By Andreas von der Heydt Today´s (business) world is more complex, ambiguous, and demanding than ever before At the same time our working days have only so many hours Fortunately! I strongly argue that it´s not the smartest thing to add hours in order to increase output Instead we should ponder about how to work more effectively and efficiently The good news is that everyone can apply some very powerful strategies and techniques to increase personal productivity Senior Executive, Marketing Expert, Leadership & Executive Coach, LinkedIn Influencer, Author, Speaker © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Many people strive for the "perfect“ outcome Bad (and good) news: Perfectionism does not exist in an imperfect world So, no need to overanalyze and to reflect too much learn on the go, and constantly improve Only if you move you can improve and perform © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Give procrastination no chance Putting off tasks only results in complications, since you´ll feel guilty and let negative thoughts occupy precious mental space which you would need instead for drafting action plans and focusing on execution © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Organize yourself and pro-actively protect your agenda Do not be afraid of saying "No" to colleagues, peers, and even your line manager if necessary Do it tactfully by giving background information and agreeing on next steps Working from home is another highly effective strategy for timesensitive and complex project work © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People In order to become more productive you need to plan ahead your tasks and set up a schedule Already plan your next day the evening before Often it´s as easy as just writing a quick to-do list before leaving the office or going to bed During your work day I recommend setting aside enough time (as a minimum 20-30% of total time) for unforeseen tasks, for responding to mails, phone calls, etc Have 3-4 daily slots of about 15-20 minutes each when you check and answer mails, phone calls, etc © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Break down your tasks into smaller and digestible bits and pieces Take it step by step Take every 90 minutes scheduled 10-15 minutes breaks to improve concentration (why not going for a short walk during lunch break?) Rule: Never ever have your lunch at your work space or in front of your desktop or laptop You will not enjoy neither your lunch nor work properly on the task at hand © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People I strongly suggest using the SMART formula for setting goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely) whenever you reach a goal or deadline give yourself a reward Whether it be a dinner with a friend, going to the movies, buying a new book, give yourself a reward to work towards This gives your work or project a much more positive twist and fits very well with human nature © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Research has provided exciting evidence for the influence of dietary factors on specific molecular systems and mechanisms that maintain and even develop mental functions For instance, a diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids is garnering appreciation for supporting cognitive processes in humans In contrast, simple sugars, like those found in junk foods, are unhealthy and good only for quick bursts of energy but not for longer work periods © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Physical exercise, even walking, helps memory and thinking through both direct and indirect means The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors Indirectly, exercise improves mood, sleep, concentration, focus, and reduces stress and anxiety © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Enough sleep is super important to realize a high level of productivity Try to avoid using your laptop or smartphone one to two hours before going to bed Much better preparing yourself in quiet for a good sleep by having done some sports, having gone for a walk, or having taken a relaxing bath or warm shower Also, expose yourself to lots of bright light during the day This will boost your ability to sleep at night (plus boost your mood and alertness during the day) © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Make sure that once or twice a week you put 10 to 15 minutes aside to review whether your daily activities and your weekly schedule are consistently aligned with your overall goals If not, change your agenda to reflect back to what you really want to achieve in life In case of doubt, just look at your personal life vision and mission statement It always will give you the reassurance you might need from time to time © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Avoid Perfectionism Tackle Difficult Tasks First Embrace Lean Respect Your Biorhythm Do Not Allow Interruptions And Say No Be A Pro Active Planner Handle Emails Smartly Use A Planner And Tracker To Ensure Working On The Right Things Manage Meetings Smartly Stop UberMultitasking © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Chunk Down Your Work Day Set Realistic Goals And Reward Yourself Eat Healthy Exercise Regularly Get Enough Sleep Do What You Love And Love What You Do USA USA Amazon UK UK Audible Germany Germany iTunes Spain Spain Italy Italy France France Japan Japan Canada Canada India India Australia © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People linkedin.com/in/avonderheydt slideshare.net/AndreasvonderHeydt facebook.com/ConsumerGoodsClub twitter.com/ConsumGoodsClub Senior Executive, Marketing Expert, Leadership & Executive Coach, LinkedIn Influencer, Author, Speaker youtube.com/user/BlondJames007 soundcloud.com/andreas-700932257 iTunes Podcast – Leadership XXL © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Blair Smith & Mark McKenna | Iron Man Freepik.com | Comic Background Dan Avenell | Breakfast of Champions Freepik.com | Comic Book Speech Bubbles in Yellow Background DC Comics | Batman Inc Vol.1 DC Comics | JLA Thanksgiving DC Comics | JLA – Tower of Babel DC Comics | Justice League DC Comics | Kingdom Come Freepik.com | Superhero Couple Marvel | Deadpool Comics Marvel | The Amazing Spider-Man Marvel | The Mighty Marvel Superhero Cookbook DC Comics | “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” by Alan Moore, Curt Swan, & George Perez Marvel | Ultimate Comic Avengers Freepik.com | Blonde Woman With Speech Bubble Wall.Alphacoders.Com | Thor Wallpaper Marvel | X-Men © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People ... consumption of media and news to a maximum of 30 minutes per day © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People. .. – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People Organize yourself and pro-actively protect your agenda Do not be afraid of. .. Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People © Andreas von der Heydt – Powerful Habits of Highly Productive People To manage various tasks and/or projects you can start with Microsoft either