The question of how to maximize employee productivity is an old one but new research has recently shown that many current practices do not encourage productive workplace environments. Utilizing cutting-edge research, Alla Volodina (York University) suggests an outline that could be used in a course covering latest practices on productivity.

SELF-MANAGEMENT

  • Timing your day – structure your day around expected peaks of high energy
  • Technology: Friend or Foe? How to avoid wasting time and resources by making technology work for you
  • Happiness is contagious: Why your good mood will result in more productive workforce, we explore the links between happiness and productivity based on scientific studies
  • Simplifying the road map to success by turning toward positive habits

EFFICIENT MEETINGS

  • Understand the impact of unnecessary meetings and their costs on individuals, teams and the organization 
  • Making critical decisions when scheduling a meeting: When and where to hold one, and who to invite
  • Preparing for efficient meetings whether as a meeting chair or a participant: Reviewing agendas and preparatory readings
  • Understand the differences between leading effective conference calls and in-person meetings

EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING

  • The power of asking “Why?” five times to master the root-cause analysis technique
  • Learn how to apply the 80/20 rule and how to harvest low-hanging fruits in operational effectiveness
  • The power of brainstorming – who should be involved and how to do it most effectively
  • Tapping into hidden resources to ensure efficient identification of the problem
  • The power of operational checklists – who should use them and why
  • How to avoid the bottle-neck effect in the decision-making process
  • Scenario in Action: Participants will analyze a case applying the root cause analysis technique
  • Taking Stock: Participants will be guided to apply the 80/20 rule to a current project in a work setting

GOAL SETTING

  • The importance of setting short-term objectives and long-term goals
  • Become SMART-goals savvy and practice setting SMART corporate goals
  • Understand why “EBITDA” goals do not work and how to improve on them
  • Taking Stock: Participants will be asked to use the techniques learned to set one personal and one professional goal, and encouraged to reflect on a current project that would benefit from a SMART-goal intervention

Alla Volodina teaches at York University and shares her ideas on training, course outlines and other educational topics