Increase Your Focus
Increase Your Focus
There's nothing worse than realizing you've put in a long day and accomplished virtually nothing. How did it happen? You could've sworn you were busy — you certainly didn't just sit there. People flew in and out of your office, the phone rang incessantly, emails blinked on your screen ...
If this sounds familiar, take heart. You're not alone.
So many people are working 12 or 14 hour days and they're still not getting what they want done. In our fast-paced work world, more and more business leaders are struggling to keep up. The demands for higher customer service, higher productivity and better results are pulling people in all different directions.
Ready to get focused and pack more into your day? Here's how:
1. Be clear on what is important. Recognize there is a difference between being busy and being effective. Start by defining your goals and putting them down in writing. One approach is writing your priorities on a whiteboard in your office. When other tasks pop up, you always have a guide to keep them focused.
2. Implement focus time. Open up your day timer and schedule an appointment to finish certain tasks. It's easier to get things done if you dedicate a specific block of time to accomplishing them. Choose a time when you're most alert. For most people that's early in the day.
3. Ignore the phone. Studies show that it takes a minimum of five minutes to recover from an interruption, says Samiec, who notes that the average businessperson receives five phone calls an hour. Put these two facts together and you'll notice phone calls are taking up a huge chunk of time. Turn off the ringer during your allotted focus time (tip #2) and covering up the red flashing light. Let the call go to voice mail or have the receptionist say you're in a meeting.
4. Stay away from emails. Do you open every email as soon as it comes in? This distraction is eating up valuable time. Set aside two or three times a day to check and respond to email. Disable those pesky reminders that pop up on the screen.
You may not be able to control all your time, but using these tips you can make effective use of the time you have to create periods of focus and achieve more.
Increase Your Focus - To learn more about this author, visit Ellen Samiec's Website.
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Unable to concentrate on the task at hand? Don't waste work time with daydreams or frazzled thoughts. Here's how to increase your focus and get back to business.
There's nothing worse than realizing you've put in a long day and accomplished virtually nothing. How did it happen? You could've sworn you were busy — you certainly didn't just sit there. People flew in and out of your office, the phone rang incessantly, emails blinked on your screen ...
If this sounds familiar, take heart. You're not alone.
So many people are working 12 or 14 hour days and they're still not getting what they want done. In our fast-paced work world, more and more business leaders are struggling to keep up. The demands for higher customer service, higher productivity and better results are pulling people in all different directions.
Ready to get focused and pack more into your day? Here's how:
1. Be clear on what is important. Recognize there is a difference between being busy and being effective. Start by defining your goals and putting them down in writing. One approach is writing your priorities on a whiteboard in your office. When other tasks pop up, you always have a guide to keep them focused.
2. Implement focus time. Open up your day timer and schedule an appointment to finish certain tasks. It's easier to get things done if you dedicate a specific block of time to accomplishing them. Choose a time when you're most alert. For most people that's early in the day.
3. Ignore the phone. Studies show that it takes a minimum of five minutes to recover from an interruption, says Samiec, who notes that the average businessperson receives five phone calls an hour. Put these two facts together and you'll notice phone calls are taking up a huge chunk of time. Turn off the ringer during your allotted focus time (tip #2) and covering up the red flashing light. Let the call go to voice mail or have the receptionist say you're in a meeting.
4. Stay away from emails. Do you open every email as soon as it comes in? This distraction is eating up valuable time. Set aside two or three times a day to check and respond to email. Disable those pesky reminders that pop up on the screen.
You may not be able to control all your time, but using these tips you can make effective use of the time you have to create periods of focus and achieve more.
Increase Your Focus - To learn more about this author, visit Ellen Samiec's Website.
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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