The Pomodoro Technique

I came across this variation of an established time managment technique recently.

Select a task.  Set a timer (the pomodoro) for 25 minutes  When it rings, stop and rest for 5 minutes.

Select another task and repeat. Everty 4 pomodoros, take a longer break.

You will find you get more done!

If you want to know more, go to http://www.pomodorotechnique.com

Drive Time

How many of your workers have long commutes?

How many of those same workers have company laptops or netbooks?

How many of them could do useful work if they did have one?

If those answers work out for you, you then have to think through a strategy that will get them to do (some of) that useful work ... perhaps in return for having the laptop the rest of the time for personal use.

Conserve Energy

We are all being urged to conserve energy - to insulate our homes, use less power, use more fuel-efficient devices, etc.

Now, think about your workplace. Lots of energy being used up ... I don't mean the power and heating ... I mean the workforce themselves.

How much of that energy could be saved if we just planned things better? ... or executed better?

That energy costs you money .. you'd better see how you can save some of it!

Its not rocket science

For many small businesses, labour is the primary cost.

If we want to make our labour more productive, we have to do one of two things.

1. Cut the number of people we employ.
2. Get more output from the people we do employ.

Assuming you don't want to ... or can't because of contractual reasons - choose the first option, you have to do the second.

So what are you doing to get more from your people. Training them? Giving them better equipment? Changing what they do? Changing how they do what they do? Motivating them?

None of these ... then you're in trouble!

Achieve!

Do you want to achieve? Of course you do.

To achieve is to succeed in reaching a goal. This means if you don't have goals, you can't achieve.

So make your goals explicit rather than implicit - to yourself, your managers, your teams ... And do so in forms and language that is relevant to them.

After all they have to achieve for you to do so.

Sometimes we achieve more by setting out to do less.

I'm sure you are a busy person. Lots to do, lots to think about, lots to manage. Well, perhaps things might be better if you thought more and did less. Take the time to think things through. Then, act ... but only then.

Its also worth thinking about those things you don't need to do at all ... there are usually some of those on most people's agendas.

So, sit back ... and think. You'll get more done!

Do you want happy staff?

Are happy and contented staff less productive?

If you take the time and effort to make your staff happy at work, content with their lot ... are you automatically setting up lower productivity?

After all unhappy staff might be motivated to transform their lot ... work their way out of their current situation. Contented staff might not do anything to harm their current situation ... like working hard enough to alert you to their prowess and possible promotion possibilities.

We talk about 'comfort zones' ... stifling innovation, for example.

So, is there a balance to be struck? Do we need to maintain a (healthy) tension in the workplace. If so, are we sure we can focus that tension to our benefit?