The Productivity Guru: The 3 C’s of Productivity

It's my favorite time of year: the NEW YEAR! Fresh slate, all mistakes from last year brushed aside, all blunders forgiven and another opportunity to make a real difference in all areas of your life! At this time of year when resolutions are rampant, one area that many people try to resolve for themselves is to be more productive!

So, do you want to be more productive and stay more productive in 2009? Try the 3 C's.

1. Keep it Current

There is no easy and cute way of saying this: the #1 killer of organization and, ultimately, productivity levels is not keeping your systems current. The systems that we're talking about here include your filing system, paper flow system, any lists you keep, and email systems. By letting your systems slide even for a day or two, they become quickly outdated. And the second they are no longer current, they are considered "deadwood" or "backlog," requiring time and energy to sort through and clean up. Create the time in your day to process the items in your inbox, both paper and email. Once you haven't looked at these areas for more than a day or two, the materials in them become outdated and obsolete. When I go in and help people get more organized, the first thing we do after setting goals is start getting rid of backlog. The backlog is everything that is no longer current or relevant to your life and work. Some people have a lot and some people have a little, but one thing is for sure: it's impossible to keep up with the new stuff when you're bogged down in the old stuff.

2. Consistency

Stay consistent in your systems. For example, create established times within your day that you check email (i.e. 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm). Check, process and get the heck out of there so you can get some WORK done. Have a consistent place that you are writing down your to-do items and tasks and keep it up on a daily, hourly, minutely basis (whatever level of detail you need). Many people only keep lists or start lists when they are overwhelmed. They create a list to get it out of their head and once it's created, that's the last they see of that list. This validates that getting it out of your head is KEY to staying productive and keeping your mind clear. It also reinforces the idea that if you make a list on a daily basis in whatever format you choose (on your iPhone, tasks in Outlook, paper/pen), you are creating a reliable and sustainable system to utilize everyday, which ultimately helps keep you more productive.

3. Communication

Be clear in your communication. Ask for what you need directly and give specific details and deadlines so you get what you need when you need it! In my work with companies and individuals around organization and productivity, I can't tell you how many times the challenge we are working through has come down to a communication issue. For example, when your priorities are shifting or you aren't sure which direction to go in on a project, the absolute best tool to use is your voice and go directly to the source. Communicate with the people that can help you, support you and give you direction so you don't spend time spinning your wheels. Collaboration and communication go hand-in-hand. When in doubt about what is important and what should be at the top of your list, communicate with those involved. It will help determine and clarify your focus every time!