Converge International

One of the most accurate statements I have read of late is that “great productivity is not about working all the time; it is about being effective when you are working”. 

Believe it or not, the key to being effective when you are working is to make sure you are not working all the time.  Even the most driven of people cannot put in 100% at all times – our illustrious Prime Minister, for example, needs 3-5 hours sleep to run the country.  Having said that, I recommend you not try this at home unless you are an aspiring politician, yet if you would like to learn more, please go to Rudd only needs three hours sleep? Tell him he’s dreaming - Crikey. 

What is important is to recognise when your attention and energy levels are waning.   Leave it too long and you will have spent half an hour staring at your computer screen and becoming increasingly frustrated by your inactivity. Take a break too early and you’ will be eating into precious productive time.

To begin with, try working in short bursts of up to one hour, focussing on a single task and not allowing yourself to become distracted by the phone or emails.  The following indicators are telling you that it’s time for a break:

1. Boredom. -  When something starts to feel tedious or uninteresting, take a break. Come back in 15 minutes and look at the task with fresher eyes, or start on something else.
2. Distraction - When you’re constantly checking email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. it means you’re losing focus
3. Lack of Precision - When your quality of work deteriorates or you can’t get something quite right, take a break. Lack of precision will lead to frustration, more distraction and less productivity
4. Being Unconscious - When you suddenly crash face first into your keyboard…it’s too late.

What’s your best productivity tip? Please share it with me.

Phil Ruthven, IBIS World, recently spoke about the changing economy and its impact on households, individuals, business and employees.  A notable comment Phil made was that the average age of Australians is 34.  Thinking about this, the implications are significant in a number of ways.

1. The style of management will need to change to accommodate the need for Gen X Y to see purpose and meaning in their work.
2. No longer can we think of the old style of management of control and command.  It needs to reflect more creativity, design and meaning.
3. The 34 year old employee is the future leader.  I wonder how we, in business, are nurturing employees to be the leaders of tomorrow.  Where are courses on ‘aspiring leaders’?

I know we have ‘mentoring’ programs; however this appears to be for the privileged.  What about the ‘champions’ in business who, given the right circumstances can be nurtured to be the leaders of tomorrow.

For the first time in our business world we have four generations working together.  This can be both demanding or creative.  Recognising the present and future, the X & Y generations are our future.  If we recognise this, our organisational structures will recognise eco-systems as the basis of growth where creativity, team performance and growth is the spirit of the age.

What do you think?

I found this and thought it is an opportunity to reflect on how significant friends are, particularly as an outcome of the the Global Financial Crisis.  It is worth a read…

In the quest for better health, may people turn to doctors, self-help books or herbal supplements.  But they overlook a powerful weapon that could hep them fight illness and depression, speed recover, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.

Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health.  A 10 year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of freinds were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends.  A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight.  And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age…

To read full article, click here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/21well.html?_r=1

As a result of the devastation caused by the recent Victorian bushfires, our organisation has been heavily involved in supporting those affected.

The stories we are hearing are dramatic, incredibly sad, highly emotional, and have deeply touched the heart of those who are listening.

One of the most common requests is ‘how can I be helpful and how do people cope with such terrible devastation and loss?’ The information outlined below may be useful to you.  If you feel you need to personally talk to someone to help you through this process, please contact us on our toll free number 1800 337 068.

COPING WITH REACTIONS AFTER A DISASTER

Most of the events in our lives are situations for which we are relatively well prepared and able to cope with.  Sometimes however, events happen that go well beyond what we ever imagined we would have to face. (more…)