Most professionals have to interact with bosses, colleagues and vendors on a regular basis. In some cases, other people don't deliver what they promised, or they create a bottleneck by failing to complete projects in a timely fashion. Fortunately, it's possible to stay productive even if you have to wait for input from others. Follow these tips to increase productivity and stay motivated at work.
1. Take Ownership
It's not always possible to move forward with a project if you are waiting on deliverables from someone else. However, you can come up with your own ideas and take ownership of independent projects. If you work independently, you don't have to rely on other people to hold up their end of the bargain. Instead, you can move forward at your own pace, making it easier to stay productive.
2. Stop Procrastinating
It's impossible to stay productive if you are always procrastinating. Surfing the Web, playing games and chatting with colleagues take time away from important tasks, reducing productivity and making it hard to stay motivated. If you spend a lot of time procrastinating, take steps to curb the habit. Create a work schedule and stick to it, or use technology to improve your work habits. Several programs are available to block distracting websites, forcing you to focus on the task at hand and increase productivity.
3. Don't Be Afraid
One reason professionals fail to stay productive is a fear of failure. If you are a perfectionist, it's hard to work up the motivation to start a new project. After all, if you try something new, there is a chance you might fail. If you want to stay productive, you need to quit being a perfectionist. Otherwise, it's impossible to get any work done.
4. Learn Something New
Projects often stall out because team members don't have the skills necessary to move forward. Instead of letting projects stagnate, take some initiative and learn new skills. If your employer doesn't offer training, read a book or sign up for a class at your local community college. A lack of knowledge is really no excuse for dropping the ball, especially if you have the opportunity to learn a new skill.
5. Look for Opportunities
Finding fault with others is not a good way to stay productive. Pointing fingers wastes time, and it stirs up negative feelings. Instead of assigning blame, look for opportunities to improve. Ask what you can do to make things better the next time you tackle a new project.
Even if you have to wait for input from others, you are in control of your personal productivity. If you want to stay productive, look for new opportunities as often as possible. Instead of playing the blame game, stop procrastinating and take ownership of your ideas.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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