Productivity is a big word. It can mean different things to different people.

Productivity to a Sales Manager is justified by Janice Chong as “being able to secure a lot of collections from my clients and expose them to my products and services.”

Productivity to Tian Cheng, an IT Support/Admin Coordinator means “learning something new or more each day and producing any kind of positive result”.

Productivity to Mohd Fadhzli, a Graphic Designer means, “having my work meet the deadlines and having my work exuberate high quality.”

Nithya Ganiswaran, a Web Developer, adds that her productivity is boosted with nice music in the background.

Being productive at work must mean something to you. You must feel good knowing that you are being productive and on the other if you are not, you should start worrying. It’s not just about showing your seniors that you are slogging, so you can be promoted, it’s about the satisfaction that will enhance your productivity.

So, how do we avoid those lazy and procrastinating moments at work? I’m talking about the moments when you keep checking and re-checking your email, surfing the net aimlessly, running to and fro the washroom and all the other time-consuming movements. Amrut Saliah, a Project Coordinator says, “Sometimes I can spend days in a week doing no work at all. I will be surfing all sorts of sites, unrelated to my work. Instead of making calls to my clients and promoting our services, I will be chatting away with my friends. It might seem to my colleagues that I’m working, but in actuality, I’m doing nothing.”

Sometimes, we get confused about what our job duties and objectives are. You can either speak to your manager (and note down their expectations) or either refer back to your employment documents where your job description is stated. Once you have that cleared and settled, make a list or a plan of your daily activities. Here are some pointers that might help:

• Create a to-do list. You probably know this one but have you actually got down to completing the tasks? When you come to work every morning, jot down on a bright piece of paper all the tasks that need to completed. Once you have completed the tasks, strike it out.
• Set small periods in the day, where you’ll concentrate just on completing your tasks. You can start with two 60 minute slots. During these 60 minutes, focus on completing that particular task. Switch off your mobile if you have to and avoid all distractions. You have to be disciplined enough to complete these tasks without disruptions. It will eventually become a habit. Try doing one of the 60 minute periods first thing in the morning. Try to complete at least one task, before you do anything else.
• This one is really useful. Keep a log of all your activities. It will not only be useful as a reference for the future but also an indication for you to monitor your productivity. It will be even better if you can time yourself for each activity.
• There will be times, when no matter how hard you try, you wont be able to produce anything. During these irritating moments, stop everything you are doing and get up and leave your spot. Walk every else, chat with your colleague, read the newspaper briefly, just take a short breather. The idea is to clear your mind.
• Avoid distractions. Stay away from anything that is not work-related. Your have to fulfill your commitment at least from 8am to 5pm, ensuring all your tasks are completed well.

The list of tips to ensure productivity can go on and on. But there is another aspect of productivity that shouldn’t be ignored.
I’m referring to the correlation between Happiness and Productivity. It is believed that workers produce not only more but better results when they are happy.

Amrath Bhullar, manager of Highway Management Services, believes so too. “It works both ways. A happy worker, hailing from a happy family, having a positive outlook of life, will definitely be more productive at work. Then again, if a worker is doing well and is commended for his/her high level of productivity, he/she will be happy and thus work even harder. It may not necessarily have anything to do with his/her personal life.”

Personal problems are inevitable. There should be a line that must not be crossed. Try visually throwing your problems in a bin before you step into your office. Before, you leave for home; you can collect your problems from the bin. It works for me!

Another area not to be ignored is if you are happy with your work. You must like what you do. You must find happiness in your job. That will be the biggest stimulation to be more productive. The initial stage will be difficult, but once you start producing results and your work is highlighted for its excellence, happiness will be automatic.

Happiness is an important factor for the development of the whole department. Happy people work better in teams, extend better services to their clients, they are more creative and more motivated.

So cheer up!