Although we work longer hours and feel busy, as a nation our productivity levels are outfaced by the likes of Germany and Sweden. Chancellor George Osbourne believes that the UK should be more forward thinking and pro-building. With this in mind, we look at ways to enhance your productivity with small solutions that you, your team and organisation can all work together on.
6 six-hour day.
The concept of six-hour days is not entirely new in Sweden, although it has most recently come back into the spotlight. Working a six-hour day has been deemed more favourable in some parts of Sweden, with workers tending to feel less stressed. However, Gail Kinman, professor of occupational psychology at the University of Bedfordshire argues that, “The risk is that people may work more intensively and try to cram more work into a shorter period of time which would increase rather than reduce pressure”.
Be one step ahead.
Forward thinking keeps momentum and allows you to think of the desired end goal. Focus on what matters the most, by doing this you are giving yourself the best opportunity to deliver a focused piece of work.
Meetings – make them matter.
Meetings should be kept for priorities and never for general talk. They take up a lot of time and often what could be said relatively quickly is drawn out. If you do attend a meeting, ensure it has a clear purpose, with an agenda, start and finish time. If you don’t think that a meeting is necessary, you could occasionally send your apologies to reclaim some much needed time back.
Have a think.
Being flustered and looking extremely busy doesn't always put you first in line as being recognised as the hardest worker. Engaging in thinking time is vital, not only to enhance your productivity but also to regain a sense of control and well-being. Regularly reviewing what you are working on gives you scope to initiate new ideas and spot mistakes. Often some steer clear from thinking time, feeling guilty that they don’t appear to look busy, however without thinking time, the best ideas wouldn't have been created.
Keep your mind clear.
It’s a good idea to write lists in order to visually look at what you need to complete throughout the day. We’re all forgetful at times but writing things down when they instantly come into your head is a good way to record what needs to be completed. After all, a clear mind allows for ideas to flourish.
Stop avoiding tasks.
Don’t avoid those jobs that have been on your to-do list for a long time. It’s better to tackle these head on. Set time aside to complete them, you will feel a lot better for doing this. Once tasks are complete, ensure you tick them off – this will prove super satisfying.
Manage your inbox.
Emails are fantastic, although they sometimes prove to be a huge distractions. Think about closing your inbox to ensure you don’t see emails appear frequently when you are trying to focus on large, important projects. Set aside time to clear your inbox as too many emails can often look overwhelming. If you do have important emails that require you to deal with them straight away, do this so they don't build up.
5 minute huddle.
When there’s a lot happening, it can be easy for a team to get caught up and not focus on the delivery of a task or the overall day ahead. A daily team huddle, is a five minute team meeting, which allows for good communication and keeps everyone focused on the key tasks ahead. This also reduces the need for a lot of unnecessary and lengthy meetings.
Take small breaks.
Stand up and move around – it helps your brain to get engaged. Even just looking away from your screen for a couple of minutes can help maintain your focus and stop your attention from fading, keeping you fresh throughout the day. The average attention span is typically between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on the person and the time of day so try to take a five minute break regularly.
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