7 Strategies to Boost Your Productivity at Work and Achieve Success

In today's fast-paced professional landscape, being productive (working smarter, not harder) at work is more important than ever.?

I have personally tried many productivity hacks, tips and tricks over the years; some have helped dramatically, others not so much.?

One thing is for sure: when I feel I am being productive, I enjoy my work so much more and can also switch off at the end of the week, feeling accomplished with what I have achieved.?

In today's blog, we will explore 7 practical strategies that will help you enhance your productivity and make the most of your workday.?

I have personally used all 7, and the results have made a massive difference in my life, career and business.?

Let's dive in!

1. Set Clear and Prioritised Goals:?

I can't stress enough that clarity is key.?

When I don't know what I want to achieve, I find myself working on tasks that are not getting me closer to where I want to be.

I end up a busy fool, checking emails multiple times a day and working on urgent but unimportant things.?

I suggest you start setting clear and specific goals for each day, week, and month. Prioritise these goals based on their importance and urgency.

Having a clear direction over the years has enabled me to stay focused and motivated, ensuring that my efforts are aligned with the outcome I want to achieve.?

2. Plan and Organise Your Time:?

Develop a well-structured schedule that allocates time for different tasks and activities.?

I like to block out time in my calendar each week to help me stay organised and maintain a clear overview of my responsibilities.?

I am also very aware that mornings are my most productive hours, so I always aim to schedule any creative or highly focused tasks first thing.?

I don’t like "to-do lists." I find them overwhelming and always seem to be adding tasks onto them, leading me to feel unaccomplished.

So, instead, I look at the key tasks that I want to complete each week and break them down into smaller, manageable steps to make them more approachable.

My diary is my boss; if something is scheduled, it gets done!

I hold myself accountable each week and find a sense of satisfaction in achieving the tasks I have set out to fulfil.

3. Minimise Distractions:?

Identify and minimise distractions in your work environment.?

Something I implemented many years ago was turning off all notifications on my phone.

This honestly saved me so much time and energy, so I highly recommend you do the same.?

Another hack is closing all tabs other than the ones I need. Having emails up and seeing a notification pop up instantly pulls my focus, so I only check my emails a few times a day when I can sit and respond with thought and focus.??

Finally, if possible, find a quiet space to work, or if you are in an open-plan office, use noise-cancelling headphones to create a focused atmosphere.?

4. Practice Effective Time Management Techniques:?

I have experimented with many time management techniques over the years.?

The most effective one for me has been time blocking.?

This involves assigning specific time slots for different types of tasks.?

For example, I have a time block for podcasting and interview prep, I also have a time block for client development and business development.

I have a time block for exercise and well-being, and I time block for content creation and marketing campaigns. You get the idea.?

Between each block, I stand up, walk, grab a coffee (not every time, otherwise I'd be super caffeinated) and reset.?

I have found that jumping from one task to the next without a break in between makes me less productive, which is why I advise taking breaks throughout the day.?

I highly recommend experimenting with other techniques. Find what works best for you to help you maintain focus and productivity.?

Let me know if you have a method that works in the comments below.

5. Delegate and Collaborate:?

Recognise that you can't do everything alone—delegate tasks to colleagues or team members with the necessary skills and capacity.

A great book I highly recommend you read is The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.?

In the book, Gay talks about 4 zones.

• Zone of Incompetence
• Zone of Competence
• Zone of Excellence
• Zone of Genius.?

He suggests we need to spend our time in our zone of excellence and genius.?

When I read this, I came to the conclusion that I would never spend time outside of these zones ever again.

For example, I am not good with admin or accounting (terrible in fact lol)

I realised this early on in starting CH Solutions.

So, I hired an accountant and a bookkeeper to ensure I was not stressing myself out each month trying to balance the books.

This freed up time for activities in my zones of excellence and genius, such as building relationships with candidates and clients, business development and hosting the Career Confidence podcast.?

I recommend you audit your week and look at the tasks that take up your time that could be outsourced or delegated to someone better suited to the skills required for the job.?

6. Take Regular Breaks:?

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks is crucial for maintaining productivity.

Allow yourself short breaks throughout the day to recharge and refocus.?

Use this time to stretch, take a short walk, or engage in activities that help you relax and clear your mind.

I have personally found that breaks can actually improve my concentration and prevent burnout.?

Something that has helped me is setting alarms every 90 minutes.

When my alarm goes off, I stand up, go and get a drink, stretch, or even walk around the block.

Once I return to my desk, I feel a new sense of focus and drive.?

I then reset the alarm and repeat again until the task I set out to complete is done.?

Give it a try this week, and let me know how you go.?

7. Embrace Continuous Learning and Improvement:?

Stay curious and invest in your professional development.

This is something I speak about a lot, as one thing I know for sure is that if I don’t continue to invest in myself and my skills, then all the productivity hacks in the world won’t help me.?

Every day, I want to learn something new and keep my knowledge relevant to stay up to date in the current market.?

Not only does this give me huge satisfaction, it also helps me add value to the candidates and clients I speak with on a daily basis.?

My advice is to become a student for life and always invest some time each week into your own personal development.?

I really hope these productivity tips help you as much as they help me.?

Comment below on what you will try this week, or anything you have experienced works for you.?

Until Next week

Georgie x

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