings and give leaders and employees the time they need to accomplish their tasks.
Practice the «Bird’s Eye View» approach.
Taking the time to pause and take a bird’s-eye view of your business plans for the coming weeks and months is an excellent way to get a high-level perspective. It helps leaders assess what lies ahead and ensure that all critical milestones and deadlines are met.
Enable the two-minute rule
Can that little, menial task on your to-do list be done in two minutes or less? Then do it. Don’t overthink it and add it to your Eisenhower matrix or other to-do list. Just do it. Get the simple stuff done quickly and move on.
Set aside specific “distraction time”
Leaders have families, social circles, hobbies, etc. Their lives do not consist only of work. Sometimes problems arise that can make it difficult to concentrate. The idea is to set aside a certain amount of time during the work day to catch up on less urgent, non-work related things. When your brain knows that a dedicated time has been set aside to deal with them, it will give you the bandwidth to focus on your work priorities.
Don’t put off challenging tasks
Busy leaders often put off their most difficult tasks. These may be tasks that they don’t like but have decided not to delegate. The thought of dealing with them can weigh you down and drain your energy. The key is to block out the time needed to do it and then finish it in the allotted time. You’ll feel better when it’s done, and the rest will seem easier.
Remember that you need sleep and rest
Unfortunately, many leaders let their sleep habits suffer during busy and stressful times. Insomnia and going to bed too late to get enough hours of sleep lead to a lack of energy and fatigue the next day, which affects their concentration and productivity. To be at your best, you need enough sleep and rest. The National Sleep Foundation reports that sleep contributes to better attention, focus and creativity – all perfect components of being a productive leader.
Try the Brain Dump exercise.
This simple but powerful exercise involves writing down all the tasks, ideas and concerns that occupy your mind. This process helps clear your thoughts, reduce mental overload, and gain a clearer picture of what needs your immediate attention. Once everything is on paper, you can prioritize and organize these thoughts, ideally using a framework like the Eisenhower matrix. This exercise reduces stress and sets the stage for more focused and effective decision making.As leaders, it’s critical to recognize that your approach to productivity can significantly impact the functioning of your team and workplace culture. Integrating these productivity hacks into your daily routine will optimize your performance and set a powerful example for your employees.
