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As Measured By…
Last week, I wrapped up an extended engagement with one of my favorite clients of all time. In addition to coaching several of their leaders, this client invited me to step outside my comfort zone. They asked me to help them build a culture that embraced the OKR (Objective & Key Results) framework. Over the…
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How To Do Your Taxes
In the realm of productivity, one common theme is struggling to make progress on large tasks. There is no more timely example for me than the annual ritual (at least in the United States) of doing your taxes. It’s large and complex, and there is almost nothing fun about it (unless you get a refund…
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More Doing Less
Last week, we began exploring ways to do less, looking at ways to leverage each hemisphere of the brain to help us identify what’s most important. Today, I offer several strategies to experiment with putting those priorities into action, fending off the lower-priority distractions competing for your precious time. Limiting Work-In-Progress In agile software development,…
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Doing Less
As someone who loves productivity and efficiency, it’s no surprise that my clients often bring coaching topics around getting more done and squeezing more into their day. In the past few months, I’ve noticed a significant increase in the frequency of those conversations. Every CEO I coach has brought it up in one form or…
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What Should I Do?
The myth of productivity is that we will somehow find a way to get everything done. Over time, we realize (and hopefully accept) that there will always be more on our to-do list than available hours. Often, I talk with leaders who get an amazing amount done each day, yet at the end of the…
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Productivity Anthology
If you follow my blog regularly, you know I am passionate about productivity. I taught my first productivity-related class over fifteen years ago, helping my Datatel colleagues embrace Microsoft OneNote for digital note-taking. My daily planning and email management course remains one of my most popular classes. I’ve recently had the privilege of doing productivity…
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Magical Meetings
When you think about meetings, what emotions arise? As a senior leader, I often played Tetris with my calendar, trying to squeeze someone into an already-packed schedule. According to Zippia, 24 billion hours are wasted yearly due to unproductive meetings. What if meetings could be a magical experience for you? What if you found yourself routinely…
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Desktop Detox
Last week we rolled up our sleeves and tamed the device that is the most significant source of distraction in our world –smartphones. I started there because our smartphones are typically with us 24/7. Most of us spend the majority of our day at a desk in front of a computer, so today, we will continue…
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Focus Pocus
Last week I attended the Ellucian Live conference. Seeing so many long-time friends and colleagues and the event returning to its pre-COVID attendance levels was exciting. I was also amazed how many people walked around the convention center staring at their phones. Don’t get me wrong – I love my iPhone. I get massive productivity…
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Conquering Your Calendar
While I intensely dislike the slogan “Work smarter, not harder,” the phrase resonates with me when it comes to managing your calendar. If you have ever felt like your calendar leads you around like a dog on a leash, or you’ve felt a rush of dopamine because you figured out how to squeeze another meeting…
