10 podcasts to enhance your commute
Bored of hearing the same old songs on the radio every day during your commute to work? Want to make better use of the time you spend in your car, or on the train or bus? Well, we’ve hand-picked our top 10 podcasts that are the perfect way to enhance your commute, making it more productive and even, more fun. They are a great way to kick start your day or help you wind down on the way home
This podcast will teach you how to turn those everyday ideas into business solutions and tools, and build them into your life and work. Including interviews with a whole host of guests, including business leaders, artists and authors, all are using their own expertise to offer tips and advice. It’s perfect for the business brains out there.
For all the managers out there, this one is for you. Manager Tools aims to help professionals become more effective managers and leaders, and breakaway from the traditional, tired management theories. There are specific actions discussed each week to help you achieve your management goals, such as how to make your employees feel appreciated, and how to deal with office politics.
We all have those moments of wonder, where our mind runs away with us and we start questioning everything about reality. This podcast does exactly what it says on the tin, it is full of surprising information and mind blowing facts and topics that you’ll be able to bring to the water cooler at the office. Anything from “Is social media driving us insane?” to “Where does the notion of road rage come from?” this podcast is sure to get you thinking.
Similar to “Stuff to blow your mind” this podcast will arm you with a whole wealth of interesting facts to take into the office, and give you something impress your friends with. As the title says, it’s stuff we probably should all know, but probably don’t. Ever wondered how food tasters work, or how the space station works or even how gossip works? Then this will be right up your street. Try it today and get learning.
Now this one may be more suited to your journey home, as it could be great for sparking some cooking inspiration for dinner, and encouraging you to get into the kitchen. The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle program that celebrates food. Full of audio recipes, cooking tips, food news and passionate stories from industry experts, this podcast is perfect for your inner foodie.
Kick start your day with this award-winning talk show about everything work-related. Topics covered include communication, productivity, business barriers, office life and MUCH more. It’s a great way to ease you into the day on your way to work and get your business brain in gear.
This podcast is perfect for the time-poor business-orientated listeners out there. In just 10 minute episodes, host Rye Taylor helps you leverage your passion by asking questions to industry experts, from the world of creativity, entrepreneurial and communication. You will not only get your question answered but also have actionable steps that you will be able to apply to your work and life straight away.
Ever thought about meditation, but felt a bit daunted by it, unsure of exactly what to do and how to do it? Then try Radio Headspace, it is perfect way to ease you into the meditation world and get you started. Each week there is a short, calming exercise to follow to help you lead a happy and healthier life. Why not try it one morning this week, and see how it makes you feel?
Bring a smile to your commute with this comedy driven (and at times slightly explicit) podcast, it talks about those painfully awkward topics of modern day life that we have all experienced at one point or another. Such as when you’re forced to go to long dinner parties and how to deal with public swimming pools.
This audio version of the magazine is great for those who drive to and from work and aren’t able to read. Each six-minute episode gives a selection of hand-selected articles from the newsstand, in quick bitesize chunks for you to listen to throughout the day and keep yourself clued up on the latest news.
5 things to consider when looking for investors in your start-up business
There are thousands of things to consider when you start up a small business. Funding is often top of the list – but with time and capital already tied up in getting your business off the ground, it can be difficult to know where to start. We’ve broken down the investment process, and come up with the five most important things to consider.
Hello – is it me you’re looking for?
Your small business is a package deal – it comes with you. And not just you the entrepreneur. An investor is looking for the you beyond the label. The you who came up with the idea for your start-up in the first place. The you whose style is indelibly imprinted on the whole of your business venture, from initial plan to current performance.
If you secure your investment, you’ll be working closely with your investor for the foreseeable future. It’s as important for you to get along with them as it is for them to believe in you. Sell yourself honestly and enthusiastically. Let your passion for your start-up come through in your pitch. No-one who created a small business with drive and vision ever did so without coming across as passionate about it.
Be stylish. Your style is what sets you apart from other start-ups in your field. It’s the defining element of your idea, which connects your product or service to its audience. When you pitch honestly, passionately, and uniquely to investors, you’re showing them more than just an ‘off the shelf’ business plan. You’re showing them a small business with soul, ambition, confidence.
Don’t mistake this for a recommendation to be showy or slick. If you go at your pitch like a carnival barker, your potential investor will see through you in a heartbeat. Back up your passion and style with solid, confidence-inspiring figures. Have you put your own money into the start-up? Do you have a network of reliable professional connections in place? This is what we like to call the one-two punch of personality. Get your investor interested with who you are, and get them hooked by showing them what a good relationship prospect you’ll make.
Show me the money
It’s all about the money, money, money: and if the figures don’t stack up, no amount of personality and drive is going to convince an investor to bet on you. Most start-up investors are looking to make reliable returns on capital they’ve set aside for the purpose, and they’re not in the business of taking a punt. Get your figures in order, in a way that proves you have the experience, seriousness of purpose, and realism to back up your unique idea.
Financials are where small business ideas meet the real world. An investor needs to know that their money will be well spent. They needs to see that the figure you are asking for will be applied to a specific set of business goals, which are realistically achievable and likely to generate the return they are looking for.
Your business plan is the core of your financial offering. It should be targeted to your investor and written in the most concise way possible. Use real figures and be prepared to explain every one of them. If you claim your start-up will be turning over £300,000 by the end of year two, you’ll need to be able to show where that figure comes from.
Convincing financials incorporate multiple fiscal years, and cover everything affecting the cash and asset realities of your small business. What’s the projected cashflow, year on year? What are your costs? Your investor is expecting a full profit and loss statement, which shows your ability to bring in profit. At the end of the day, this is what generates buyer interest and kickstarts your exit strategy (see the great escape, below).
Making the sale
You don’t have to know everything about marketing to have a marketable start-up. But you do need a brand that knows what it is. A clear, coherent brand is defined by three things:
1: Your idea
2: Your audience
3: Your products and services
These three elements play into one another to create a brand that resonates with its audience – and a start-up that resonates with its investors. Your idea defines the kind of audience your products and services will reach. Your audience defines the products and services you create. The kind of product or service your small business is going to supply is a starting-point for your idea.
Investors need to see how your brand is going to be marketed, even if its marketing strategy isn’t up and running yet. At the very least, you should be able to show an understanding of your market and the initial stages of developing a marketing plan. Ideally, you’ll also have spent time generating press for your start-up, building a website, and generating buzz on social media.
It isn’t what you know…
On- or off-line, networking is still the most powerful currency in the world. Consider your own situation. Let’s say you’re building that website, and a mutual acquaintance who also runs a small business recommends a developer. Who do you go for – the developer your contact recommends, or a company pitching to you cold?
The same bias is present for investors. What if someone in your network were already to know one of your target investors? Yes, you’ll still have to impress with your company’s awesomeness, but at least you’re playing to a willing audience. If you can convince a member of your professional network to pitch your start-up to a potential investor, you go into the crunch meeting with a significant advantage.
There’s another benefit to networking for investor introductions: your pitch is practiced and honed by the time you reach the money. No-one whose opinion counts is going to recommend an investor looks at your small business unless you’ve already convinced them that it rocks. Your contact functions as a gatekeeper, vetting your pitch before it goes through to the big boss.
The great escape
Your start-up hasn’t even gotten off the ground yet – so it might seem a bit strange to be planning for its sale to a bigger company, or its merger with a complementary business. But this ‘exit strategy’ is your investor’s endgame. It’s the plan that shows her how she walks away from the investment with the desired return on her stake money.
Build the exit strategy into your whole offering. Show your potential investor how her money is going to take your start-up to a level that attracts the notice of buyers. With the right financials, the right marketing, and the right marriage of personalities, the exit strategy could be what tips her over into decision-making territory – and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Finding an investor takes time and money, and you’ll hear the word ‘no’ a lot more than you hear the word ‘yes’. But if your idea is sound and your passion is strong, you’ll get there in the end. Factor the travel and expense of investment-hunting into your plan. Put in the work: chase potential investors down, stick close to them, and wow them with your start-up. When you hear the magic word ’yes’, it’s all worth it.
How to effectively juggle work and social life
Now so many of us have constant access to our emails on our smartphones and tablets, we know it can be tempting to just “quickly” check them at home in the evening. Suddenly a five-minute check turns into an hour and a half, 10 more emails and 3 phone calls. The pressures of work can pile up sometimes, but it’s more important than ever to make sure you have an effective work/social life balance to ensure a healthy mind. So we’ve put together some tips on how to help keep the balance just right.
Be social
No matter how busy or weighed down you may feel, it is important to still make time to maintain contact with your family and friends. Instead of burning the midnight oil at the office or going home carrying the stresses of the day, take some time out for the ones you love. Whether it’s a quick drink after work, going to see a movie or having your family over for dinner, doing something after work that you enjoy and is non-work related will help you relax; keeping you happy and healthy.
Take holidays
Everyone is entitled to a holiday, yes, even if you work for yourself! It may seem like an impossible notion to pack up and jet off for two weeks when you’re running your own business, but it’s important to make it possible. Going away, taking a break and switching off will help you feel refreshed and give your body a chance to fully re-charge their batteries. It means that you will come back to work feeling well-rested, and be more productive than ever.
Be efficient with your time
We know that being social and finding the time for a holiday is important, but of course the work still needs to get done, hence the phrase work AND social life balance. Being efficient and strict with your time will help you achieve both a complete to-do list and a healthy social life. When you’re at work focus on the task in hand and give it your full attention, try to avoid distractions like texts and social media. This will help you focus and produce your best work most efficiently. Before you leave the office make a to-do list for the next day, this will help you feel organised and prepared in advance so nothing gets missed.
Create your own working hours
There are numerous studies that show that working 9-5 isn’t the most effective way of working for lots of us. You may be more of an early riser or perhaps a night owl, either way we all know that we would be much more productive if we created our own working hours. As well as boosting productivity, creating your own schedule can help you balance and make time for your social life and any family commitments you may have. Co-working is perfect for this, with 24/7 access to our dedicated desks you can work the hours that suit you, why not give it a go and see if it’s for you.
Why you need to start co-working today
The number one reason why a business should join a co-working space is definitely the support from community. Running your own business is never easy and it is a risky road. In a co-working environment, you will be able to see that you are not the only one who is going through similar experiences. You will be able to exchange ideas and give and take valuable feedbacks from the community around you.
Money is also a very crucial factor when it comes to office space. Overheads can pile up very quickly and rent can increase drastically overtime. Here at our co-working space at Us &Co., you don’t need to think twice about the costs of your space – we offer a single monthly charge, no hidden fees, all included.
Increased productivity is another benefit of co-working spaces. According to a research in Stanford University, 64% of coworkers are better able to complete tasks on time. This can be explained by the relaxed environment, designed to give co-workers personal space and areas for when you need to focus – just like we have on each floor at Us & Co.!
At Us & Co, we offer more than just a co-working space. You get the professional image needs you or your organisation requires, being part of a community of like-minded individuals, making networking easier than ever. You can enjoy a variety of hot drinks throughout the day and after-work beers on our top floor ClubSpace overlooking London’s riverside. All on Us&Co.!
So, do you still think there is any reason why a traditional office would be better than a co-working space? You possibly can’t. Come see us at Us & Co. and check our different membership options to find the one suiting your needs!
How to effectively crowdfund your start-up
Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular way to fund small businesses and start-ups to get them off the ground. The fundraising platform is also used by non-profits, artists, musicians and many more. But with so many people using the tool, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to get your message seen by the masses. Therefore it’s more important than ever to ensure you are doing everything you can to make sure your campaign is as effective and powerful as possible.
Choose the right platform
With more than 600 different crowdfunding platforms available worldwide, it’s important to take some time and do your research to find out which platform will be best for your particular campaign. The most popular sites currently are Kickstarter and Indiegogo where in exchange for donations users receive a range of special rewards, dependent on the size of their donation. But there are also more investment based platforms, where users directly invest in businesses, buying shares and stakes in the company.
Make the most out of your existing network
Harnessing your existing network, such as family, friends along with past and present business connections, is a vitally important part of any crowdfunding campaign for a number of reasons. This existing core inner group can act as your biggest endorsers, vouching for you and your project while spreading the word among their own networks getting the message out there. They can also start the ball rolling with donations, adding as little or as much as they can to the project. In turn, this will encourage others to give, as they will be to see that the project is legit as it already has backing and is, therefore, worthwhile.
Think about the perks
As we have previously mentioned a large part of crowdfunding is the perks on offer in return for donations. This is one of biggest selling points of these platforms, so it is important to put some serious thought into what you are offering. You will need a range of different rewards to match the level of donation, the bigger the donation, the bigger the reward. Think about what users would actually want, and how they can be useful to both the donor and you. They don’t even always have to cost money they can simply be offering users the chance to vote on how a product is designed, a personal thank you message or early access to a product or service. You just need to make sure you can afford the rewards and they are feasible and easy to manage.
Be detailed
Users are going to be more inclined to donate to projects that they know a lot about and can see exactly where their money will be going and how it will be used. So make sure your communications are clear and as detailed as possible, populate your campaign page with as much detail about your project and your story as you can, be true, real and express yourself clearly. Present a serious business plan, which is easily digestible for anyone reading, so people can really get a feel for where their money is going and why you need it.
Include a video
Most crowdfunding platforms allow you to upload a video to your campaign page; this is something we would highly recommend. It is a commonly known that videos will engage people a lot more than big chunks of text, and they are a great way to bring your project to life. Keep them short and concise with a clear call to action.
Always be online
Running a Crowdfunding campaign is not to be sniffed at. It’s a lot of hard work, late nights and you need to be prepared to essentially live online. During the time when your campaign is live is when the hard work really starts. It will be down to you to stay active on social media sites, monitor the page and answer any emails/queries you may get.
If you follow these six steps your crowdfunding campaign is sure to be a success, and your start-up will be up and running in no time.
Five lessons you learn from failing
Failure is part and parcel of life, especially in business. It can leave many of us feeling disheartened and tempted to throw in the towel but, we’re here to tell you that failure is ok. It can often become beneficial to both your business and professional development. So, put the pity party away and get reading to see exactly what you can learn from what you perceive as failing.
Reflection
It’s only a mistake if you make it more than once. Taking time to reflect on where you went wrong can help prevent you from making the same mistake in the future. Whether you’re just starting out, or a long timer in the business world, mistakes will happen. However, if you’re aware of how they came about, you can work to stop them from happening again. Therefore, you should learn to take some time out to sit down and look at exactly what went wrong and how you can stop it from happening again on future projects.
Resilience
The more often we fail, the more we become resilient to it. The most successful business leaders know that failure will inevitability happen, but don’t let it hinder them, rather inspire them to continue to try. In order to become truly successful, we must learn to be resilient as it helps us to understand that progress will take time while watching out for bumps in the road and coming back stronger if we do get knocked down.
Growth
Put simply, with failure comes growth. Without these failures, you would be perpetually stuck in the same place. If the fear of failure stops you from trying something new, you will never grow. This is because when you fail you inadvertently grow as you learn from the failure. You know not to take the similar steps and then try something new.
Value
When you first fail at something you open your eyes to the things that are working well. This helps you to understand the value in what is working, which is what should have your main attention rather than dwelling on what hasn’t worked. You also learn to value the people in your life that pick you back up and help you to grow following what has happened.
Compassion
Failure can deflate the ego, leaving many feeling vulnerable and embarrassed. Rather than letting these emotions take centre stage, leaving you lacking the motivation to get up and try again, you should use them to help you become more compassionate to others in future. Many successful professionals are only successful due to their compassion for others; people flock to those they feel they can relate to and know understand.
Rather than seeing failure as a sign of defeat and throwing in the towel, take a step back and start thinking of a new plan.
5 benefits of hot desking (you probably didn’t realise)
By definition, hot desking is the concept of co-working where you don’t get a set desk to use every day but instead, you get the opportunity to sit wherever you prefer each day. This simple co-working concept we offer at Us&Co comes with added benefits that you might not have noticed yet.
Increased level of communication & collaboration
Hot desking automatically calls for bonding with whoever’s in your surroundings. As you change your spot on a daily basis, you are exposed to a different desk-neighbour almost every day. This can lead to having valuable conversations with individuals from different backgrounds and industries – a chance you might not have easily in a regular office space. This is particularly useful for start-ups, freelancers and one-man bands looking to expand their network of partners and potential clients.
Efficiency for Larger Teams
Even if you’re not a solo entrepreneur and you are part of a corporate team, hot desking offers efficiency for project based collaboration. The team members that work on a specific task can simply choose to sit around each other to exchange ideas and plans without the hassle of scheduling a formal meeting. This allows to learn new skills, as if you are particularly interested in a specific area of the company, working next to an expert in that field is one of the best ways to pick up all the required information.
Choosing Your Own Ambiance
With hot desking, you are free to choose where to sit. This means, if you’re completing a task where you need extra concentration, you can choose to sit at a quieter corner for the day whereas usually you prefer to sit around chatty co-workers. This can allow you to manage your days more wisely and not get distracted when you don’t want to. There is a misconception that co-working sacrifices privacy and is not conducive to productivity, but actually the opposite is often true. If you are interested in learning more about this, check out our blog on the co-working/privacy debate here.
Cheaper Option
If you are concerned about the costs, hot desking should be your go-to option. As you do not have your own dedicated spot, you are basically sharing the cost of the space with fellow hot desking members. Our hot desking membership comes with free benefits such as superfast WiFi, usage of our drinks bar and top floor event space and terrace!
Stay tidy, stay focused
As the desk is not entirely yours, you don’t have much time to clutter it with unnecessary post-it notes, brochures or PR gifts. Hot desk mentality motivates people to be tidier and more organised, in order to leave the desk ready for the next person and to expect the same when they choose a new spot the next day. According to a research published in Journal of Consumer Research, there is a 167% improvement in persistence and attention span and 10% improvement in productivity in neater work places. What a win-win!
With our Hot Desk membership option, you get access to shared work space, to our coffee bar where everything is complimentary you can also use the Clubspace on the top floor with its central coffee bar, cafe tables and terraces – great for taking a quiet break or informal meetings. Come see it for yourself, book your visit now!
A shy person’s guide to networking
Networking is an inevitable part of business, unfortunately, though it’s not for everyone and even the most outgoing of people can find the task daunting and tiresome. For shy people and introverts in particular, it can fill them with dread. The thought of being in an unfamiliar place with a group of people you’ve never met before, and knowing you are under pressure to make a good impression and come away with new connections can all be too much. To help, we’ve put together some basic tips to help those people who perhaps find networking intimidating.
Prepare
As with most things in business, preparation is key and as the saying goes “fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. So, before you go to your event spend some time researching the event, the type of people who are going to be there and think about what you want to learn from others, along with exactly what is you want to take away from the event. Having a set of questions already in your mind will help you if you ever feel put on the spot, or can sense a conversation running dry. Also think about what you want to tell people about yourself, how you want to sum up your business and what you do. This will help you avoid becoming tongue-tied and missing key bits of information.
Start small
You don’t have to throw yourself straight into a huge event with lots of strangers, start small by contacting friends, family and familiar faces, either by picking up the phone or in person. Building your confidence and practising your networking skills with people you are comfortable can be a huge help for future opportunities. Then expand your network and perhaps try contacting your alumni network. For your first event, start at something quite small scale and friendly and even take a friend with you to help you find your feet.
Your actions
Your body language and the way you act will say a lot about you, and certain actions can also help you if you are a naturally shy person.
Smile
Looking relaxed and smiling will make you look warm and approachable, meaning that people will be more inclined to come up to you and start a conversation, which can be a big help if you aren’t confident at initiating conversations.
Listen
You may be surprised to hear that great conversations can happen without you saying much at all. People love to talk about themselves and their experiences so listening with sincere interest can encourage conversations, this also leads us onto the next point.
Ask questions
Listening and asking questions go hand in hand in order to show a real interest. Try to avoid closed questions and ask leading questions that require a long answer. This again encourages conversations and helps with the natural flow. Questions can also help in group conversations, rather than fading into the background and staying quiet pose a question to the group, this can be easier than wading in with an opinion.
Talk about your passions
It doesn’t always have to be about work and business, talking about your passions and hobbies outside of work can be great conversation starters and ice breakers. You may even find common ground with someone who has similar interests, this can then lead nicely into a more business based conversation and before you know it, you’ve made a great connection. This can make conversations and connection seem more sincere and less forced. You could also think about making connections at events related to your passion, whether that be book clubs, cooking lessons, sports groups, not all networking has to be business related.
Follow-up
Sending follow-up information can help with your credibility. You may have promised to share an article or report with someone you made a connection with, perhaps you just found something that may be of interest to someone you spoke to, or it may relate to the conversation you had. Either way, following up with things like this not only keeps you fresh in their mind but it can also create further conversations and opportunities down the line.
10 questions every entrepreneur needs to ask themselves every day
As an entrepreneur you’re likely to always looking for ways to move forward, keep pushing and expand the limits. To help you accomplish this, we’ve put together ten questions all entrepreneurs should ask themselves daily.
Morning
1. What do I want to accomplish today?
Starting the day with a clear mindset of what it is you wish to accomplish within your working hours can help bring focus and attention to detail that will bring with it a successful day. Take a few moments to picture how you want to feel at the end of the day, and what you will need to do to get there.
2. What are my motivations for the day?
The stresses of running a business can often cloud your memory of why you began in the first place. Try beginning the day by reminding yourself of the reasons you began your business in the first place. Successful entrepreneurs always keep in mind the reasons they began their business and let it steer their decisions and motivation throughout the day.
3. What legacy do I want to leave?
Whilst it may perhaps be a little morbid, start each day considering how you would like to be remembered. What decisions will you make today to ensure that the legacy you leave behind is a positive one?
4. How can I make today better than yesterday?
No matter if yesterday was the worst or best day of your business so far, begin the day by considering how you can make today better! It could be something small or something big, but you should try keeping it in mind throughout the day to keep you focused.
5. What could hold me back today?
Setbacks occur to all of us, however if you are prepared for setbacks before they happen, you can help to alter the outcome and ensure these setbacks turn into something positive.
Evening
6. What can I learn from today?
No matter what went wrong or right today, take a moment to think about what it is you’ve learnt from the events of the day. Perhaps you had a successful pitch, think about the key moments that made it a success, can you replicate these in the future? Maybe you lost out on an important piece of business; consider what the contributing factors for this were. What could you change to ensure you win the next time?
7. What did I achieve today?
Once your work is accomplished for the day, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself what it is you have achieved. By allowing yourself to consider and reflect on your accomplishments you will be able to end your working day on a positive, determined to achieve more the next day.
8. Are my goals any different from this morning?
As time moves on, things can often change and you can sometimes find yourself ending the day in a different direction from where you intended. If this is you, consider how you got to your new destination, are you happy there? If you are, great! If not, begin to think of ways you can head back on the right track tomorrow.
9. Have I made people happy today?
This could be your employees, your customers or even yourself. We all know that a happy working day provides a more positive outcome on your business. If the answer is no, consider what you can do differently tomorrow so the answer is yes.
10. Is this still what I want?
Being an entrepreneur and running your own business is demanding and time-consuming! When you’re going after something you truly want, this will help fuel you, but if it’s not it can often drain you. Each day ask yourself if you’re still doing what it is you want to do. If not, what can you do to change this?
Us&Co offers private offices, co-working (hot desking and fixed desk), event space and bookable meeting rooms to a wide range of companies – from flourishing start-ups to established enterprises. We have two co-working business centres, the first in Monument in Central London and the second in Stratford, East London. Book a tour today or fill out our contact form to get in touch with the Us&Co team. We are also available on the phone at 020 3031 3535.
Small habits that create big success
The little things are often the ones that count the most and are usually easier to implement than you would think. By incorporating these small habits into your daily routine, it won’t be long until you’re noticing a big difference. Here we’re explaining how these small habits can help you become more successful day-to-day.
Define your priorities
Consider what your main priorities in life are, both in business and personally. Next, examine how much time you’re spending on each priority. By actively evaluating how you spend your time on what matters most to you, you’ll be able to see the possible ways you can re-arrange the time you spend so that you’re able to indulge in what makes your truly happy.
Develop a plan
Having a plan in place ensures you’re constantly working toward something. Not only should you have yearly/life-long goals, you should also have daily goals. Take some time each evening to plan for your day ahead so that you know each morning what you’re working towards that day. Then at the end of each week reflect on how that week has propelled you forward in terms of your yearly/life-long goal and consider what you can do next week to progress even further. By assessing your successes you are more likely to stay motivated.
Set deadlines
Much like with the above point, it’s always good to have goals that you’re focused on, however, if there is no end date in sight, we often let up some slack when it comes to reaching the finish line. Again, setting goals can be applied on a daily, even hourly basis or on a grander scale. Make sure your goals are measurable and keep moving in order to achieve them.
Delete distractions
Smartphones have made our lives so much easier in many ways, but they’ve also caused a hindrance to our productivity. Combine that with the constant need to check emails, news websites and social media platforms it can be difficult to focus for long periods of time. The best way to minimise distractions and boost productivity is to delete these distractions. Take your phone off of your desk and limit its usage, turn off your emails and only check them at certain points and limit the number of times you hit refresh on your favourite website. The longer you go without these distractions; you’ll notice that you’re less dependent on them.
Break down your tasks
It can often feel like some tasks will take more work than climbing Everest, which often leads us to procrastinating and pushing them aside whilst continuing to panic about them. Instead of worrying about how much needs to be done, take a step back and break it down. Look at each and every step you need to take in order to accomplish your long term goal. Then see if you can break that task down further, and repeat until you have manageable short-term tasks that you can easily tick off your to-do list.
Delegate
After you’ve broken down all your tasks (see previous point) it can often still feel like you’ve got too much to do and not enough time to do it. This is where delegation plays a key part. It’s very difficult to accomplish everything all by yourself; no man is an island after all. Learn who you can trust and ask for their help.
Reflect
Self-reflection is essential in assessing your successes and potential failures. Those who can reflect will be able to then learn from each action and put into practise what has worked to help fuel future success and understand what they may need to do differently in the future to make things run smoothly. Take some time at the end of each day, or at a minimum at the end of each project, and assess the strengths and weaknesses.
Read
Reading frequently helps expand our minds and encourages us to keep learning. Whether it’s the latest best seller, a news article on your chosen subject or something completely random, it all works in favour of our ability to absorb information and expand our horizons. Try and find just five minutes a day (obviously the more, the better) to expand your mind.