Are you busy or productive?
Being productive sets your career in motion, but people often confuse being busy with productivity. Regardless if you are working from home or at the office, no matter how busy you are, the truth is you will be judged on your effectiveness.
Emails that go unanswered and calls left to be returned are usually placed in the category of being too busy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with a workload that never ceases, combined with the mindset the busier you are the more value you bring to an organization. In some cases, being super busy is a professional badge of recognition that somehow equals productivity.
The two-fold problem with being busy is that it can be a state of mind as well as having an increased workload. Knowing the difference between being busy and being productive can transform your career growth.
Highly productive people share certain habits that help them maintain a healthy balanced day. Here are the habits they have in common and what you can do to make your day more productive.
They know how to prioritize their day. Start the morning by focusing on eating a healthy breakfast, exercise or meditate on what you want to accomplish today.
They know when to multitask. Multitasking can be helpful if you use it wisely but in the race towards being efficient, it can be overused. Giving yourself a few minutes to clear your head before entering a meeting or joining a conference call helps eliminate distractions and keeps you focused.
They know where they are spending their time. Productive people are aware of time and know when they are most effective. If your day seems to be flying past you without much progress being made, consider auditing your time by noting your activities. The results can be shocking: Your heavy workload could be filled with more distractions than you realized.
They take a lunch break. When you stay busy long enough without a mental break, there is a tendency to lose focus and the energy needed to be effective. Eating lunch while watching a presentation from home can happen occasionally, but if you regularly eat lunch on the fly under the guise of being busy, you end up creating some unproductive habits that can hinder your success.
They ask good questions to help clarify goals. Ask openended questions if you need more clarification. Knowing the exact time frame, expectations and objections helps you plan more efficiently, minimizing guess work.
They constantly practice being productive. Being productive requires good habits and that takes time and practice. Just like exercise or healthy eating, you consciously make a decision to choose.
They focus on quality versus quantity. You can improve the quality of your time by viewing it as productive rather than counting a to-do list. Authors, Rosemary Tator and Alesia Latson view the source of productivity as a quality issue. In their book, More Time for You, they define productivity as completing the things that deliver the most quality for you, such as setting aside time for family with no distractions. Productive people recognize the need for quality time versus quantity time without their full attention. You can improve your quality time by starting your day with a plan and a decision.
Don’t let being busy lull you into missing out on opportunities to grow, enjoying your work and accomplish your goals.