If there’s another world that exists, workplaces would have been places where people devote their entire time and energy to their assigned responsibilities’. Gossips aren’t a thing. Co-workers, cell phones, the internet, social media, don’t really bother us. But all this, in another world!
In this world, it’s quite the contrary. Gossiping with our chatty co-workers, to spending time on social media, we don’t even realize when hours pass by. Wasted time reduces our efficiency drastically.
But who is to be blamed? Of course, me, you and everyone who is reading this! Once trapped in this vicious circle of un-productivity, it doesn’t mean there’s no way out. To chalk out the solutions, you must be aware of the issues. So here are my 5 worst picks. Keep reading.
5 Things that are Killing Your Work Productivity:
1. Transitional Bumpers:
Transitional bumpers are a generalized term for all those habits, which seem as if they aren’t providing any harm, but are actually killing your work productivity.
For instance, say you are informed about a meeting that is to be held in 10 minutes. So in the 10 minutes, instead of continuing with the work assigned, you instantly pick up your phone for an Instagram break. These ‘sweet-nothings’ are said to be as transitional bumpers.
I know the debate of whether the Internet is a boon or a bane, still exists. But here’s my take on it, it more depends on how you use it. Divide part of your days especially for work and for social media and you wouldn’t fall out on either.
2. Biting off more than you can chew:
People tend to misunderstand productivity with the quantity or amount you work. Higher productivity does not imply more quantity of work.
It’s good to work, but overworking can cause a burnout real soon. Multi-tasking might sound fun, but having too many tasks to juggle simultaneously can cause a serious effect on your efficiency and cost company in billions. (Yes, quite literally!) Research has approved that.
In fact, for most people, real productivity is reflected in creativity in their assignments. If you think you have a block in your creative mind, I suggest you think about it for a day and restart.
3. The lineup of meetings is dreadful:
Meetings are supposedly the sessions where the best brains of the company come together in one place, conduct brainstorming sessions to identify solutions and help the company make billions of dollars. But that’s not what they are.
The truth is, regular meetings cause disruption of workflow for your employees. Plus, when the productive remarks are analyzed, its nil in comparison to the dedicated hours. Try to avoid meeting for matters that can be solved on desks. For cases, they are extremely necessary, schedule them for the minimum time possible.
4. Smartphones, Smartphones, Smartphones:
Well, none of us can deny that the ding on your phone is irresistible even at work. Most of us are aware of it, in the back of our heads but are too lazy to take a step or rather just too comfortable with the phone beside you.
A message from the boss > checked > replied > Instagram > Scrolling > Scrolling > Forgets where you are. Does this situation sound similar?
Well, the stats addiction of mobile phones often called Nomophobia has been scary – here’s a glimpse: An average smartphone user unlocks their phone 150 times a day!
If you stop victimizing yourself and resort to smartphones saying that you are helpless, you will surely find a way. Quieting notifications or not keeping our phones at an easy reach, can help you curtail the temptation.
5. Doing everything manually:
In the age of digitization, where we are blessed with continuously updating technology and machine intelligence, if you still believe in only humans, it’s time for an update.
According to a survey by Ascend2, 71% of companies use marketing automation. Apart from marketing, you can also automate your daily mundane tasks. For instance, drafting invoices for your clients can be automated with the help of accounting tools like Xero, or Stillio, the popular alternative of Wayback Machine tool can generate automated screenshots at regular intervals and the list goes on and on.
This will not only save a great deal of time and energy but will also ensure efficiency. And well, that’s exactly what we want!
Remember, work is worship. So if you are committed to a particular job, either do it with all your mighty or step out. Find where your heart lies and restart. Half-hearted dedication can never fetch your results – neither to you nor to your company!
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