This post was refreshed on December 11, 2022 American workers spend a LOT of time in meetings. My clients tell me they often feel frustrated and annoyed in these meetings, so they multitask during the meetings, especially if the meetings are virtual. This raises...
company culture Archive
Tips for Leading Remote Teams, with Kevin Eikenberry
Transitioning to remote work is a gift to some and a nightmare to others. Some people might hope to continue with at least part-time telecommuting after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and others can’t wait to get back to the office. Either way, remote work is where we...
10 Strategies for Managing Stress in the Workplace
This post was updated on February 27, 2020. For reliable productivity, quarter after quarter, year after year, it’s important to have strategies for managing stress in the workplace. Stress is an unavoidable part of our lives. Sometimes it’s just everyday stressors...
How to Prioritize
You probably know the big stuff you're supposed to be getting done. But what's often less clear is how to accomplish your work priorities when there are all sorts of other, urgent (or seemingly urgent) demands on your time. This comes down to a question of how to...
This Popular Step to Manage Email and Texts Isn’t Enough
Your job involves an overwhelming amount of communications from others. Managing email and texts is a vexing challenge. So you take a cue from what you've observed others doing. You add a line to your email signature saying "I check my email infrequently, so if your...
Tackling Distraction With ‘The Innovation Show’
Distraction is the No. 1 enemy of productivity. I talked about how to strengthen your battle plan against it during my recent interview on The Innovation Show. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, The Innovation Show is a podcast for forward-thinking leaders, entrepreneurs and...
Podcast Preview: Knowledge Workers’ Productivity
If you're a leader, do you manage with the wellbeing of your knowledge workers' brains in mind? I talked about why this is essential during my recent interview with Andrea Simon for the On the Brink podcast. Andi is a principal and founder of Simon Associates...
LEADx Podcast Interview: Productivity Tips for Leaders
Your leadership style has a big effect on your own productivity — and the productivity of your team. I dug into this and other productivity tips for leaders as a guest on a recent episode of The LEADx Leadership Show podcast with Kevin Kruse. Kevin is the founder +...
How to Retain Star Performers
Employee retention is business leaders' top concern right now. In a competitive job market, how can your company retain star performers, making sure they are are happy and that they don't leave for greener pastures? Raises can be part of the equation, but other perks...
Why You Don’t Need More Time Management Tips
My latest article for Harvard Business Review is based on something that happens to me a lot as a productivity trainer: Executives want me to teach their team time management tips and techniques to help them be more productive. But, in talking to them, it becomes...