Imagine this; all your co-workers walking around the office with a white collar strapped over their heads to block out distractions. A photograph portraying this scenario was included in the Globe and Mail article Research proves it – your colleagues are slowing you down by Rebecca Dube. The collar was created by a London artist “as a comment on isolation,” however, I am sure there are times when we all would welcome a collar to block out distractions.
Technology is facilitating faster more frequent communication. Although networking is essential to business success, constant interruptions can negatively impact productivity when we are trying to focus on and complete a task. Dube comments on research that proves we are distracted when we can see others performing tasks unrelated to ours, even if it is in our peripheral vision.
To improve productivity, each worker has his or her own habits. I like to make sure I have all the tools I will need for a task within easy reach before I sit down (telephone, printer, resources etc.). Whenever I can, I try to get an early start by checking e-mail and responding to important inquiries before my day begins. If possible, I try to take a quick daily walk to allow me to think through the day’s priorities.
In her article, Dube suggests maintaining a “daily task list,” rewarding yourself for accomplishing a goal, keeping busy and working for an allotted period of time on a project instead of “slogging through a project until it’s done.”
Jason Womak, a time management expert recommends completing a time log for three days by recording tasks every thirty minutes. He proposes that this will make it easy to identify how time gets wasted and when the best times to work on certain tasks occur.
Do you have any time management tips you wish to share?
References:
Dube, Rebecca. “Research proves it – your colleagues are slowing you down.” Globe and Mail, March 17, 2008.
Womak, Jason. “Where does the time go?” Solutions for the Speed of Life [www.jasonwomack.com]. Obtained April 4, 2008.
