Guidewire Software’s Post

Good read and good tips for managing time

Personal Productivity Productivity Is About Your Systems, Not Your People The pursuit of individual productivity is healthy and worthwhile. However, unless you work independently outside of an organization, the benefits of most “tricks” will be limited. To make a real impact on performance, you have to work at the system level. The author recommends four ways to improve productivity and efficiency by making changes at the organizational level. Create a system of tiered huddles that allow issues to be escalated to the next level of responsibility in a timely manner. Use systems that visually represent where work is so that collaborators have visibility into where a project stands. Make it clear how people should communicate depending on the complexity and urgency of the issue. And, make sure that people responsible for getting tasks done also have the authority to make necessary decisions. Leaders are always seeking to improve employee productivity (including their own). Getting Things Done, and countless other approaches that tantalize us with promises of peak productivity. Given that people are still overwhelmed by work, buried in email, and unable to focus on critical priorities, it’s safe to say that these productivity hacks just don’t hack it. https://lnkd.in/gkS3FMAh

How smart work enable you faster? 🔍 Prioritization: Smart work involves identifying and prioritizing tasks based on their importance and urgency. By focusing on high-priority tasks first, you can make significant progress quickly. 💪📝 📅 Efficient Planning: Planning is a crucial aspect of smart work. By creating a well-thought-out plan, you can allocate resources, set realistic deadlines, and streamline your workflow, leading to faster and more effective results. 🗓️📊 ⚙️ Automation: Embracing technology and automation can significantly speed up tasks. Smart work involves identifying repetitive and time-consuming activities that can be automated, freeing up your time for more critical and strategic work. 🤖⏩ 🤝 Delegation: Smart workers know when to delegate tasks. Delegating responsibilities to others who are better suited or have the necessary expertise can lead to faster and better results. 🙌📋 �� Continuous Learning: Staying updated on the latest tools, techniques, and industry trends enables you to work more efficiently. Continuous learning helps you adopt new technologies and methodologies that can accelerate your work processes. 📖📈 💬 Effective Communication: Clear and concise communication is a key component of smart work. It minimizes misunderstandings, reduces the need for clarification, and ensures that everyone is on the same page, leading to faster progress. 🗣️✉️ ⏰ Eliminating Time-wasters: Smart workers identify and eliminate activities that do not contribute to their goals. This includes avoiding unnecessary meetings, minimizing distractions, and focusing on tasks that bring real value. ⏳🚫 🔀 Adaptability: Being adaptable allows you to respond quickly to changes and challenges. Smart workers are flexible and can adjust their plans and strategies as needed, avoiding unnecessary delays. 🔄🌪️ 🌴 Strategic Breaks: Smart work includes recognizing the importance of breaks. Taking short breaks when needed can help maintain focus and productivity, preventing burnout and fatigue that can slow down your work. ☕🧘♂️ #evolution #DNA #prioritization #planning #automation #delegation #continuouslearning #communication #timemanagement #adaptability #productivity #efficiency #breaks #worksmart #goals #technology #strategies #success #professionaldevelopment #teamwork

Love this HBR article about approaching productivity from a "systems" point of view versus time management initiatives alone at the individual level. Love the "tiered" huddle system and systems to make work "visible" versus the endless stream of "update emails". #productivity #systems #organizationdevelopment

It's so important for managers to take the time for personal reflection and assessment, just as they do when evaluating their teams' performance. Micromanaging can often indicate a lack of confidence in one's leadership abilities, so focusing on personal growth and trusting your team is vital. Having a mentor and being open to constructive criticism is helpful for improvement. Seeing and evaluating areas for improvement is needed and being open to making necessary changes is crucial for both personal and professional development. I believe managers should show firmness while nurturing harmony within the team and building trust and respect. A peaceful environment and positive work setting not only boost productivity but also promotes better team effectiveness. A high-performing team that consistently produces quality work and delivers value to the business leads to satisfied clients, which in turn drives revenue. When the team's contributions significantly impact revenue, it reflects your effectiveness as a manager and your ability to fulfill your role within the company. 👍👍👍

Only 12% of employees are fully productive at work: While just 13% of teams accomplish planned tasks every week. Clearly, there is a pressing need for a productivity boost. Productivity frameworks can provide a great help in this regard. To support you in enhancing productivity, I curated a special cheat sheet. It encompasses 2 useful productivity frameworks: 1. Warren Buffett’s 5/25 Strategy: ➟ Identify 25 goals or interests that are important to you. ➟ Prioritize the top 5 goals and focus solely on achieving them. ➟ Avoid spending time on the remaining 20 goals from the list. ➟ After achieving the initial set of 5 goals, select the next 5 priorities. 2. Parkinson’s law: ➟ Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. ➟ Set tight deadlines to prevent tasks from stretching out. ➟ Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to maintain focus. ➟ Regularly review deadlines to ensure efficiency and avoid procrastination. Take advantage of those frameworks: ➟Make sure you and your team are highly productive!

The topic of productivity has come up recently with several clients. This is in response to my basic question, “how are you,” and consistently getting the answer “overwhelmed.” So I’m claiming this week as “Productivity Week”! Here are some tips for getting productive before the long weekend: 1️⃣ Turn off your notifications Let’s start with something simple: Ditch the notifications that are keeping you living in your inbox. Outlook has 4 - yes, 4 - different ways to notify of an incoming email. Turn them off to maintain focus on work that is more important. Which leads me to my next point… 2️⃣ Scanning vs. Processing There is a difference between scanning email and processing email - Scan email VERY briefly as needed based on expectations of your role, and reply ONLY to those that are urgent. Save the rest for processing time. Customer service professionals will need to scan more often than most other functional areas, for example. - Schedule several 15-20 minute appointments on your Calendar to batch process instead of constantly checking email every time a notification pops up.. 3️⃣ Live in your CALENDAR. Not in your inbox. Here’s why…  - Your calendar is the only true way to gauge your throughput  - You have a 70% greater chance of completing what’s in your calendar  - You won’t over-commit because you can clearly see what you have space for in your day 4️⃣ When processing your email, use the 4 Ds The FIRST time you process your email, you should do one of these 4 things:  - Delete it - Do it  - Delegate it - Defer it This is my number 1 tip on getting productive, and I will elaborate in tomorrow’s post! 5️⃣ Stop using your inbox as a to-do list Turn emails into what they REALLY are…  -  A phone call to return -  Agenda items -  Prep material to read before a meeting -  Pending item to track -  Etc. Step 6️⃣: Design communication protocols with your team For example…  - Phone call or face to face = urgent - Email = important but not urgent (within x hours) - Instant message – use for quick responses and respect each other’s status Is productivity a struggle for you lately? Try these tips and email me at shani@theleadershiftproject.com. I’ll be your productivity coach!

Eat the frog! I suspect a universal truth is that we all struggle to manage time. Even the best, most confident managers would probably say that they can sometimes use improvement in time management. After all, time is that resource that once you spend it (or fritter it away like many of us, myself included) you can't make more, you can't buy more, you can't recapture it. It was one of the reason I felt it was critical to include in my latest book, The Little Book of Big Ideas for Construction Professionals. In addition to the tips I included in the book, a bonus thought is -- eat your frogs. Attack the least palatable task first and early. It starts to address the procrastination we all entertain. As much as procrastination is not really an issue of managing time, it certainly impacts. At its core, procrastination is an emotion management issue. We procrastinate because there is something about the task that creates a negative emotion - dread, apprehension, contempt - that I encourage my clients to get in touch with. Getting over the hump of procrastination requires us to replace that negative emotion with a positive thought. When I finish this I will be able to do ... When I get done I will feel ... Once I do this I will be ... Attached is the excerpt from my book with 10 other time management tips. Don't let your time manage you! ⏳ What are your best time management tips? 👍 What have you found successful? #timemanagement #coaching #leadership #softskills #technicalprofessionals #construction #constructionindustry #procrastination #professionaldevelopment #nawic #aec #agc #carolinasagc #cagcmembers #asce #acec #namc https://lnkd.in/gbqbhbJy

A simple hack to maximize your efficiency and effectiveness: The Eisenhower Matrix. -------------- This matrix is a powerful, time-tested tool for prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively. Named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, this matrix simplifies decision-making and boosts productivity! The Eisenhower Matrix divides tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance: Quadrant 1 - Urgent and Important: These are your top priorities. Examples: Crisis management, dealing with urgent family matters, pressing deadlines. Quadrant 2 - Important, Not Urgent: These are essential for long-term success and personal development but not immediately pressing. Examples: Strategic planning, personal development, passion projects. Quadrant 3 - Urgent, Not Important: These tasks require attention but can be handled by others. Examples: Some emails, routine reports, adminstrative tasks. Quadrant 4 - Neither Urgent nor Important: These are your least priorities. Examples: doom scrolling, binging Netflix, attending meetings with no clear agenda. How to use the matrix: 1/ List your tasks and categorize them into the four quadrants. 2/ Focus on 'Do First' tasks, but don't neglect the 'Plan & Prioritize' ones. 3/ Delegate 'Urgent, Not Important' tasks whenever possible. 4/ Be ruthless in eliminating time-wasters. Doing this right will: - Sharpen focus on what truly matters. - Reduce stress by organizing tasks effectively. - Increase your productivity and efficiency by 10x. The Eisenhower Matrix isn't just a tool; it's a mindset shift. Prioritize accordingly and watch your productivity soar! --------------- P.S. If you liked this, please repost to share and follow me with daily insights just like this one!

Tim Denning I agree that micromanagement is a significant red flag when it comes to assessing leadership skills. Here’s why I believe this to be true: 1. **Erodes Trust**: Effective leadership is built on trust. Micromanagers undermine this trust by not allowing their team members the freedom to execute their tasks independently. This lack of trust can create a toxic work environment where employees feel undervalued and constantly scrutinized. 2. **Stifles Innovation and Creativity**: When leaders micromanage, they inadvertently stifle the creativity and innovation of their team. Employees are less likely to experiment with new ideas or propose solutions if they feel their every move is being watched and judged. This can lead to a stagnant work culture where innovation is rare. 3. **Decreases Morale and Job Satisfaction**: Continuous oversight can lead to frustration and resentment among team members. Employees who feel they are not trusted to do their jobs may experience decreased morale and job satisfaction, leading to higher turnover rates and lower overall productivity. 4. **Inefficiency in Task Management**: Micromanagement often leads to inefficiencies. Leaders who focus on minute details can lose sight of the bigger picture, resulting in misaligned priorities and wasted time. Efficient delegation is key to ensuring that tasks are completed effectively and on time. 5. **Limits Professional Growth**: Employees need opportunities to take ownership of their work and learn from their experiences. Micromanagement hampers this growth by not allowing team members to make decisions and learn from their successes and failures. This can stunt their professional development and limit their potential. I know a manager from my previous engagements who would track team members' away time by pinging them on Teams and noting how long it took for them to respond. In my opinion, good leadership involves setting clear goals, providing the necessary resources and support, and then stepping back to let the team do their work. Leaders should be available to offer guidance and address issues but should trust their team’s abilities to handle their responsibilities. This approach not only fosters a positive and dynamic work environment but also encourages innovation, growth, and high performance. In conclusion, micromanagement is indeed a red flag of poor leadership. Leaders who understand the importance of trust, delegation, and empowerment are more likely to build successful and motivated teams. #Leadership #Engagement #Team #Empowerment