Tips To Help You Be More Productive at Work

TIP #1 - GET YOUR WORKSPACE ORGANIZED:Clear your desk and other horizontal surfaces of all unnecessary gadgets and items that you don't use everyday. Keep frequently used items within arms' reach. Create space and breathing room so you can be more productive. Clean up your bulletin board. Throw away all the old Post-it note reminders you have scattered around. Use
a vertical step rack or desktop file for "action" or important files. Arrange your furniture and equipment so you have easy access to the things you need. If the products, equipment and tools you have don't work well for you, get new ones that will.

TIP #2 - GET YOUR INFORMATION ORGANIZED: If your filing system doesn't work well, create one that does. Make sure you can find the papers you need when you need them. Clean up your computer's desktop by organizing electronic documents into folders much like the file folders of your paper filing system. Delete or move no longer necessary or useful documents into the trash. Check and respond to email only at designated times of the day. Avoid spending your time constantly checking your email. It will help if you turn off the incoming mail sound that alerts you to new mail.

TIP #3 - INTERRUPTIONS: Place your desk so it doesn't face the door of your office. This will help ensure that you don't catch people's eye and will cut down on daily interruptions. Stand up to greet people who enter your office and don't invite them to sit down. This will allow you to control the length of the interruption. Establish "office hours" like college professors do for their students. Ask drop-ins to come back during that time to see you. Let colleagues and staff know that interruptions outside of "office hours" are not forbidden, but rather discouraged. If someone has an urgent issue or can't continue to work productively until the issue is resolved, they should come talk to you right away, but otherwise they should try to wait for your "office hours". If you have to speak with someone, go to his or her office. That way, you can control the length of the visit by excusing yourself when you're done and leaving.

TIP #4 - OUTSOURCING STAFF: If you don't have a "staff" to assist you, think about hiring a temporary or freelance professional who will work on an as-needed, contract basis.

TIP #5 - MANAGING YOUR TIME: Use only one calendar or planner to keep track of your appointments. It's less confusing than multiple tracking methods and prevents you from accidentally double booking your time. Be sure to check it every day so things don't fall through the cracks. Try to leave at least 15 free minutes before and after appointments for unexpected delays or other problems that might arise.

TIP #6 - GOAL SETTING: When you start to lose steam on a project, re-energize and re-motivate yourself by remembering a past success. Use the positive memory of that experience to inspire you to carry on with the project at hand.

TIP #7 - MANAGING MEETINGS: Send out an agenda to participants before the meeting with discussion time limits for each item. Ask participants to prepare for the discussion ahead of time. Stick to agreed-upon time limits during the meeting. Be strict about beginning and ending your meeting on time and feel free to start without latecomers. Keep track of any actions you agreed to take by putting them in your calendar or planner.