Do Your Co-Workers Consider You a Digital Downer?

Ever heard of the song, "Don't Drag Me Down?" It does exist though you may not have heard it and I guarantee you that's how some colleagues feel about their fellow co-workers in the area of digital competency!

Do you negatively impact other's time because of your lack of digital proficiency?  I know there are many that could answer yes to that question.  With technology, (i.e. working digitally) being front and center in our work lives, it's now an imperative to be skilled in the use of certain key components.

I am what you consider a "non-tech" techie. I'm not a coder. I am though, someone enjoys technology, who thinks there is cool factor to it and someone who wants to embrace anything that can impact people's lives for the better.

I am also someone who is an adopter in the sense that I am not in denial about the role it plays in business and more specifically in the lives of the everyday worker. So I expect myself to learn and become competent in the use of key digital tools and functions. In my view you're either an adopter or a resister and resistance impacts time and productivity for yourself and others!

Do you resist assimilating technology (digital tools) into your life?  If so, you will be left behind as some of the things I am about to share with you, grade school kids know how to use with great skill!

So what should you consider as being the fundamentals of digitally competency?  Well there's a list, but I'll start with 3 that have the most impact:

1. Email -- Whatever program (email client as they say in the tech world) you use, know all it's capabilities.  I say in my time and organizational management seminar most of us know only how our email functions based on when we first started using it.  So if you use Outlook for example, do you know all it's capabilities and how you can utilize them to be more efficient in it's use?

Additionally, have you created a customized system by which you manage your email? I say customized because it's going to be different for everyone. News flash... there is not "one way" that everyone should handle email. We all have different thinking and decision-making styles, which I address in my book Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed.

2. Using a Browser -- I know for some this may sound ridiculous, but trust me, I know folks who don't know how to use a browser and know little of it's full capabilities.  So let's start with something as simple as when you download a document, where does it go and how do you retrieve it?  Do you know what browser applications and extensions are and which ones can help you in the work you do?

3. Information Management -- Once the world wide web was born, we entered the information age and when mobile capabilities were introduced, we moved into the age of information explosion.  Many of us search, access and manage information (or try to) on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. If you're like me, in the beginning, my most common phrase was, "Now where did I put that?" Then the search began as I tried to find it. Two minutes went by...five minutes went by -- "oh yeah, there it is!," I'd proclaim in the heat of frustration.

One of many helpful information management functions now available is tagging (this is the new word for the old school word "indexing"). You simply attribute certain key words to anything so that you can find it quicker.  I use a Mac and tagging is now an integrated element of it's operating system.

Additionally there are ways you save information through your browser with a simple right click and then be able to access it from all your devices. Also from a browser, you can send an email, share it on social media, save it to an information management application like Evernote, and even send it to Kindle. 

By the way, I see a browser as an essential digital partner. It's capabilities go way beyond, "this is how I get on the web." The one you choose to use and the capabilities it offers can make all the difference in your digital efficiency. And yep, different browsers have different capabilities.

For some reading just this list, it might feel a bit overwhelming. My suggestion is to start with one thing -- one area (like the theme from my professional development blog Brand Me! -The 1% Edge) and then make it a goal to learn and apply one new element once a month. 

And here is the exceptionally good news, just about anything you need to learn in this regards can be found on YouTube...and it's free!!!   So there!  Now, no excuses for increasing your digital competency to save time and increase your productivity for yourself and others! Commit to no longer being a digital downer!
_________________________________________________________________________
I consider time and organizational management 1 of 5 individual employee as well as management core competencies  -- learn more here

If you haven't yet gotten your copy, you'll want to pick one up: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

Other readings on Kindle & Nook:  Declutter Your Life From The Inside Out |  Your Life Through the Lens of Time 

A Simple - Easy to Use Tip to Conquer Overwhelm

Here’s a great time management tip or time management strategy that can really save you time!

Overwhelmed by a large project? Having a hard time getting motivated? Finding yourself procrastinating?

Ever heard the expression or question, “how do you eat an elephant? “ The answer? – one bite at a time.  Well that same principle applies when you’re feeling overwhelmed by a project, procrastinating, or having a hard time getting motivated.  You’ve got to break it down into small manageable action steps.

Usually looking at, focusing on one step and one step only allows emotional space for you to become motivated and see the light of getting something done. Once you write out actionable, reasonable steps your emotions become diffused and your brain begins saying…”hey, I can do that.”

In fact something additionally I employ is something called, “the one minute challenge.”  I challenge myself to work on one little thing, task, etc. for only one minute.  I even use a kitchen timer.

The result?…I get focused on the “thing” enough to generate motivation to keep going.  If it’s not enough, I say, “ok…just one more minute.”  It’s like tricking yourself into gaining motivation in a fun way!

Coaching Tip: Break it down, focus on the first small step and give yourself the one minute challenge!

If you need a time management seminar or training brought to your organization – learn more here

Or …ever considered “time management coaching” – to learn more about coaching, click here.

How to Make Your Workspace Work For You

PIC CREDIT

8 TIPS TO CREATE A RELAXED AND ENJOYABLE WORKSPACE TO IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

It’s amazing how many people neglect to make their workspace enjoyable given that it is a place you spend about one third of your day. In fact many people spend more time in their offices than they do at their homes. How then should you leave your office as uncomfortable as possible while you spare no expenses in getting your house up to your taste.

It has been proven that a relaxed office atmosphere contributes to more productivity at the workplace. Your workspace or office should be such that you will enjoy working in it for as long as you are physically able if need be.

Below are some tips from Steve Pavlina on how to turn your office/workspace into an enjoyable space. Note that the rule in designing an enjoyable workspace is that you do only what you like and are comfortable with.

1. Choose Peaceful and Relaxing Colours to Create the Right Ambience

To make your office look appealing you should start with the colours of the office. Colours and lighting tend to have an effect on a person’s mood. Pavlina advises trying to find out the emotions that your current office settings invoke in you. He suggests stepping into your office while paying attention to your sense impressions.

He says you should go with your own taste and emotional preferences and not try to copy what works for someone else as you try to redesign your workspace. For example a particular programmer prefers working in a dark room without windows and says he loves it that way. Different things work for different folks when it comes to having a nice office ambience.

Try whatever works for you; new furniture, photos, wallpapers, artworks, flowers, etc. if you have the authority you can also change the lighting in your office to reflect what you really want.

2. Clear Out the Cluster

Most times disorganised workspaces mirror the person occupying the space as stressed and unorganised. A cluttered workspace hardly helps your focus and will rather hamper your productivity.

It is advisable to go for a clear and minimal office arrangement. Put files and documents away in a file cabinet until you need them. Keep only things related to your current task on your desk. Having a free work environment does wonders for your feeling and when you feel good about where you work you do better.

3. Add Plants and Flowers

Use living oxygen-generating plants in your office if you can. Pavlina advises using life plants and not fake ones. Water them regularly. He insists that when you see the plant blossoming your mood directly will respond positively each day you enter your office to work. Nice plants and flowers around the office will certainly do more good than harm and may even bring some luck 

4. Add a Good Smell

Have your office or workspace smell good; it will certainly lift your spirit. Find sweet smelling scent candles or scents. Certain scents like lemon and lavender have significant good effects on productivity.

5. Play Relaxing Music

Pavlina says you should experiment with various styles of music to discover which suits you and has good positive effects on your stress level and productivity. While for certain work you might want total silence good music can keep you going through some tasks smoothly.

Research extensively and build your playlists accordingly for your use at various times. Personally I have discovered that various music types appeal to me at various times and depending on the type of work. Having diverse and carefully created playlists will prove useful as you play the right music for your work at any time.

Better still you could subscribe to any of the decent music streaming platforms like Iroking and play what you want at any time.

The distribution of the music within your office also matters. Have someone do the right connections with sound systems that soothe and inspire instead of disturb.

6. Get a Decent Chair

You will probably do most of your work on your seat so Pavlina advises you make it very comfortable but not too comfortable. Simply go to the nearest office supply store and find what suits you.

7. Add a Portable Fan

Even with air-conditioning in your office you may have need for a movable fan near your desk to circulate the cool atmosphere and make you a bit more relaxed. You can find good ones at the home appliances stores around.

8. Establish Uninterrupted Periods

There should be periods each day you should do block any form of interruption be it from colleagues, phone calls etc. This should be during periods when you are at the peak of your energy and need to work on your most serious tasks and duties.

However note that some jobs require more solitude and concentration than others; a programmer certainly needs more quiet periods than say a receptionist.

The above tips should get you delivering your best in the most accomodating office/workspace ambience.

 

This post is curated . Source link: http://blog.ngcareers.com/2617/8-tips-to-create-a-relaxed-and-enjoyable-workspace-to-improve-your-productivity/

================================================================================

If you haven't yet gotten your copy -- it worth the investment...

Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

Other readings on Kindle & Nook:  Declutter Your Life From The Inside Out |  Your Life Through the Lens of Time 

Why Happiness is Your Secret to Productivity

BY JASON W. WOMACK | September 24, 2013|

16 Comments |

568

486

2K

Image credit: Camdiluv on Flickr

How are happiness and productivity related? If you want to improve productivity, look no further than your mindset. Marcus Aurelius reminds us: "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking."

People who enjoy what they do are far more productive than those who do not have passion for their work. Have you ever been so engrossed in what you are doing that when you look up, you discover hours have passed in what seems like minutes? Such joyful immersion is key to productivity. Denis Waitley reminds us, "Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results."

A common trait shared by successful people is an awareness of the "thought-trails" in their lives. Much like a physical trail cut through a meadow after years of use, thought-trails can actually force you to continue thinking the way you've always thought.

Related

• The 15-Minute Strategy to Get More Done Everyday
• 3 Ways to Set Goals You'll Actually Achieve
• Your Secret to Success? Be More Selfish
• 5 Signs It's Time to Fire Your Mentor

0 Comments

Share your thoughts

How you think is often more important than that you think, or even what you think. The characteristic separating the good from the great, the highly successful from the folks who are just getting along, is their ability to think about themselves as successful even while on the journey to greatness -- however "greatness" is defined for you.

An important skill is to think without acting: To plan. What do you want to be known for? What do you want to do? What is possible? Change begins with what you tell yourself and others. Change your outlook and you change what is possible.

Listen to what you are saying. Are you speaking in positives? "We've come through worse than this before so I know we'll be fine in the end." Or negatives? "Sure the sun is shining now, but the forecast calls for more rain by the weekend."

Here is a 15 minute exercise to determine how you are thinking now so you know what is working, and what might need updating. Respond honestly to the following prompts:

• Life is…
• Money is…
• Coaches are people who…
• Goals are…
• Work is…
• Organized people are…

How you respond gives you a window into how you see the world. Below are responses I've received from others who have done this exercise:

• Life is good / Life is hard
• Money is what I use to create opportunity. /Money is the root of all evil.
• Coaches are for people who are moving. / Coaches are for people who have money.
• Goals are necessary to achieve more. / Goals are nice, but I am always busy enough.
• Work is what I do to express myself. / Work is never over.
• Organized people are productive. /Organized people are anal-retentive.

Do you have a perspective on a certain aspect of your life that might be worth changing? Improvement doesn't mean something is wrong to begin with. It indicates a move toward something new and possibly better.

I love what Benjamin Disraeli said: "Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action."
Source link: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228519

Jason W. Womack

Jason W. Womack is founder of The Womack Company, a productivity-training firm based in Ojai, Calif. He is author of Your Best Just Got Better: Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More (Wiley, 2012).

The author is an Entrepreneur contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

If you haven't yet got your version of Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - have it your way - Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book - The Seminar

 Other readings on Kindle: Declutter Your Life From The Inside Out Your LIfe Through the Lens of Time - The Interview

1 Easy Tip to Reclaim An Out Of Control Day

Is Your Day Out of Control? - Here's One Easy Way to Get It Back

Have you ever had one of those days? You start off with big plans to be productive. Your calendar is filled with confirmed appointments. Then, nothing seems to go right. Your computer crashes. Your cell phone battery dies and your charger is at home. Someone spills coffee on your shirt just before an important meeting. Your confirmed lunch appointment stands you up. 

Don’t worry. Your day is not a total disaster. In fact, you can save your sanity and salvage the day. You just need to re-focus, jump start your motivation and sense of productivity.  All of those scenarios above cause you to feel as if your day has gone completely out of control.

Jumping starting your motivation and productivity means regaining your sense of control.  A simple way to do that?  Follow this simple piece of time management advice:

TIP: Keep quick tasks close at hand...
When time opens up in your schedule, like your lunch appointment not showing up, you suddenly have time to handle other opportunities if you’re prepared. For example, I carry notecards, envelopes and stamps in my bag. When I find "lost time" in short unexpected moments throughout my busy day, this allows me to write a few thank you notes, birthday cards and other hand-written messages to clients, staff and others in my network. 

Getting something done in place of what fell through keeps me feeling productive and the unexpected gesture makes me stand out from the masses.

Additionally, in any work environment and on every "to do list" are something called quick tasks -- tasks that are easy, effortless and can be executed fast.  If you quickly want to gain a sense of control, jump start your productivity, feel as if you really are getting something done seeing tangible results, start doing your quick tasks. It's amazing how quickly your mood will turn positive and your motivation will manifest into sustained momentum.

Curated and adapted from this article: 5 Steps to Rescue Your Productivity: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226446#ixzz2RZQ7UPoh

Need to jumpstart your results? Then you'll want to get the book Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed, how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy =>Have it your way -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book (audio also available on iTunes)

Also on Kindle: Declutter Your Life From The Inside Out