Posts Tagged ‘productivity’ |
The Myth of Multi-Tasking: Learning to Reprioritize and Just Say “No”
May 31st, 2011 by Jessica Weinandt
Remember when you were young and it was a challenge to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time? Remember how after some practice you’d be able to clumsily perform this feat for a minute or two? This was likely your first attempt at multi-tasking.
Fast-forward 30 years, and you are probably still trying to do two things (or if you’re anything like me, then it’s more like three or four things) at once. Respond to e-mail while you participate in a conference call? No problem! Text message while you’re doing your homework? Sure thing! Right?
Wrong! While it may seem like you’re successfully multi-tasking, in reality you’re likely stumbling clumsily through both tasks that you’re attempting, doing neither of them very well. Humans are not multi-taskers. This is particularly evident when you try to complete two similar tasks at the same time – they are both competing to use the same part of your brain – slowing you down as a result. Studies show that putting yourself in this type of situation can knock a whopping ten points off of your IQ – comparable to losing an entire night’s sleep. In fact, studies show that when you’re frequently Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Behavior Change, Focus, Individual Performance, Mult-tasking, productivity
Posted in productivity, self development, Self-Awareness | No Comments »
Taking a Break to Recharge: An Organizational Imperative for a Sustainable Future
September 20th, 2010 by Jeremy Lurey
Summer has quickly come and gone again, so it must be time to dig in and get back to work, right? Wrong! In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business environment, business leaders must continually make “getting away” an organizational imperative to ensure the long-term viability of their organizations. Taking time away from work is the only sure-fire way to get the rest we need as humans to recharge our engines and maintain high levels of functioning and enhanced performance longer-term. So why do many of us continue charging hard day in and day out as if the world may come to an end if we don’t?
Many might say it’s just a sign of the times and ask, “Is it really appropriate to take a break at this point in time?” Unemployment has soared to astronomical heights in recent past, and many (Americans at least) are still struggling just to hang on to their jobs to avoid bank foreclosures on their homes. Some economists report that the economy is showing signs of recovery, but it’s going to be quite some time before Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Employee Benefits, Leadership, Management, organizational culture, productivity
Posted in Employee Benefits, Leadership, Management Practice, organizational culture, productivity | No Comments »
The 4 P’s of Olympic Gold: Grooming the Next Generation of Shaun Whites in your Organization
March 15th, 2010 by Jeremy Lurey
Whether it’s a skater or skier or snowboarder or other, everyone who won a Gold Medal in Vancouver recently is a role model for us all. Practice, patience, persistence, and passion – the 4 P’s of Olympic Gold – are likely mantras for all these winners. Shaun White, in particular, is a true living example of exactly what every senior executive and business leader should be focused on creating in their organizations – not because he won gold on the half pipe, but because he won gold after winning gold on the half pipe!
That’s right. Shaun White was standing at the top of his second and final run when the results came in, and he found out that he already won the gold medal without even completing his last run. In that very moment, he had a choice- Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: coaching, executive coaching, future of OD, Leadership, OD, Olympics, Organization Development, organizational culture, personal growth, productivity, senior executive, Shaun White, Winter 2010 Olympics
Posted in Accelerated workplace, business, Groups/Teams, OD Insights, topical | 2 Comments »
From Fringe to Mainstream: Self Development & Technology for Extraordinary Performance
March 2nd, 2010 by Michael Liskin
Current science has legitimized the power of thoughts, words, breath, meditation, and world-view to have direct and lasting effects on our performance, happiness, and well-being. As studies in neurobiology, behavioral genetics, and quantum theory begin to confirm what has long been known by practitioners of—sometimes ancient—wisdom, we may see a new acceptance of ideas embraced by those who were once chided as “touchy-feely” types. Below I’ll provide a “top 7” list of areas to consider and specific solutions that may make a difference in your life—but I would be doing you a disservice if I were to rank-order these solutions or tell you what works “best,” rather than provide you with a call-to-action to reflect on your life, explore these options, and find what resonates for you as initial steps. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: brain, breath, coaching, executive coaching, fight or flight, flow, meditation, mind-body, peak performance, personal development, personal growth, productivity, self development, transformation
Posted in Accelerated workplace, self development, Work/Life Balance | 2 Comments »
Employee Engagement: Changing Workplace Conversations
February 9th, 2010 by Cris Hagen
Every major consulting or research firm has the data to prove it. Engaged employees are not only happy employees, but they are much, much more productive employees. They make companies more profitable, and shareholders richer. (Click here to download a Gallup white paper on the power of employee engagement as a core business strategy.)
I think that most leaders are coming around to believe that this is a truth: engaged employees are a good thing for the business. The problem is that many leaders have trouble figuring out what it takes to get those employees “engaged”.
Let’s make it clear. “Engaged” employees are emotionally involved with their job, their company, and their co-workers. Some of their co-workers become friends outside the workplace, and they care about and support one another.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that HR departments in companies should start planning weekly company picnics or make a return to “fermentation Fridays”. I’m not suggesting that we run a “social Meet Up” application on the company intranet.
We don’t need to run “team building” meetings and ropes courses in every department to get employees engaged. And no, we don’t need executives to do a weekly “lunch with the President” meeting (UNLESS the “Pres” is willing to stick with the program and actually follow through on his/her commitment to meet with employees, get to know them, and do something about their suggestions).
What I am saying is that the major reasons employees:
- Enjoy being at work
- Are willing to give more effort to work
- Feel good when they tell their friends and family about their work
…are that they: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: employee engagement, engagement, groups, OD, Organization Development, organizational culture, productivity, team building, teams, workplace, Workplace Policies
Posted in Accelerated workplace, Collaboration, Groups/Teams, OD Insights, Workplace Culture, Workplace Policies | 3 Comments »
The Power of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
February 1st, 2010 by Jeremy Lurey
Stuck in a rut? Still worried about the recession? Well, I hate to say it, but you know you’re doing it to yourself, right?
Self-fulfilling prophecies are very powerful. Now I’m not saying that the skies are always filled with warm sunshine and pretty rainbows. I am, however, saying that you can choose to see them that way if you want.
Does this all sound easy to say for a guy who was born and raised in Los Angeles where it’s “shorts weather” most of the time? Well it is, but not because of the physical weather around me. It all has to do with my perspective on how I choose to view the world. I’m not ignorant to the global financial crisis we all experienced in 2009. I’m not even in denial about how much hard work it’s going to take to dig ourselves out of the mess we’re all in. I just believe in myself and know at the bottom of my heart that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
Two years ago, I decided I was on the downhill slide of being overweight and physically unfit. No argument about how I got that way – too much holiday cheer, not enough time at the gym, too many late nights working and definitely not enough sleep! For the better part of a year, I told myself, “It’s OK. It’s just a busy time at work.” But then I said, “This is ridiculous! I’m not even 40, and I refuse to spend the rest of my life like this…” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: economy, exercise, goals, mindset, personal development, personal growth, personal power, productivity, self development, self-fulfilling prophecy, success
Posted in self development, topical, Work/Life Balance | No Comments »
Plus Delta Presents at ASTD Los Angeles, Thursday, 1/28, on Strategic Organization Renewal
January 18th, 2010 by Cris Hagen
In today’s turbulent times, employees are discouraged by the continuing global economic crisis and broader world news, organizations are becoming completely consumed by draconian cost-cutting measures simply to stay afloat, and customers are still finding it difficult to make purchasing decisions. During this period of furious business change, now is the time for business leaders to take the offensive and renew their organizations.
STRATEGIC ORGANIZATION RENEWAL unlocks value in your business by optimizing organizational performance and protecting customer loyalty. By engaging this process, business leaders align near-term business strategies necessitated by today’s unprecedented economic challenges with not only the desire but also the ability to prosper in the recovery.
Join us for an engaging session on January 28, 2010 at ASTD – Special Division (Organization Development)– where we explore the concepts and share practical tips for renewing your organization! Learn how to change the game by using this opportunity to renew your business and create a ready platform for growth and innovation in the future.
In this session, we will:
• Discuss today’s unprecedented economic challenges and our current context for change as the recovery sets in
• Review the concepts of Strategic Organization Renewal – a proven approach for optimizing organizational performance and protecting customer loyalty
• Develop specific strategies you can use to put this powerful approach into action and produce better business results before it’s too late.
For more information, click here.
Tags: American Society for Training and Development, ASTD, economic recovery, OD, Organization Development, Plus Delta, productivity, SOR, Strategic Organization Renewal, workplace
Posted in Accelerated workplace, business, economic recovery, Events, OD Insights, topical | 1 Comment »
5 Steps to Improved Performance As You Kickoff the New Year
January 13th, 2010 by Jeremy Lurey
All of us at Plus Delta Consulting have been reflecting on what we will do as we enter the New Year to improve performance in our organization – and with our client organizations. 2009 was a rocky year for many, and I for one am very glad to put it behind me. With that said, I’d be remiss if I simply said, “Thank God it’s over!” without doing any planning for 2010.
As we enter the New Year then, we’d like to recommend 5 simple steps for you to drastically improve performance in your organization. What steps have you taken or do you plan to take as you begin the New Year to produce better results? Please take a moment to comment below and share your own actions and ideas with us and all of our readers. Until then, here’s our list!
1. Plan your future from the future:
If anything was possible for you and your organization in one year from now (or even 10), how would you have the future be? Suspend reality for just a moment, and don’t worry about being practical or even reasonable. Focus on defining your ideal future based on your most important values and longer-term business objectives. And don’t frame this as “fixing” something that already exists or working within your current constraints. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: executive coaching, goals, high performance, Management, management processes, mentoring, mentorship, new year, OD, online networking, Organization Development, organizational culture, productivity, social networking, transparency, workplace, Workplace Policies
Posted in Accelerated workplace, business, Collaboration, Groups/Teams, OD Insights, Social Media, topical, Work/Life Balance, Workplace Culture, Workplace Policies | 1 Comment »
Managing Your Organizational Processes During the Economic Recovery
January 6th, 2010 by Michael Liskin
The following is a guest post by our own Jack Weber, Executive Consultant at Plus Delta Consulting:
At Plus Delta, we have experienced an ever increasing flow of feedback from our clients and others that the long anticipated economic recovery is happening and the pace of the recovery will increase significantly. The information we have received is corroborated by government figures and statistics – for example: the Consumer Confidence Index rose in December, the first time in over a year; the Monthly Home Sales Prices are up for the 5th straight month and over the last 3 months have risen nearly 20%; the Gross Domestic Product increased 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the 2nd quarter of 2009.
A recovering economy dictates that your organization must be prepared for changes. Our business climate dramatically changed in 2008 and early 2009 when the U.S. economy nearly came to a complete halt. Processes in your organization were also changed; people assumed multiple roles while they tried to accomplish the same amount of work as two or more downsized workers.
Getting frustrated by conflicting demands to continue to stabilize your organization through the traditional methods of cost cutting, job layoffs, hiring part time workers, early retirement of older workers, etc.– while trying to ramp up for the arriving economic recovery will do no good.
What is mandatory is that planning must start right now. You must begin to work with your organization to prepare for a long anticipated positive move forward. You hoped for it; you asked for it, even begged for it. Now you have got it. But what to do? Here are 5 steps to get you started:
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: economic recovery, feedback, Jack Weber, OD, Organization Development, organizational culture, organizational performance, productivity, surveys, SWOT, SWOT analysis, workplace
Posted in Accelerated workplace, business, Groups/Teams, OD Insights | 1 Comment »
6 Suggestions on How to Work From Home and Stay Productive
December 10th, 2009 by Cris Hagen
More and more I see companies embracing “work-at-home” policies, not only as a way to be more “green” by keeping cars off the road, but as a way to reduce the real estate “footprint” in the office. Some companies estimate the cost of maintaining office space for an employee at around $9,000/year. These same companies are offering as much as $1,000 for work-at-home employees to purchase the necessary office equipment to set up and maintain a home office.
So as the economic drivers for working at home seem to be well established and as companies define the appropriate policies and procedures for determining which jobs lend themselves to “working-at-home” (not to mention the question of how managers will measure the productivity of employees working at home), the question is, how does the “work-at-home” employee stay productive?
Speaking from experience, I would like to offer the following suggestions, and then invite the reader to contribute their own ideas. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: home office, Organization Development, organizational culture, productive working, productivity, work from home, working from home, workplace, Workplace Policies
Posted in Accelerated workplace, OD Insights, trends, Work/Life Balance, Workplace Culture, Workplace Policies | No Comments »
