Being productive is a skill. When you are productive, performance typically follows.
Unlike your height, productivity is in your control. Paying attention to things that are important determines your focus. Seeing an opportunity and jumping on it immediately determines your urgency. Acting differently from how you feel determines your progress.
If you care about productivity, this week is for you:
I. You can do anything, but not everything.
What it means:
Any great parent has said to their child, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” This is true outside of a few jobs that require a certain set of genetic advantages. However, many professionals make the mistake of believing they can do anything and everything.
Being productive requires focus. When you try to do anything and everything, you reject excellence and embrace mediocrity. Stop trying to do everything for everyone. Get focused.
Your job isn’t to be busy, it’s to be productive.
What it means:
Most people take pride in telling others how busy they are. However, being busy isn’t a badge of honor; being productive is.
The hardest part about this principle is that there are a lot of things going on in your life that make you busy. It’s your job to understand what is major and what is minor. What you need to prioritize to boost your productivity.
III. Be ruthless with your environment.
What it means:
Ava Sinclair wrote, “Your environment significantly impacts your productivity.” A messy desk, an uninspiring office, or having your phone easily accessible are great examples of an environment that doesn’t enhance productivity.
If you desire productivity and performance, you must be ruthless with your environment. You don’t have enough willpower and discipline to reject all the temptations that are clamoring for your attention. Remove them from your environment to make the choices easier.
Keep Leading Your Best,
John Eades | CEO LearnLoft
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Life is too short to work for a toxic manager.
Unfortunately, even great companies have bad managers. While there is no perfect leader, your expectations shouldn't be such. However, here are the things you should look for in your manager:
1. They are growing personally
2. They care authentically
3. They demand consistently
4. They coach and provide feedback constantly
5. They care about performance and people
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