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Browse published articles attributed to Sharon Danzger, with full-archive search.
You want to make the right decision. We all do. But every time you get close to making a decision, doubt creeps into your head and you start to look for more information. And then a little more. There is truly no end to the research and information gathering you can do. This is what I refer to as "Analysis Paralysis."
Billionaires reject the concept of to-do lists. Successful professionals swear by their to-do lists. CONFUSED? You are not alone. Each day I review the articles that appear on the web related to productivity. For each one that I come across declaring the need to put everything on a to-do list, I find one that claims it’s a waste of time. This article explains the different perspectives on to-do lists and will help you figure out what might work best for you. DON'T BOTHER WITH TO-DO LISTS
I recently read Peter Bregman’s book “4 Seconds – All the Time You Need to Stop Counter-Productive Habits and Get the Results You Want.” The section on accepting criticism was particularly helpful.
Stress is defined as "a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances." When we feel stressed, our body perceives a threat to our well being and releases a chemical that starts the "fight or flight" response. We have all felt it - our heart rate increases, our breath quickens, and our blood pressure goes up. These days it would be difficult to find an individual that does not experience stress at work and/or at home. While there is evidence that some stress is good for us, prolonged or chronic stress can be detrimental to our health.r
Out of clutter, fInd simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.rn-Albert Einstein ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED? Do you walk around the office and see piles of papers, empty take-out containers from late nights, and old coffee cups? The occasional crisis has, for many, become the daily norm. Each day there is another 'fire drill.'
I recently had the privilege of spending the evening with a group of incredibly bright women who are working towards their Executive MBAs at a prestigious university in NYC. As I shared some insights relating to attention management, mindfulness, and happiness, I found myself referring to some of my favorite TED talks. For today's post, I thought it would be fun to share my 5 favorite TED Talks that relate to Productivity, Happiness, and Success. For those of you unfamiliar with TED Talks, here's a short summary from their website:
If something happens all the time, why is it still unexpected? DAILY HASSLES Many years ago, I worked with a wonderful client who owns an imprinting business. Let's call her Michelle (not her real name.) Michelle's primary focus is helping businesses with their marketing efforts by imprinting their name/logo on all sorts of cool stuff (hats, shirts, bags, pens, bottles, etc.)
Sometimes the smallest actions have the greatest impact. This is true about getting through so many of the small tasks that we are faced with each day. Interestingly, polishing off a bunch of small, quickly done tasks can energize us and motivate us to handle the larger, more mentally taxing projects that need to get done. This philosophy can be applied successfully at both work and home. WORK
You are inundated with emails; maybe hundreds of them each day. Which means you are also writing lots and lots of emails. It makes you wonder - does anybody even read them? Here are 3 surefire ways you can make sure your emails get noticed...and read! 1. BE CONCISE
THE 5 W'S TO HAVE MORE MEANINGFUL MEETINGS Your employees are complaining that they can never get their work done due to the constant scheduling of meetings. You know how they feel because you are also suffering from meeting overload. Are these meetings truly necessary? Could they manage without you? Many firms are starting to acknowledge that meetings are not always the best use of time. HERE ARE 5 W'S TO HAVE MORE MEANINGFUL MEETINGS. 1. WHO • Respect people’s time. • More is not always better.r
Looking for some quick fixes to be more productive? Look no further - here are 10 simple ways you can be as productive as the most productive people you know! 1. MEDITATION Meditating a few minutes each day can help clear your head, reduce stress, and keep you grounded. No training is required - just sit in a quiet place and focus on your breathing for 2, 5 or 10 minutes to get started. I started with 2 minutes in 2013 and now I'm up to 5 minutes a day! When extraneous thoughts enter your mind, simply let them drift away without judgement and come back to focusing on your breath.
EMAIL BEST PRACTICES a. Use a signature to provide your contact information on your computer, phone, and tablet. Do not leave the default, "sent from my...." If you are sending a work email from a location other than your desk, nobody needs to know. b. If something is still unresolved after two or three emails, simply pick up the phone. c. Keep disagreements off line. Best to keep some things unwritten and your tone is less likely to be misinterpreted in a live conversation.
If you're like me, you are always searching for ways to improve work performance and find more time. You have a ton of work. Your task list keeps growing. You're drowning in emails. Yet, the number of hours in a day remains unchanged. These 3 simple and powerful productivity hacks will offer some guidance for getting more quality work done in less time. 1. EMAILS
The easiest way to avoid failure is to never start...anything. Of course, this is also the same method used to avoid success. When we are afraid to fail, we procrastinate. When we are unsure where to begin, we procrastinate. In his remarks at the University of Pennsylvania commencement in 2011, Denzel Washington reminded the audience:
Work is busier than ever and the demands can often seem unreasonable. Do your employees voice conce s over workload and lack of time? Are they constantly stressed and in crisis? You might be asking yourself if these symptoms are the result of underlying issues relating to time management, priority management, and task management. Maybe it's a combination of all three. In this blog post, I will offer some suggestions for integrating email management, to-do lists, and calendars that can significantly reduce stress and prevent feeling overwhelmed by work.
While efficiency and effectiveness are similar-sounding and often confused, the two have vastly different meanings when it comes to getting your work done. EFFICIENCY Being efficient means you are working in a well-organized and competent way. With so many things to do, it is easy to get bogged down with efficiently completing tasks on your to-do list. If nothing else, every time you cross an item off your list, you get a little endorphin rush.
Why don't employees take all of their earned vacation days? Some typical responses might be: "I have no time," "I'm too busy," There is nobody to cover my work." A recent Inc. article, reveals that the average US employee only takes half of their vacation time. At the same time, workers are complaining that they are overworked, stressed, and overwhelmed. Those that go on vacation are very likely to be doing work while they are out of the office. It might be a daily (or more) check of email, a phone conversation, or working on a document.
HOW CAN YOU GET WORK DONE WHEN YOU ARE ALWAYS BEING INTERRUPTED? You sit down to write the proposal you've been putting off for two weeks. As soon as you get started, the phone rings. An interruption. Back to work for 10 minutes; you're finally in a groove when someone stops by your desk to ask a question. Another interruption. Back to writing the proposal for 15 minutes and you get a text that dinner with clients will be a half hour later. With all of these interruptions, how are you supposed to get any work done? You are not alone.
Growing up in the 1970s, there was an expectation that if you work very hard, you would be financially successful and that would bring happiness. Financial success would provide you with the means to start giving. Evidence has come to light over the past few years to prove that this is not true. IN FACT, IT IS COMPLETELY BACKWARDS. Giving is an attribute that leads to greater happiness and success. Not the other way around. THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE
There's been a lot of hype about "inbox zero;" it's as if getting to inbox zero is a badge of honor reserved for those who are uber-organized and completely in control of their work. I've got great news for you - inbox zero is attainable to everyone, including you! But before discussing inbox zero, let's talk about some of the self-sabotaging email habits many of us have developed. DO YOU... check email ALL the time? have email notifications alert you every time a new message arrives? keep your phone at hand at meetings and meal time...in case an important message arrives?r
Over the past few months, I have enjoyed taking a number of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs.) Although I knew of the concept (free online courses offered from top universities around the world),I only recently began to take advantage of this unique way to learn.
On August 2, 2016, the NY Times featured an article “Feeling Guilty About Not Flossing? Maybe There’s No Need.” For decades, the federal government and dentists have strongly urged us to floss daily to promote good oral health. But now, the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services no longer endorse the practice of flossing due to a lack of scientific evidence supporting medical benefits. Non-flossers are rejoicing! Dentists are outraged! Those of us who floss regularly are in disbelief! WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED, COMMON SENSE?
Do you find yourself caught up in the daily grind? Ever feel like you are just going through the motions each day? Life is busy – both at work and at home. It’s easy to lose yourself in small, insignificant tasks and just plug along each day. How would it feel to have a greater sense of purpose each day? Would you be able to accomplish more of what really matters to you?