Performance and Productivity | Workwell

5 Whys – Getting to the Root of a Problem Quickly

Have you ever had a problem that refused to go away? No matter what you did, sooner or later it would return, perhaps in another form. Stubborn or recurrent problems are often symptoms of deeper issues. “Quick fixes” may seem convenient, but they often solve only the surface issues and waste resources that could otherwise be used to tackle the real cause. Source: Mind Tools Content Team In this article and in the video, below, we look at the 5 Whys technique (sometimes known as 5Y). This is a simple but powerful tool for cutting quickly through the outward symptoms of a problem to reveal its underlying causes – so that you […]

Μαρ 21

The 80/20 Principle and How It Can Change Your Life

In 1906 there was an Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto. One day, strolling through his garden, Pareto noticed that every year, 20% of the pea plants in his garden produced approximately 80% of the peas. This got him thinking about economic output on a larger scale. Sure enough, he began to find that in various industries, societies and even companies, 80% of the production often came from the 20% most productive portion. This became known as the Pareto Principle, or what is now often referred to as the 80/20 Principle. Source: Mark Manson The 80/20 Principle states that 80% of the output or results will come from 20% of the […]

Μαρ 15

5 Morning Habits That Will Make You Super Productive All Day

If waking up at 4 a.m. isn’t for you, there are other ways to set yourself up for a fast start. Source: Inc. Would you like to get a jump start on your day and keep yourself in a high state of productivity all day, every day? Before you start your work routine at your normal earthly time, consider this: many of the world’s most successful founders and CEOs (think Apple’s Tim Cook) have an edge because they’re starting their day at a time when the rest of us are still asleep. How early are we talking? As I covered here, 4 a.m. may be the most productive time of the day, because there are minimal distractions before […]

Μαρ 07

Work Damages Your Brain Health, But 4 Strategies Can Improve It, Study Finds

Your brain health is just as important as the health of other parts of your body. We know that professional football players and boxers suffer brain damage from constant punches to the head. But research also shows that work stress causes structural changes in the brain circuitry that can cause long-term harm on the nervous system. Chronic job stress such as an abusive boss, sexual harassment, a bully coworker or a work culture that thrives on crisis, chaos and pressure are examples of stress that can cause atrophy of the brain mass and decrease in brain weight. Source: Forbes The 2022 Brain Health Report It’s a no-brainer that most people, whether they […]

Ιαν 13

5 Things to Declutter to Prepare For a Productive 2023

Take time to remove these energy-draining items from your business. Source: Inc Entrepreneurship is a growth experience. But while you’re constantly focused on expansion, you may be inadvertently overlooking items that cause your business to contract. In fact, a consistent push forward at all costs way of thinking can prevent even the most-savvy entrepreneurs from growing. If you really want to make a difference in your business’s future success, it’s worth your time and effort to declutter unnecessary items from your day-to-day routines. Here are five tips to help you declutter unwanted, worn-out, and stagnant items in your business. 1. Declutter your mindset. The single most important thing that will determine your future success […]

Νοέ 09

How to Learn Any Skill Fast

It comes down to these four timeless principles. Source: inc.com If only I could have learned a new language last year. If only I learned about investing when I was still in my early 20s. For many of us, there are more things we want to learn than we have time to. Shortening the learning curve is a topic that’s been studied for many years. I’ve personally applied what I’m about to share now to learning how to speak Spanish, English, and Korean (plus a bit of Portuguese). You will also be able to leverage these principles in any topic including business, musical instruments, and more. Deconstruct the skill The first step is to […]

Φεβ 22

Περί ύπνου: Τα οφέλη της αγκαλιάς στον ύπνο!

Πόσο συχνά ακούμε από τους γύρω μας ή έχουμε νιώσει και οι ίδιοι, ότι ο ύπνος μας γίνεται αμέσως πιο ποιοτικός όταν κοιμόμαστε αγκαλιά με τον αγαπημένο ή την αγαπημένη μας, με το κατοικίδιο μας ή ακόμη και με το αγαπημένο μας μαξιλάρι; Source Ο κοινός παρονομαστής σε αυτή την συλλογική ανάγκη «να κοιμηθούμε αγκαλιά», είναι η διαφορά που επιφέρει στον εγκέφαλό μας και εν συνεχεία στο σώμα μας. Συγκεκριμένα, έρευνες έχουν δείξει πως: • Κατά τη διάρκεια της αγκαλιάς παράγεται η ωκυτοκίνη, μία ορμόνη η οποία έχει οριστεί αρκετές φορές ως η «ορμόνη της αγάπης». Η ορμόνη αυτή βιολογικά, παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο αφού η έκκριση της συμβάλλει κατά τη γέννα στη διαστολή της […]

Ιαν 19

How to Get People to Actually Participate in Virtual Meetings

One of the most challenging aspects of a virtual meeting is keeping people’s attention. It’s important to be thoughtful about how you engage attendees. In the first minute of your meeting, help participants experience the problem you want them to solve by sharing statistics, anecdotes, or analogies that dramatize the issue. Then emphasize shared responsibility for solving it. Define a highly structured and brief task they can tackle in small groups of two or three people and give them a medium with which to communicate with one another (video conference, Slack channel, messaging platform, audio breakouts). Then have the groups report out. Never go longer than 5-10 minutes without giving […]

Ιαν 19

Secrets of engaging remote meetings

During the remote meeting Source 1. Introduce everyone The video camera doesn’t show every speaker throughout the meeting. Some software shows an icon or picture of who is involved in the meeting, but it is good practice to introduce everyone attending. Managers at OnPoint Consulting post pictures of attendees on the wall when the video is not used, because people are more willing to participate and are more open when they know who’s on the call. The most important step for increasing meeting engagement in my opinion is for the meeting host to ensure that all attendees are introduced and announced at the meeting, including their role (obviously if there […]

Ιαν 10

Digital minimalism 101: How to clear out your digital clutter and find focus and calm in 30 days

“How do you simplify your digital life?” is quickly becoming the question of our generation. Between packed calendars, overflowing inboxes, and the constant pull of social media and news (and Netflix) it can feel like how you spend your time online isn’t really up to you. Source But what if there was a way to use your technology without feeling used by it? The answer is Digital minimalism. Coined by author and computer science professor Cal Newport in his book of the same name, Digital minimalism is a philosophy of technology use based on the understanding that our relationship with our apps, tools, and phones is nuanced and deserves more […]