Take Back Your Life!

Become More Productive

Many managers believe that productivity means getting the maximum number of activities accomplished daily. Wrong. Productivity means “getting the right things done.” Identifying the correct things to do requires setting “meaningful objectives,” vital reference points for any organizational system. Clear goals focus your activities. They help you understand what data to collect, what decisions to consider, and how to organize, plan, prioritize and use your time.

Beware of “internal limiting beliefs” that blocks productivity. These destructive ideas include: “I should be able to handle all the information that’s coming to me,” “I must respond to all requests,” “I am not a disciplined person,” and “Someone will ask me for it, and so I must keep it.” Substitute positive new precepts, such as “Discipline is a decision, not a personality trait,” “I can be organized and use a system effectively,” and “I [can] create boundaries that allow me to manage interruptions successfully.” To institute this type of thinking, change the way you plan, organize and handle your responsibilities. Microsoft Outlook can be a very helpful tool in that campaign, particularly...