This summer, in the UK, has been glorious and packed with sport - Wimbledon, Commonwealth Games, European Championships, It got me thinking about how athletes and sports people prepare for a season in which they want to, or need to, peak several times. Sports coaches and sports scientists seems to have developed this ability within
When we think about project management, many people naturally think of large-scale projects - building a new motorway (freeway), a new rail line or a new power station are obvious examples. Small projects, however, need project managing in the same way. The principles and practises are the same. We break the project down into manageable
This year, June 20th was World Productivity Day. I only found out about this at the beginning of July. It had already passed me by - with no impact on me, or, I suspect the rest of the world. Those who think about productivity on World Productivity day will only be successful if they also think
There is plenty of advice on how to start your working day - by establishing priorities, by reviewing your To Do list and so on . However, the other end of the day can be just as important. I find a quiet period of reflection can help clear the mind and prepare for a proper
If you run around all day long, switching from tasks to task, you may end up completing little, achieving less. You probably need to think more, act less. Plan more, execute more efficiently. This applies to your organisation. Sometimes, your employees may be working very hard but making little progress towards longer-term goals and objectives. Like
Sorry about returning to the subjects of 4 day working weeks and remote working. But I continue to see claims that both of these increase productivity. Most of these clams seem to arise from surveys of staff who themselves claim they are more productive working from home. I am prepared to believe that staff are
Various companies are experimenting with a 4 day working week. There seems to be a general belief ‘in the air’ that productivity will remain the same or even increase. I have expressed my doubts about this in the past but my real observation is that these companies seem to be forgetting that the world, more generally, is
Especially in difficult times (and current times certainly count as ‘difficult’ for most businesses), business asks for help from government. Yet in the good times (and they will come again), they want government to stop ‘interfering’. They can’t expect to have it whichever way they like. The role of government in improving productivity is simple. They
Leaders, and especially entrepreneurs, are hard-wired to seize opportunities and follow leads. This is only effective, however, when those leads and opportunities help you move forward in your existing strategy towards your agreed mission and vision. Otherwise they are a distraction and they suck energy out of you and your organisation. Always judge potential opportunities
Very few organisations improve productivity by accident. They may do so as a ’by-product’ of some other initiative (such as installing new technology or establishing a new workforce development programme) but productivity doesn’t just come along unbidden. This means that you have to seek it out. You have to plan for it. You have to examine your