Increasing Productivity at Work

If you want to get ahead in the work place, one of the best ways to do it is by increasing your productivity. Increasing productivity at work is a great way to show your worth to your boss, as well as being able to get ahead on the various tasks that you have to do. Increasing your productivity is fairly easy to do, as long as you follow these simple guidelines.

• Get rid of clutter. Having a cluttered workspace can dramatically decrease your general productivity. Take time periodically each day to straighten things up around you. This will help reduce the possibility of any interruptions or any distractions that can take away your focus.
• Manage your time, don't let it manage you. It is really easy to allow time to get away from you. Use deadlines to help you manage your time as much as possible. Some examples of how you can do this would be to limit the amount of time that you spend on any given task. This will enable you to focus on that particular task, while also allowing you to take a break and work on other things as well.
• Get rid of interruptions. Remove as many possible interruptions as you can. Interruptions have a tendency to suck up more time out of your day than you would believe. For example, a simple five minute phone call can actually end up removing ten to fifteen minutes of productive work. If at all possible, avoid answering the phone, avoid chasing butterflies on the internet, and so on.
• Get the most out of meetings. For many people in the corporate world, meetings are simply a way of life. Despite the fact that many meetings are a huge drain on the productivity of the individual workers who have to attend them, they are still a necessary evil. However, they do not need to be. Take full advantage of any meetings that you have to attend. Make note of any questions that you have, or questions that pertain to your field, and the answers that are given. If you agree to do anything, make sure that you write down what was agreed, and when it was agreed to be done by. These notes can (and should) become your to-do list to prepare for the next meeting. After all, this is what meetings are supposed to be about—increasing productivity.