Working together over a distance, across time zones, across continents, is perfectly manageable for many projects. I’ve been on dozens of virtual teams that accomplished great work—sometimes without meeting quite a few of my teammates in person. Don’t Forget Team Members Who Are Out of Sight Still, some virtual teams work better than others. Here… Continue Reading
In addition to having goals and a plan, one way to kick-start a productive day is to write down what you’re doing right now. You can use a piece of paper, a notebook, Evernote, a Word doc, or any kind of calendar for this. 6:30 a.m. Neighborhood Walk & Rose Photo for Blog Post This… Continue Reading
Once upon a time, we had a couple of guys who, when asked to do an assignment, would sometimes say, “I’ve washed those windows before.” This meant: I’ve already done this I don’t want to do it again It’s beneath my dignity If it has to be done, then someone who has not yet attained… Continue Reading
April 22 is Earth Day, which we’ve been observing in the U.S. since 1970. Earth Day is now celebrated in 192 countries to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Evening at Lake Vasona On the one hand, we work to conserve the environment, and on the other hand, nature helps to conserve us. Here are links to three posts… Continue Reading
Sometimes we wonder what it costs to put employees through mandatory training. There are organizations that have five or ten programs a year that every employee must take. The Power of Multiplication Here’s a great idea I heard last week: If an internal customer wants to add yet another compliance training program, then first they… Continue Reading
Over the years I’ve worked on many projects at a distance—in one organization or across many, in the same country, or across oceans. In some cases, we started and finished whole projects without ever meeting in person. Sometimes you have to go to the airport, but not so much as before. In organizations where people… Continue Reading
Let’s say it’s a workday and you want to make the most of it. Here are a series of steps to support productivity, and a KanbanFlow example for both routine and project tasks. View from Coyote Creek Trail Start the Night Before. Get enough sleep. If you struggle with this, which I do sometimes, learn… Continue Reading
Do you have more than three things to do today? If so, it helps to make a list. There are many great ways to make lists. Paper is fine for a day or two, but it doesn’t take long before I have to rewrite the list. I’m not fond of that. Mostly, I like electronic… Continue Reading
You’ll likely get more done, if it’s the right music. You can improve motivation, reduce distractions, and improve productivity with music… both at work and at home. Improve Motivation Feeling blue? Having a bad day? Music can lift your spirits. With music and better spirits, you’ll have the extra added benefit of improved motivation (and… Continue Reading
For doing many things, there’s one particular fix. It’s kind of a secret, but here it is: Invest Effort Let’s say you have a huge goal or two. Write a book. Get a degree. Write your dissertation. Lose 30 pounds. Walk 600 miles. Deep clean the whole house. Complete Project X. Whether it’s hard or… Continue Reading
