Reflections on Productivity

Optimization and productivity have been high priorities in business this year, especially in sales.  Since the end of the year tends to be a time of reflection, I’ve been asking myself how I can be more productive personally next year as well as  how I can manage my consulting business to achieve maximum productivity while helping our clients attain the same. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the answer I keep coming up with is “do less.”

I suspect that my own recent experience is representative of many overworked business owners and executives. For me, the last two years have been whirlwinds of high-volume output and  high-volume activity. Last year I wrote a book.  This year, to promote the book’s Sales 2.0 message, I filled in my calendar with webinar presentations, speaking engagements, and interviews. I wrote articles, blogged, tweeted, and kept my content fresh on LinkedIn and Facebook. In my spare time, I managed my company through the recession and a major restructure. My sleep, healthy eating, and exercise suffered.  My evenings and weekends were spent meeting deadlines rather than recharging and spending time with friends and family.  I am now looking back on the year in an attempt to determine which of these activities had the most impact: in client engagement and success and on my own company’s revenues.    I also now see, in my moment of introspection, that some of my best thoughts, my brightest ideas, my most satisfying realizations have come after a day off, during a long run, or in conversation over a long lunch.

Many of us rush around doing things but don’t measure or contemplate how or if they are contributing to our productivity and ultimate goals.  We don’t take time away from work to learn new things or just let our brains relax and dream of possibilities. As we tell our clients managing sales teams, “increased activity is nice, but ultimately only increased results matter.” In other words, productivity requires a focus on on high value activities (and prospects) and a system or process for understanding how to prioritize.

Furthermore, I believe that down time – time away from our day-to-day work demands – is essential to reaching our full potential. With contemplation and analysis, and time for reading and thinking and exploring ideas with others, we can figure out how to be more productive.  In 2010, I strive to do more of the right activities and fewer of those that don’t produce results.  I am starting by allowing myself to take a week off to further reflect on the past year and create a vision for the new one.

What do you think?  How are you planning to increase productivity in the coming year?

7 Comments to Reflections on Productivity

1. 

   @Anneke: I can completely relate to your post here — and I share your belief that some time off for reflection, reading and exploring ideas is the key to staying fresh. The most rejuvenating thing I do is read and reflect — I absolutely love it. It’s where I get my best ideas from that I explore on my blog and implement on the job. I’ve definitely learned some of my greatest lessons through personal reflection and then making changes — I try and do this every quarter.

   Wishing you all the best Anneke — keep up the great work!
Chad Levitt on December 24th, 2009
2. 

   Anneke:
   I could not agree more. Enjoy days of reflecting on what gives the best outcomes. Time to think.
   Happy Holidays!
Rini on December 24th, 2009
3. 

   I have been thinking the same thing and have been exploring tools and applications that can help me stay motivated and organized in 2010. One app I found to help me stay organized is Evernote. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend checking it out. Have a great new year.
Terence Lee on December 24th, 2009

4. [...] Reflections on Productivity by Anneke Seley [...]
Midweek Sales 2.0 Linkfest | New Sales Economy Blog on December 29th, 2009
5. 

   Anneke,
   Good words; good thoughts – at this time of introspection, goal-setting and optimism for future results.
   The journey begins with a single step… maybe in a new direction.
   Blessings for your New Year
Gary East on December 31st, 2009
6. 

   Anneke,

   I was going to post something on our website and make some LinkedIn connections. But after reading this I’m going home instead.

   Nigel
Nigel Edelshain on January 6th, 2010
7. 

   “The Way does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone.” – Lao Tzu verse 37 Tao te Ching (The Way of Life)
Joe Khoei on January 13th, 2010

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