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FAST
FORWARD
BRANDABLE
AUGUST 2016 •
PPB
• 67
THE EIGHT-HOUR WORKDAY
is a workplace staple, begun long ago by
automaker Henry Ford to increase efficiency at his factories, but these days
productivity is better measured by the amount of energy, not time, dedicated
to work. In the tradition of working smarter
(not harder), Tony Schwartz recommends we
manage our energy to boost productivity.
Schwartz is CEO and founder of The
Energy Project, a firm that helps companies
boost sustainable performance through
addressing and meeting employee needs.
Schwartz defines four types of energy that
require management: physical (our health);
emotional (our happiness); mental (our ability
to focus); and spiritual (our purpose for
working).
Schwartz says an efficient work day
requires approaching tasks in an ultradian
rhythm; that is, a recurring cycle within one
24-hour period. The human brain can focus
on any given task for 90 to 120 minutes.
After that, a break of 20 to 30 minutes is
required to recharge for the next task, he says.
If tasks can be split into 90-minute seg-
ments, they can be approached with an even more refined efficiency. The first
step is to bring into focus the aspect that needs attention most or first. The
second step is to avoid multitasking and eliminate distractions.
Schwartz offers these three additional tips to improve workplace produc-
tivity:
1.
INCREASE THE RELEVANCE OF A TASK,
either by creating a deadline
for yourself or pairing completion with a reward
2.
PLAN YOUR REST PERIODS SO THAT YOU ACTUALLY REST,
whether
by reading, napping, meditating or taking a walk
3.
TURN OFF EMAIL AND PHONE NOTIFICATIONS
during 90-minute
periods
WATER COOLER
RETHINK YOUR ROUTINE FOR OPTIMUM WORKPLACE
PRODUCTIVITY
Build Your
Personal Brand
FromThe Inside Out
Building a company brand relies on knowing
what the company does for its clients, and
believing in that service wholeheartedly. But what
about your personal brand? How can you build a
brand that reflects who you are, to the core?
Begin by looking inward.
What do you as a
professional provide your clients? It could be a
straightforward service such as excellent
accounting abilities, or a soft skill such as com-
munication or a spirit of collaboration.
Next, define your unique value.
What can you
offer that’s not only rare but also unique to you?
Perhaps your professional expertise in the field
comes from an unusual job or from a different,
albeit still relevant, academic background.
Finally, create a salable package.
The answers
you develop can be fine-tuned into value state-
ments that comprise the bulk of your selling
statement, or a catchphrase that introduces your
personal brand to others in a nutshell. These
value statements will also help drive the look
and feel of websites, social media pages and
other forms of brand promotion.
When Eight Hours
Aren’t Enough