Guest Contributors
As the New Year begins, do you find yourself feeling a little “flat” at work?
A common challenge that employees face in the workplace is staying motivated and productive amidst common distractions such as, procrastination, co-worker back-stabbing, missed promotions, office gossip. Because motivation is something that comes and goes, it is therefore something you have to work on to experience high levels of it. In this article, you will pick up 5 specific tools that you can employ whenever your drive, focus and workplace enthusiasm begin to fizzle.
Make sure your workspace is uncluttered and supports clear thinking
If you're having trouble concentrating and focusing, a likely culprit might just be a messy desk or a cluttered office space and it could possibly be draining your energy. Creating a cleaner and clearer workspace will ensure that you minimize or even eliminate the very things that distract you from focusing on important tasks ahead. Schedule an hour this week that you can dedicate solely to getting your workspace in order. As you clear your space you will feel more comfortable in it and that will foster a sense of balance that you need to get focused and re-energized.
Surround yourself with encouraging and energizing folks at work
If you're feeling less focused and motivated to be at your best at work, this might be a good time to take a look at who you most closely surround yourself with at work. How much time are you spending with energy drainers and folks who are constantly criticizing you and second guessing your work?
Make a list of the top 3 people you interact with most at work and jot down beside each name a few words to describe how you most feel being around them. Although you can't completely eliminate every negative person from your work interactions, especially if the person is someone you have to answer to on a regular basis; you do however have the ability to choose how much time you spend around an energy drainer. Don't surround yourself with people who are only interested in chiming in on co-worker bashing sessions either because putting others down, no matter how annoying they might be, can also drain you and keep you in a world of pessimism and negativity. You can probably relate to the refreshing feeling of being around someone positive and encouraging, and being around supportive co-workers will ensure that you enjoy that good feeling more often. Remember that an optimistic person is usually a very motivated person because they are fueled by good vibes and positive thinking.
Commit to reading and tapping into the inspiration of one self-improvement book each month
Imagine the feeling you get after you've indulged in an uplifting conversation with a friend or co-worker. How do you feel? Energized? In the very same way, diving into and completing a good self-empowering book once a month can bring you that same feeling and we all know that a lot of great accomplishments occur when we're feeling uplifted and energized.
Get a supportive accountability partner and share your specific goals with them
One of the best ways to stay focused and energized at work is by knowing that someone else you respect is aware of important projects and tasks you know you need to complete. If you are generally in the habit of taking a lunch break, schedule a lunch break once a week with this person and discuss your progress. Knowing that you will have to answer for your action or inaction will motivate you to get things done. Remember to be as honest as you can with this person so that you genuinely benefit from having an accountability partner. Their constant encouragement will also be fuel to your fire to help you stay productive.
Detail an action plan including realistic target completion dates for tasks/projects you need to work on
It's often not enough to just have in mind the things you need to accomplish at work. Writing them down and noting target completion dates will be very helpful in keeping you focused and organized. Setting target dates will energize you and increase the likelihood that you won't procrastinate. As you write out an action plan, be sure to prioritize the most important projects or tasks first. As part of this exercise list your tasks/projects in one column and besides each one, try to identify and write down 1 or 2 possible obstacles that could get in the way of you staying on track with that task. Identifying your obstacles will allow you to readily recognize their presence as a direct distraction away from your goal and this will empower you to move beyond them and stay focused.
So you can indeed stay focused amidst common workplace distractions no matter how great they may be. Just keep in mind that it might require a change in some of your workplace habits. Implementing the above 5 tools will ensure that you can enjoy a very focused and fruitful year filled with the successful achievements you deserve.
About the Author:
Sylvia Baffour is one of the most sought-after speakers and trainers in the fields of college planning, professional and self-development and leadership. She is co-author of How to Be a Super Achiever a book that provides readers with useful strategies for unleashing their own success. She is also the creator of the Leaping Beyond BarriersTM Training System which focuses on helping people and organizations to move out of their own way and in the direction of improving their outlooks, performance, innovation, and results.
Click the following link to learn more about: Sylvia Baffour
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