Archive for Productivity

Six tips for a productive meeting

April 8, 2013 Business Process, Featured, Productivity

There is nothing more frustrating than leaving a meeting where little was accomplished and hardly any action was taken.  With so much to do and so little time to do it, wasted time is not an option.  Spending more time wondering how the meeting got so off track just adds insult to injury.

I am not a strict process person; however, I feel that process has its place in the world of work – and especially so when running meetings.  I think one of the goals of every meeting should be to get as much done in as little time as possible.  To get the most out of every single meeting going forward, here are a few reminders:

  • Create a clear and concise agenda, including how the attendees can get in and out in a reasonable amount of time.
  • If the meeting is not a regular meeting, include your agenda in the invite.
  • Identify clear action items/tasks and the responsibilities for them.
  • Repeat and clarify each action item before the meeting adjourns.
  • Do not discuss details of work in status/summary meetings.
  • Minimize chit-chat and interruptions.

By establishing these practices, you will be able to cut your meeting times in half, feeling confident that you and your colleagues will be able to get more done.  And, who knows? They might just thank you for it.

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How do you unplug?

October 17, 2012 Creativity, gadgets, Productivity, Technology

There never seems to be enough time to keep up with every tech gadget, headline, video, or article.  All of these are vying for attention or time I do not have.   In addition, “[t]here is growing evidence that excessive time online makes us dumber, more depressed, and more prone to extreme behavior…. And yet, modern life demands that we stay plugged in, with work, entertainment, and varying degrees of social connection. All of this screen time is exhausting to our brain, which didn’t evolve in the company of gadgets, so how can we reclaim our sanity?”

Thomas Marks suggests eight ways to help us unplug.  Check them out at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-mark/creative-activities-internet_b_1833797.html#slide=1433260.

I would add reading fiction, dining with friends, and meditating.  In which ways do you unplug?

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Do you really need that new iPhone5…

September 23, 2012 Blog, gadgets, Productivity, Technology

Last Friday (September 21, 2012), the new iPhone5 was released and as expected, the diehards began standing in line early. Every time I see a picture of those lines of people standing, waiting, standing, and waiting, I think of a friend who teased me for not having an iPhone (“What you don’t have an iPhone!) several years ago. The irony of having this latest and greatest was that she had terrible reception while we were traveling in Arizona. As a result, the her phone was pretty useless. For the record, I do not own an iPhone.

Every year some new mobile device comes along. Yet, we are still saying, “Can you hear me? Can you hear me now?” These issues make us think we need a new phone or that the person on the other line needs a new phone.Do we really NEED it?  Will Oremus’ article, The Disconcerting Brilliance of the iPhone 5: It may be the greatest smartphone on the market. But do you really need one?, tries to help you answer that question.

Oh, it’s a great gadget. A graceful, intuitive, thoroughly impressive gizmo that may change your life, especially if you don’t already have an iPhone 4S or the latest Android smartphone. Just know in advance that it won’t necessarily be a change for the better.

This article is about more than the latest iPhone or need versus want. It also is about missing out on being in the moment.

It was distracting enough when my phone could make and take calls and send emails and text messages. Now that I can stream high-definition movies, shoot video, read books, and videoconference, I’m a little concerned that I’ll never pry my nose from the screen. That my old smartphone could barely manage to upload a photo to Facebook was frustrating, but it was also liberating. It gave me an excuse to simply enjoy the view.

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

 

 

 

 

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