About 3,000 years ago, King Solomon warned us, "Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions." In 2015, the Chicago Tribune's top 10 list of distractions ended with, "The most mind-blowing fact about distractions is that almost no one could possibly imagine... oh, look, it's a cat video!" Dealing with distractions has always been important. […]
Maybe you're the exception to the rule and you absolutely love meetings, but many of us don't enjoy them. Some meetings drag on for hours, without adding much value. Other meetings are held for no better reason than that it's the usual routine to have them. Regardless of how we feel about them, we all […]
#MTtalk, All Posts, Communication, Decision Making, Team Management, Uncategorized
It's said that most people spend more time planning a vacation than they do planning their lives. But a good life plan, which you return to and amend regularly, can be a very useful tool for career success. In the words of executive coach and author Daniel Harkavy, it makes you "more proactive and intentional" and less "reactive […]
Some people just seem unable to switch off. They see downtime as a waste of time, and any interruption or delay to their increasingly urgent and growing list of assignments causes them anxiety and stress. To them, "multi-tasking" is not a dirty word but a badge of honor. Their behavior goes way beyond the normal […]
From childhood, through school and into the workplace, we are encouraged to be organized. Discover our useful organization tips and tools
It was a privilege to talk one-on-one with Margaret Heffernan – like having my own personal TED Talk. I met the business leader and author while she was passing through London publicizing her new book, “Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes,” which is based on an actual TED Talk that she gave. There […]
Change Management, Expert Interview, Team Management, Time Management, Uncategorized
Each person has his or her own particular strengths and skills at work. In the Mind Tools office, for example, we've got expert project managers, inspiring leaders, creative geniuses, finance pros, technology whizzes, and top-notch sales people… to name but a few! Me? I love time management and productivity… and I'm not afraid to admit […]
I often challenge myself to go without something I enjoy for a period of time. At the moment, I’ve given up chocolate, and my goal is to go six weeks without eating any. In my opinion, six weeks is long enough to test my will power, but not too long for it to feel insurmountable! […]
All Posts, Career Skills, Learning Skills, Problem Solving, Time Management
I've never been a leader of an organization and I've always shied away from management roles in my journalism career, preferring to stay "at the coal face." Nor have I ever been overly interested in management theory or the structure of organizations. But I am really interested in concepts like purpose and meaning, in the […]
All Posts, Career Skills, Leadership, Team Management, Time Management
I used to be a terrible sleeper. And, if I'm not careful, I could become one again. When I was a student, I had poor sleeping habits. If I didn't have a lecture, I would stay in bed for as long as possible during the day. Even though I felt guilty, I just couldn't help […]
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