7 Skills That Will Help You Boost Productivity

Everyone wants to stay productive but it's easier said than done. It's not possible for us to channel intense focus every time we do a particular task, especially with all the distractions and external factors beyond our control.

Being productive doesn't mean just checking tasks off your to-do list but also ensuring the work quality to drive optimal results. The productivity level dictates whether or not we will achieve our goals within the set deadlines and acknowledge optimal gains of our efforts.

If you've been struggling to boost your productivity and exploring ways to improve, the following skills can help.

1. Planning

Planning helps you set clear goals which in turn improves productivity. Learning how to plan has a significant impact on your efficiency because a plan serves as a roadmap that helps guide your way. Without planning, you're more likely to waste time and effort on tasks that don't actually add any value.

It's common for people to put in a lot of effort and yet acknowledge subpar results. Not having a plan often leads you to make ad-hoc decisions. You end up working on random tasks that have little or no impact on the set objectives.

Planning helps steer your efforts in the right direction and maximize efficiency as you know exactly what needs to be done. A carefully crafted planning helps channel all your energy and enables you to optimally utilize available resources.

2. Prioritization

Knowing how to prioritize the tasks at hand boosts productivity. For this, learn to identify high and low-impact tasks and set priorities accordingly.

High-impact tasks are the ones that generate the most value and low-impact tasks are the ones that don't have much impact on the set objectives.

Assigning priorities to tasks helps you become productive and more efficient than ever. You spend time where you should and learn to delegate or reschedule things that are either non-urgent or unimportant.

This would take some getting used to. So, while you're at it, you can take help from tools like Eisenhower Matrix to get your priorities in line with the objectives.

3. Problem Solving

Your ability to solve problems has a significant impact on your productivity. Things don't always go your way. You often come across different obstacles or roadblocks. Problem-solving refers to your ability to come up with appropriate solutions quickly and efficiently.

This not only helps you achieve your professional but also personal goals. Your ability to solve problems helps you devise effective strategies and counters for unfavorable situations. This not only enhances your productivity but also improves your wellbeing.

4. Time Management

Learning how to manage your time effectively helps boost your productivity. But it's an art not easily mastered especially if you work remotely. Time management demands practice and consistency. So, it won't be possible for you to learn this skill overnight. 

Start by creating a schedule and sticking to it. A schedule helps you manage time better by classifying your activities for the day. This not only gives you an overview of your daily tasks but also ensures that you don't spend more than the required time on a particular activity.

Time management helps you manage your deliverables better and achieve the set milestones within the set deadlines. Time management not only increases your productivity but also helps you perform exceptionally without having to experience burnout or exhaustion.

5. Communication

Communication helps optimize the yield against your efforts. In a workplace, you don't always operate as a lone wolf. Sometimes, you have tasks that require coordination. Whether it's your co-workers or managers, communication is the key to ensuring that you check tasks off the to-do list on a timely basis.

When you work on interrelated tasks or have shared responsibilities. So, it's critical to share or receive information on time. Excessive back-and-forth or unnecessary delays in communication can bring your productivity to a halt.

There are a few things worth remembering here. Don't shy away from breaking the ice when interacting with someone you haven't worked with before. Be an active listener. Be clear and concise when sending the message. Always take notes during brainstorming sessions.

Effective communication minimizes misunderstandings and helps you acknowledge a seamless flow of information at work. This boosts your productivity by reducing unnecessary bottlenecks and roadblocks.

6. Decision Making

Your ability to make the right decisions has a significant impact on your productivity. Swift decision-making helps us devise an appropriate course of action when in need which in turn elevates our productivity.

There are two effective ways to harness this skill via learning and experience. You can only make an informed decision if you have access to the right data. So, learning is the key. As far as the experience is concerned, make mistakes and let those be the lessons learned. Reflect on the errors and do better next time.

7. Stress Management

Stress has a negative impact on your productivity. And, it's inevitable. You can't evade it completely. However, you can learn to manage it. And that helps elevate your productivity.

Stress affects your focus and overall efficiency. It not just clouds your judgment but also affects all the aforesaid abilities. That's why stress management is of critical importance. And there are a few ways that can help.

Don't keep your problems to yourself. Sometimes, sharing with people you trust helps release the tension. On average, we spend around 2 hours and 29 minutes on social media. Try putting that time to good use and interact with the people you can rely on.

Meditation is also a proven way to lower stress levels and fortify your mind. So, try enrolling in a fitness program.

The next is journaling or blogging. Writing about your experiences helps you cope with elevated stress levels. It enables you to reflect upon past encounters and come up with optimal solutions for the future.

It's a Wrap

There you have it. The 7 skills that will help you boost productivity. All of these are brilliant ways to increase your overall efficiency. So, start with the one that piques your interest and see if it works out for you.