Productivity Hacks for the Workplace

WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU
A 4-PART SERIES BY ROS CARDINAL
PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
TIPS FOR A BETTER WORKPLACE

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
There’s nothing quite as satisfying to leaders and
mangers than a team that excels with productivity. In
fact, it’s safe to say that we’d all like to be a little more
productive, both in our personal and in our professional
lives.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
Even though we’re all given the same amount of hours
every day, it’s hard not to notice that some people tend
to accomplish a great deal in their allotted hours while
others struggle to cross just one thing off their to-do list.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
If you’re hoping that this is the year you and your team
can be more productive in the workplace, here are 5
clever productivity hacks to help you accomplish more
every day and get on track with your goals.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
1. The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique, a time management method
developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, entails breaking
down tasks into 25-minute time blocks.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
Essentially, you work against a timer and when 25 minutes has
elapsed, you take a 5-minute break. Then you pursue another 25
minutes of work. Once you’ve completed 4 blocks of work, you
can take a longer break that’s anywhere from 15-30 minutes
long.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
The reason the technique works is because it requires you to
completely focus on just one task without shifting attention to a
distracting activity (social media, text messages, etc.) or
multitasking.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
You’re essentially racing against the clock to complete as much
as you can in your allotted time block. You’d be surprised by how
much you can get done with this simple strategy!

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
2. Site Blockers
Sometimes, we need a little bit more help when it comes to
eliminating distractions. It’s astounding just how many hours in a
single day we spend on social media, news sites, and more. If
distractions like these have become a problem in your workplace,
you might want to consider the use of site blockers.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
2. Site Blockers
Try these apps: SelfControl, StayFocusd, or Cold Turkey. The idea
is that you input certain sites into the apps and then designate a
length of time during which you won’t be able to access them. As
a result, all the focus goes to your work instead.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
3. Planning Phonecalls & Emails
It isn’t just internet browsing that can be distracting, though.
Sometimes the distractions come from phone calls and emails
that are actually related to the work we’re doing. Unfortunately,
these particular items—while seemingly small—can end up taking
large chunks out of our daily schedule.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
To remedy this, choose two times a day when you’ll check your
email. For example, you might choose a thirty-minute block of
time before lunch, and then another thirty minutes at the end of
your work day. The idea is to only check/send/reply to emails
during these blocks of time.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
That way, you’re not constantly checking your inbox or drowning
in messages. As for phone calls, you can use the same strategy.
Pick a time during the day when all your important phone calls
will take place. Then, outside of that block of time, turn off your
phone notifications so that you aren’t distracted from your work.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
4. Templates
Are you repeatedly creating the same kinds of documents or
emails regularly? To reduce the amount of time you’re spending
on these tasks, call upon the help of a template instead. A
template is a “fill-in-the-blank” type document, and they’re great
for assignments that are created the same way every time.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
4. Templates
You can use templates for just about anything: presentations,
spreadsheets, emails, etc. A simple Google search for “templates”
will generate a plethora of results for all kinds of documents.
Alternatively, you can use them as inspiration for creating your
own. Either way, you’ll shave off a great deal of prep time by
having ready-made templates at your disposal.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
5. Productivity Tools
We've offered some suggestions for productivity tools you can use
to stay focused on the task at hand, but there are other
productivity apps out there that can help you automate your
tasks, manage your time more effectively, and all around make
you a more organized person.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
If you want to keep track of your time management and measure
staff performance, try apps like Toggl or Yast.
If you want to automate your social media, take a look at
Hootsuite or Edgar.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
To save articles, organize ideas, and/or track keyword alerts,
consider Evernote or Feedly.
Finally, if you spend more time than you care to admit resetting
forgotten passwords, consider LastPass, which secures all of your
passwords for you. This is especially a time-saver if you use
numerous accounts in a single day.

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
Though some people are naturally more ambitious than others,
productivity is a habit that we can all become better at over time.
Using the productivity hacks above, you and your team will be sure to
become more productive each and every day and perhaps even
surprise yourselves with how much you accomplish!

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
Which of the five strategies will you begin implementing this week?

PRODUCTIVITY
HACKS
We hope you enjoyed this presentation!
Visit www.shapingchange.com.au for more resources on
leadership development, change management, emotional
intelligence, and more!

Productivity Hacks for the Workplace

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