You need to find your productivity motivation, if you want to be more effective on the job. It’s easy to talk about saving time, going home on time, and having less stress in your life. But to get there, you need to make a commitment to your career and performing better at work.
It’s the reason why you’re willing to make and then stick with a change in how you do things. Sometimes, you may try something new but drop it like a diet at a state fair. Your intentions were good but the follow through was lacking.
Take a moment and consider why you’ll benefit from being more effective at work. I first became aware of the concept of productivity as a four-year old.
Growing up in Ohio, I discovered my productivity motivation after a snow storm. Outside my home or school was a new playground of fresh powder. The possibilities for fun seemed endless.
When it was time to play outside, I realized the faster I could put on my boots (anyone remember having to put plastic bags over your socks so your feet would slide easier into the boot), my jacket, my hat, my scarf, and my mittens, the sooner I would be able get to the fun stuff.
At school, I’d sometimes see classmates struggling to get dressed to go out in the snow. Unlike me, they didn’t keep their mittens or hat in the same pocket, so they’d never know where to find them. They didn’t get dressed the same way every time. These things would slow them down, even thought they were equally excited to go outside.
While this productivity “edge” wasn’t earth shattering, big snowfalls were a big deal for a kid. It was worth my making some changes to my behavior.
Discover your productivity motivation. Maybe it’s time spent with family, a promotion, or a raise. Keep it in your mind, as a way to support committing to more effective behavior.
It’s easy to want to change. It’s better to want to change for a specific reason or benefit.
Does your next meeting need something special?
