Many people get easily distracted at work with email notifications, open web browsers, phone calls, and texts.

One of the easiest ways to increase your productivity at work is to eliminate all of the distractions. Maximizing productivity not only looks good on your resume, but it will also alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress. For some people the distractions listed above are the number one reason that productivity is not at its maximum potential.

Step number one: eliminate all distractions.

Step number two: Get started. Often times just getting started is a major challenge. If you "just start" executing whichever tasks are on the list for the day, you will most likely increase your productivity. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. I know that this is a challenge for me at times, especially when it comes to doing my homework. I get distracted with emails, texts, phone calls, and even Facebook! Because I begin with distractions, I struggle getting started on my tasks. If I choose to just get started instead of letting the distractions get the best of me, my productivity will increase and the amount of stress I experience will decrease because I won't be trying to cram all of my homework in over the weekend. I know everyone has experienced procrastination at one point during their lifetime, which typically causes unnecessary stress and extra work.

The third step is to tackle your most dreadful or challenging task first. If you choose to complete what you view as the worst task or the hardest task of the day, often times your stress levels will decrease and you will have the ability to complete the remainder of your tasks with a clear head and a good attitude.

Step four: only focus on the task at hand. If you choose to focus solely on the task that you are working on, you will complete it in less time and have a better quality product. At times this step may be challenging because most jobs require multi-tasking, but if you choose to place all of your focus on one task at a time, you will increase productivity.

Step five: keep a planner or a notebook and pen on hand at all times. This is absolutely essential in maximizing productivity. Many people think that they can just remember things without having to write them down. This could not be farther from the truth. Even if you have the memory of an elephant, you always need to write important information down. Keeping a record of important information is key to maximizing productivity because if you choose not to write important information down, you will eventually make a mistake and forget to do something or relay a message to someone which could end badly for you and will end up costing the company time and money.

If you follow the five steps that have been outlined for you, I guarantee that you will see an increase in your productivity and get maximum results.

About Us

As a global talent management company, renowned for its highly personalized services, OI Partners specializes in mid-level, executive and group outplacement; executive coaching; leadership development and workforce solutions. Our focus is on developing individuals in their careers through personalized, one-on-one attention and helping employers improve the performance of their employees and organizations.