When one thinks of productivity demand, you should ask yourself the following: Are you adding value?
- Are you creating wealth (giving more value to something, increasing something, or making something more)?
- Are you neutral (not adding value to your input but not decreasing it either)?
- Are you creating poverty (wasting the input so that you have less than you started with)?
A simple example is if you take a piece of paper (worth 50c) and a bit of pencil (worth 10c) and you make a drawing on the paper. Your drawing is a masterpiece. How much is the piece of paper now worth? If you sell your drawing for $150, you have created wealth.
On the other hand, if you take the paper (worth 50c) and a bit of pencil (worth 10c) and you make a drawing that is useless, what do you do? You crumple the paper and throw it away. You thus throw away 60c, creating poverty.
Productivity is all about creating prosperity, welfare, making things better, adding value, or doing necessary things. Non-productivity is destroying what there is.
My definition of productivity is doing the right things right. But how do you know whether you are doing the right things right? Here are 5 basic steps to determine your productivity level:
Step 1
Are your activities aligned with your goals? Are you aware of the goals of your organization, and how are you measuring up? Have you set personal goals that are measurable and clear?
Step 2
Examine your work processes. Are there systems in place to streamline the workflow, and are these systems effective? Are routine tasks being automated as far as possible? Are there policies and guidelines in place to help staff know what to do when? Are you using the most effective method of getting each task done?
Step 3
Do you and your staff know how to do the best quality work? Are you adequately trained to excel at your tasks? How do you measure the quality of your work?
Step 4
Do you have a workflow continuity plan in place? Do you and your staff know what to do in case of emergency? Do you have adequate backups, etc. in place in case disaster strikes? Do you and your staff know what to do when key personnel are not at work so that the workflow remains constant?
Step 5
Do you spend time each week looking back at what has been accomplished, where you currently stand, and where you are heading?
Managing a small business is challenging. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed with the amount of work you have to do. There are so many distractions. It is difficult to stay focused. However, being productive leads to being successful and reaching your goals. In fact, being optimally productive will give you the opportunity to take a break from your daily work and to relax. Don’t you think it is time to focus on your productivity, in order to get the rest you need?
