productivity

Piles Versus Files

Any way you stack it, some work is meant to be left out in the open.READ»

• Ellen Lupton's Design Your Life blog

10 Ways to Get More Done with Less Stress

When it comes to getting things done in your business, do you find yourself drowning in overwhelm? Do you feel frustrated or confused by trying to figure out where to start or what comes next? Is procrastination the default for handling your stress? It doesn’t have to be that way.READ»

Seeing and Being Seen

Whether it's home-based or a third place, it's all about being visible in your workspace.READ»

• Ellen Lupton's Design Your Life blog

Facebook Is a Big Employee Distraction, but Is It All Bad?

Of all the bits and bobs of news about Facebook, this latest really should be a surprise to no one: According to a survey by Nucleus, it's a huge distraction for office workers. What is interesting is just how big a distraction it ...READ»

Are bad employees ruining your business?

It’s a brand new day.  You wake up after a great night’s sleep and get ready for work.  You have objectives to meet, deadlines approaching and meetings scheduled which will make for a very full day.  After a quick ...READ»

The Visibility Principle

What's the key to organization and productivity? You'll see.READ»

• Introducing Guest Blogger Ellen Lupton: Welcoming Design Into Our Daily Lives

A New Twist on Boosting Self-Confidence

She sat on the floor amongst a pile of papers and cried.  Everywhere she looked, something needed to be done.  Bills were stacked, envelopes strewn about, unopened cards and grocery receipts cluttered the room.  All she ...READ»

Ten Mac Apps That Make Windows Users Drool

// Used to be that Windows users could admit the Mac was easy to use--they just complained there wasn't any software for the platform. Apple knew their weakness, too, so they endeavored to turn their developer tools into the envy ...READ»

5 Things You Must Know About Sudden Success

These are very interesting times.  The world seems to be polarized - truly feast or famine.  Businesses are going under and the cries of “the economic crisis” ripple through the planet like waves ripple out when you ...READ»

Observe your thoughts – are you in the NOW or somewhere else?

You know that feeling you have when you are thoroughly engaged in something and time seems to stand still?   You are so focused and engrossed. It’s fun, it feels good, and you’re very productive! Then something ...READ»

Is your “busy” productive?

You are so busy. There’s so much to do, so much to see, so many people to contact. And yet, do you find that your actions aren’t bringing you the results you want?  Busy does not equate to productive. You may be ...READ»

Productivity and the Lost Art of Prompt Follow Up

Staying productive while waiting for people to follow up, especially when they possess information I need to move forward, is something I struggle with. Actually, it’s more the loose ends that their lack of responsiveness cause ...READ»

The Neurobiology of Trust

n the past few years, we've uncovered how the human brain determines when to trust someone. Scientists now point to a simple molecule--oxytocin--as a major player. What implications does this have for organizations, and their leaders wanting to increase levels of trust?READ»

Traditional 'keyword' search founded by the first generation job sites is broken.

It is a frustrating experience for both employer and job seeker. First generation job sites continue to focus on generic employment requirements offering no differentiation to users and yield below 11%! Americans are growing ...READ»

Here's an Automotive Bailout Plan that is Second to None

A couple of friends of mine put together an automotive bailout plan that is far superior to anything that the Detroit automotive companies or the Congress have come up with. If you like this plan, please send it to your ...READ»

Are Employees Twittering Away Productivity?

Answers to executives' tough questions about microsharing in the enterprise. As the enterprise microsharing market grows all in, I hear from skeptical leaders befuddled by this trend, wanting to be reassured their people aren't ...READ»

It's Truly Amazing What's Happened To The American Auto Industry During The Past Forty Years

In 1968, I was a senior at Michigan State University.  At the time, GM, Ford and Chrysler were counted among the pillars of the American economy and they owned the domestic auto market.  Also at that time, Honda made small ...READ»

GM-Chrysler Merger Does Not Guarantee Success

I see where GM and Chrysler are seriously talking about merging.  The two companies are saying that if they didn't merge, there's a good chance that one or both of the companies will fail.  On the other hand, the logic goes that ...READ»

Senior Management Has More Influence Over Employee Discretionary Effort Than The Immediate Boss

 It’s a long held belief that the immediate boss has the most influence over how much discretionary effort an employee is willing to apply toward his or her job.  Towers Perrin, in their Global Workforce Study which included ...READ»

Being Nice is a Hallmark of a Successful Manager

How many times have you heard people say something like, "If you're nice, people will take advantage of you?"  Or, "If you're nice, people will think you're a pushover?"  Or, "Nice people finish ...READ»

Many Businesses Could Learn a Lot From an Honest Critique

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal pointed out how some progressive churches are hiring the services of a "mystery worshiper."  Thomas Harrison, a former pastor, poses as a first time church attendee and, while ...READ»

There Are Some Things Wal-Mart Just Doesn't Get

Wal-Mart has long been known as a very successful retailer.  It is also known as an employer that pays at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to employee wages and benefits.  As a result, the rates of employee theft and ...READ»

Toyota Makes Effective Use of Temporary Plant Shut downs

It was recently reported in The Wall Street Journal that when a plant is temporarily shut down at GM, Ford or Chrysler, workers receive most of their pay, but don't have to show up--this is spelled out in their union contracts.  ...READ»

Nonsense At Work

Please sleep at work: Oh, the lazy, hazy days of summer.  The perfect time to sleep at work.  You’ve never done that?  In the good old days when I had a regular job I napped at work.  I was a bachelor then, but that’s ...READ»

Worker, Interrupted: The Cost of Task Switching

Fast Interview: When is interruption is helpful? Why can't most of us stay on task for more than three minutes? Is the best way to achieve flow to just unplug? Gloria Mark, Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, has some answers.READ»

• 10 Rules of Effective Brainstorming