10 daily office struggles - and how to overcome them
Post on 21-Apr-2017
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1
TASKLISTAPHOBIAWhen you have a mini panic attack just
before you open your task list.
Task lists have a way of growing rapidly if you leave them alone for too long. Which
is why you must give them your full attention - right now!
1. Write down every single thing that’s occupying your thoughts.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1
1. Write down every single thing that’s occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1
1. Write down every single thing that’s occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1
1. Write down every single thing that’s occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.4. Everything else? Either delegate it or
put it on your task list.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1
1. Write down every single thing that’s occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.4. Everything else? Either delegate it or
put it on your task list.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
Now your mind is free to do what matters.
FIX IT
1
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
- William James
2
STEVE NOJOBS SYNDROMEWhen you have no work to do.
Having nothing to do at work can be just as frightening as Tasklistaphobia, but it’s also
the perfect opportunity to take initiative, and impress your boss.
FIX IT
Find a poor process and improve it.
Identify what needs to be done, but isn’t being taken on by
anybody. Then do it.
2
FIX IT
Find a poor process and improve it.
Handwrite notes to your team and
thank them for being exceptional.
Identify what needs to be done, but isn’t being taken on by
anybody. Then do it.
2
3
JUST...ONE...MORE...LIKE SYNDROME
When you get stuck in the time sink that is social media.
Social media addiction is a serious affliction for many - especially when it conflicts with
your productivity. You like one cat picture and suddenly three hours have passed.
3FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:
3FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:
“Do I really need to check my Facebook right now?”
3FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:
“Do I really need to check my Facebook right now?”
Odds are, you don’t.
When your days at work are spent walking from one meeting to the next.
It’s estimated that 25-50% of meeting time is wasted.
Partaking in marathon meetings has not only been proven to contribute to exhaustion, but
is also one of the reasons you start to feel overwhelmed by your workload.
4
MEETING FATIGUE
Never have a meeting where two pizzas aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
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Never have a meeting where two pizzas aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
The more people you have in a meeting, the less productive it will be.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
4
Never have a meeting where two pizzas aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
The more people you have in a meeting, the less productive it will be.
Why? Because if there’s a large group, you’re more likely to agree with each
other, rather than voice your own ideas.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
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5
When you’re constantly recovering from distractions and don’t get to do any real work.
DISTRACTION SICKNESS
5
When you’re constantly recovering from distractions and don’t get to do any real work.
Did you know?
DISTRACTION SICKNESS
The average worker spends at least 2 hours of their day recovering from distractions. That’s a lot of time you could be doing something productive.
FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME
FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME
Try the 40/20 rule where you spend 40 minutes doing work, and 20 minutes indulging in distractions.
FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME
Try the 40/20 rule where you spend 40 minutes doing work, and 20 minutes indulging in distractions.
Knowing that you have specified “distraction time” will actually help you focus.
Distractions destroy action. If it’s not moving
you towards your purpose, leave it alone.
- Jermaine Riley
When you realise it’s Monday again and you have to give yourself a pep talk to get up.
6
MONDAY MORNING MONOLOGUE SYNDROME
When you realise it’s Monday again and you have to give yourself a pep talk to get up.
Shifting from weekend mode to work mode is a struggle for many, but it doesn’t have to be.
6
MONDAY MORNING MONOLOGUE SYNDROME
6FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an ice cream after work.”
6FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an ice cream after work.”
6FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“What am I happy about in my life right now?” “What am I excited about right now?”
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an ice cream after work.”
6FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“What am I happy about in my life right now?” “What am I excited about right now?”
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an ice cream after work.”
Asking yourself these questions will make you feel it, and turn your Monday blues into a positive experience.
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do
what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing
the impossible.
- Francis of Assissi
7
PROBLEM BLINDNESSWhen a problem isn’t solvable - not because you can’t see the solution, but because you
can’t see the actual problem.
7
PROBLEM BLINDNESSWhen a problem isn’t solvable - not because you can’t see the solution, but because you
can’t see the actual problem.
Identifying the root cause of a problem is an essential ingredient to a long-term solution. But
often, people opt to treat just the symptoms, as the short-term effects are more visible.
When a problem occurs, discover why by simply asking “why” no fewer than
five times.
USE THE 5 WHYS PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD
FIX IT
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When a problem occurs, discover why by simply asking “why” no fewer than
five times.
More often than not, it will lead you to the source of the problem.
USE THE 5 WHYS PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD
FIX IT
7
When you’re hesitant to voice an opinion that differs from your team.
8
ROCKTHEBOATAPHOBIA
This condition has the potential to destroy a business if left unchecked.
As Walter Lippman said,
“Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.”
8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT
8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT
PRACTICE ANTI SELF-CENSORSHIP
8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT
PRACTICE ANTI SELF-CENSORSHIP
Make a pact with yourself that you will express at least one opinion in every meeting you go to.
When you don’t share your expertise out of fear that you’ll become redundant.
Secrets are no longer business currency - sharing is. Sharing what you know deepens your knowledge; it stimulates conversation and ideas, and makes you a valued asset to the team. If you don’t share, you’ll
struggle to innovate.
9
KNOWLEDGE HOARDING
9
FIX IT
Make a deal with yourself to share something interesting you’ve discovered every day.
Be a volunteer. If a task comes up and you know you have the expertise to steer it to
greatness, don’t keep your mouth shut. Put your hand up and lead the way.
When a colleague or boss is praising your work in front of the team and you
don’t know what to do with yourself.
10
PRAISE AVERSION
When a colleague or boss is praising your work in front of the team and you
don’t know what to do with yourself.
It’s easy to get anxious in front of a sea of eyes, but Praise Aversion often results in a missed
opportunity to connect with your team.
Don’t like the spotlight?
10
PRAISE AVERSION
10
Accept the compliment and say “Thank you”. It will make you look more humble than if you reject it, and
you’ll be more liked by others.
FIX IT
10
Accept the compliment and say “Thank you”. It will make you look more humble than if you reject it, and
you’ll be more liked by others.
FIX IT
Share the praise with any other people that helped you achieve it. It will spread the attention and strengthen the team.
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