Comments on: 5 Productivity Tips I Just Can’t Do

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:38:21 +0000

Hi Shane – thanks for he comments, and glad you enjoyed the post. Would be interest to hear whether you get voicemail backing up if you are on the phone a lot. Would this cause the same problem as masses of e-mail? I must admit I have had days when I finish a call to find 3 voicemails, and I get another 2 whilst I am listening to the first 3!

Rich

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:52:02 +0000

I enjoyed this post a lot! Very well written and reasoned.
Often, when I read productivity tips, I think to myself “did they actually try any of these?”. I’m glad to say, though, that checking e-mail only a couple of times per day works for me. The only business I’m involved in, that requires instant responses uses phone-calls for this kind of thing (lucky me).

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:15:58 +0000

Thanks for your comment Charles – interesting thoughts! For what it is worth, I think you need to treat what you have to do and what you do through choice together. I would define ‘personal situation’ very broadly as a result. What is important is that you don’t broad-brush apply productivity ideas to your world just because it works in someone elses, but you consider its applicability to the demands and goals you have. For your comment, I think I am right in saying you are able to say “I have no control over x, y, and z as it is driven by superiors/customers” and as a concequence you focus your effort on what you can affect – ie. you are adjusting what you take on board in light of your personal situation!

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:31:41 +0000

I think you’ve narrowed productivity down a bit too much. To me, it’s about the goals you accomplish by being more efficient. Those goals are either your own, or goals that are dictated by an employer, but that you embrace (because you enjoy your job, want a raise, …)

This means it does not apply to tasks that are forced upon you (customer enquiries that land in your inbox without warning, short notice assignments…)

You suggest that productivity tips should be seen in the light of one’s current situation. My counter suggestion would be that you should apply it to the part of your situation you have control over, or the time you have chosen to dedicate to a goal of your own.

If you have two hours a week to dedicate to that goal, it shouldn’t be too hard to limit email consultations.

At the office, you have to do what you are told, so it doesn’t qualify, unless you can settle arrangements with your boss and/or customers.

Good luck with that.