You don’t always have to work hard to be productive. Productivity can simply be the side effect of doing the right things.
So here’s a list of 29 semi-productive things I do online when my mind is set on avoiding ‘real work.’
Tag Archive for: Productivity
[by Diane Chinn]
What happens when you hear the phrase process improvement? Do you groan or sigh? Do you think "this is going to be a lot of work and take a lot of time?" Typically, this is the natural response to the concept of process improvement. But, it does not have to be that way. Here are five (5) simple steps that you can take to improve the productivity of you business
There are certain basic tasks that must be done to make a business successful. Sometimes it is useful to take a fresh look at these basics to see that the organization is still on track. If there are fundamental problems in the daily operations of your business, changes in other areas may not lead to improvements. Concepts like orderliness, cleanliness, discipline, and managing costs and prices are examples of fundamentals in any organization. Also, when employees' basic needs are not being met, we cannot expect to make meaningful improvements in other areas. Taking care of the basics can lead to improved productivity, safety, and employee satisfaction. Adopting the 5S philosophy of Kaizen (Japanese taken from the words kai, which means change, and zen, which means good) is one way to take care of the basics. This is a frequently used tool from the LEAN Six Sigma tool box.
The 5S model includes:
o Sort: Clear out unused or rarely used items from the work areas
o Straighten: Create a place for everything and everything in its place
o Shine: Keep things clean, no dirt or trash in the work place. Regularly look for and remove things that could interfere with quality, timely work.
o Standardize: Develop systems and procedures to maintain productivity and quality work.
o Sustain: Use regularly management audits to maintain a stabilized workplace
Example:
The number of claims by third part administrators because of errors was a serious problem for one hospital. Incorrect claims led to additional work for claims staff and delays in reimbursements for the hospital. A process improvement team was established to address the issue. They interviewed claims processors and others in the business office. They found that noise levels and constant interruptions made it difficult for claims processors to complete an entire claim transaction without disruption. Disruptions led to missed steps in the claims process Simple changes were made to correct the problem. Employees who liked to listen to music while they worked were asked to use headphone and each claims processor was given a block of "protected time" each week. During this protected time, they could forward their telephone calls to a co-worker and were not available for meetings. With these simple changes, the volume of returned claims decreased by 40%.
Kaizen is a good starting point for process improvement that is quick and easy and will result in measurable and sustainable productivity improvement.
Diane Chinn is an organizational development consultant and writer. I have more than 20 years of experience in many aspects of business operations, employee and management development, information technology, and business communications. Please visit my website at http://www.whenwriting.com or you can contact me at diane.wrties.com
I learnt something as I unpacked my bags recently. I'd just returned from a 3-day trip to regional towns around New Zealand. I pulled out some items I needed immediately and then caught myself thinking, ‘I'll finish unpacking later.'
‘No you won't. You'll do it now!' said the little voice on my shoulder.
With a brief flutter of resistance, my procrastinating self crept back into her hole. Within five minutes the job was done, the room was tidy, and I knew I could come back into the room later without that awful sinking feeling of ‘Darn it, I've still got to put all this stuff away!'
I noticed something else. It's easier to shift a moving object than a stationary one, it generates higher energy, and it's less time-consuming. It's when we have to go back to something that we end up in a muddle, it slows us down, procrastination becomes a familiar companion, and tidiness becomes a hard and challenging chore.
The hardest part is the decision to act. Next time, as you stand there being tempted to head down the grey tunnel of ‘slob-itis', try one of the following strategies:
- See yourself coming back into this pristine space with nothing shouting ‘You've still got to put me away.'
- Hear the congratulations of your dearly beloveds (or surprised work colleagues if it's a work situation).
- Feel your delight and joy as you connect with the freedom of no clutter.
- Think back to the last time you did put things away quickly. Remember your thoughts and feelings, the mental pictures and the sounds attached to that positive memory. Build them big in your memory and let the positive energy attached to that memory impel you forward into action NOW.
- Reward yourself. It might be as small as five minutes to sit and look at the view, take a walk outside, sit down with a relaxing book or magazine, talk on the phone to your best friend, have that chocolate you've hidden from yourself - whatever turns you on.
Next time, when you:
- Complete a task at work - put away tools and paperwork.
- Return from a trip - unpack everything immediately.
- Get out of bed - make it.
- Dress or undress - hang things up and put the dirty washing in the basket (or ready to go out the door next time you leave your bedroom).
- Eat something - clean up after yourself.
- Arrive home with used sports gear - clean and store it ready for next time.
- Finish a task in the garage, workshop or garden - clean down and put away the tools.
- Come in from work or town with a bundle of items - groceries, post, accounts to pay, magazines to put away - whatever miscellany you typically bring home - put them straight away.
Last thoughts:
- What's clutter? Just something in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Every piece of paper or equipment lying around is a symptom of a decision not made or an action not completed.
- Space and clutter strugglers just stop too soon - the job's not done until it's all put away. Just shift the finish line.
- Why make it hard when it could be easy - all for the sake of another two or three minutes?
- Capitalise on your existing momentum. Do it now!
Remember, it's faster (and a lot easier) to shift a moving object than a stationary one!
Publisher: Robyn Pearce robyn@gettingagrip.com http://www.gettingagrip.com © GettingAGrip.com 2006
I've recently returned from a 3 day seminar, full of renewed enthusiasm and information that, when actioned, will make a dramatic difference to all aspects of my business and my personal life.
There were also many other people there, who like myself attend seminars and conferences to gain more knowledge so they too can improve their lives.
However, it's not the knowledge that makes the difference, it's the application of that knowledge.
Are you one of those people who regularly attends events to learn more, get all hyped up and excited on the actual day, write a book full of notes and proclaim to everyone in earshot that 'this is it! I have found the magic pill that will transform my work and my life'.
What do you do after that? Do you return home still excited, promising yourself that you will implement what you've learned? Do you stay excited for another couple of days, 'get busy' and then do nothing? Or do you return home, excited, plan when you'll take action and actually do it?
Here are some useful tips you can use so that you do something with the knowledge. Because if you do nothing with what you learn, the time, money and energy that you have invested to attend have been a total waste.
