Carson Tate's Blog, page 5

Advantages and Benefits of Using a Life Coach

Advantages and Benefits of Using a Life Coach

By Carson Tate on June 8, 2021

Many of us were fortunate to grow up with terrific coaches who supported our development and gave us the guidance and tools to accomplish our goals. The PE coach who inspired us to keep trying, the sports coach who showed us how to improve our game, and all the other coaches who encouraged us to be our best. Why did this have to stop just because we left school and departed from the field or court? 

The truth, of course, is that it doesn’t have to stop. As a business professional, we can still benefit from a life coach who works with us to realize our full potential, mitigate our weaknesses, and capitalize on our strengths. An experienced life coach offers personalized coaching for each client, helping them address their challenges, develop goals, and enhance both their personal and professional well-being. If you’re considering working with a certified life, here are some of the advantages and results you can expect from a coaching engagement. 

Virtual Coaching

Time is a precious commodity, and it can be difficult to find the time for coaching.  Carson Tate offers virtual coaching which allows clients to meet conveniently with her for their coaching sessions. With virtual coaching you eliminate travel time and can easily fit coaching into your busy schedule. And, with video conferencing clients can still enjoy the gestures, eye contact, and expressions that animate coaching sessions and create those personalized connections that are so important for personal development.  

Personal Growth and Development

Personal development is, highly personal, which is why Carson Tate individualizes every coaching engagement. As a certified personal development coach, Carson partners with each client to identify their personal and professional goals, pinpoint strengths, and talents, and design their work for more meaning and purpose. Through personal development, clients can evolve, transform, and unleash their true potential.

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New Perspectives

When you meet with Carson for virtual coaching, you’ll find that one of the ways she helps clients make strategic changes in their personal lives or careers is by offering new perspectives. She may take a problem-solving approach and help clients find actionable ways to deal with challenges, or introduce clients to new strategies, techniques, and tools to leverage their strengths, enhance their productivity, communication, or professional fulfillment. Carson is an excellent collaborator, and she partners with her clients to help them view their situations from other perspectives.

Discover Your Work-Life Pace

Many clients meet with Carson to help them find their work-life balance. However, work-life balance is inherently unnatural. It assumes that there is always an equal distribution of time, energy, and focus given to work and personal life. This is not true in our lives today. Carson helps her client discover their own rhythm or pace that enables them to restore, create, grow, and achieve without burnout, without decimating their health, and without neglecting their personal life.

Cultivate Authentic Relationships

One of the most challenging aspects of life is to effectively navigate the ups and downs of business and personal relationships. A life coach can help you cultivate more authentic, rewarding relationships and identify where you may be unconsciously undermining your interactions. Carson helps clients understand and recognize the different work styles of their team members, how to manage and lead a diverse team, and how to communicate to be heard and understood by everyone.

Enhanced Self-Confidence

One of the most gratifying benefits that Carson Tate’s client’s experience is their boost in self-confidence. She helps them recognize their strengths and unique abilities and how to create more opportunities for positive, successful work experiences by asking for feedback. She encourages her clients to feel proud of their progress and acknowledge the impact they have in their professional and personal lives.  When clients feel capable, confident, and valued they have higher self-esteem.

Find Happiness and Fulfillment

We often realize professional success only to discover that we’re not happy, nor fulfilled As a personal development coach, Carson Tate helps clients uncover what truly inspires and motivates them, and how they can do what they love so that it is both personally and fiscally rewarding.

Ready to learn more about our coaching services? Click here for a comprehensive overview of our coaching programs.

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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Occupational Burnout – How to Avoid Burnout at Work

Occupational Burnout – How to Avoid Burnout at Work

By Carson Tate on May 20, 2021

Occupational burnout is on the rise, as the World Health Organization now recognizes it in their 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. According to Deloitte’s marketplace survey on burnout, 77% of respondents say they have experienced burnout in their current job.

The signs of burnout at work can often be wide-ranging, whether it’s isolation from social activities, chronic stress, health issues, emotional exhaustion, or a drop in work performance. These burnout symptoms can get worse over time and have a significant impact on your life. Understanding how to deal with burnout is essential for your mental health, productivity, and performance.  

Here are ten strategies to help you manage and overcome occupational burnout:

Take a Vacation

One of the most effective ways to deal with burnout s is to take a vacation. Going on vacation with family or friends is a great way to relax, recharge, and refocus on your physical, mental, and emotional health.  A break from work and life can be the reset button you need.  

End Your Workday

In a 24/7 hyperconnected, global workplace it is difficult to disconnect and unplug from work. The never-ending workday leads to burnout and is counterproductive. Economics professor John Pencavel found in his research that productivity per hour declines sharply when a person works more than 50 hours a week. After 55 hours, productivity drops so much that putting in any more hours would be pointless. And those who work up to 70 hours a week are only getting the same amount of work done as those who put in the 55 hours. Decide when you will stop working each day. Put this on your calendar as a meeting with yourself and commit to not opening your email, computer, or doing any other work-related task after this time.

Give Yourself Free Time

Taking time for yourself is essential to avoid burnout. Schedule free time during your workday. Block time on your calendar for a lunch break. Take 15 minutes to call a friend. Take a 30-minute walk in your neighborhood. A 30-minute break will improve your focus and enable you to be even more productive for the rest of the day.

Change Your Environment

It can be mentally draining to stay in the same environment throughout your workday. Give yourself a mental boost and change your work environment. Take a conference call in your kitchen, complete your presentation on your porch, or grab your laptop and go to your local coffee shop, bookstore, or library.

Make Time for Working Out

Regular exercise can relieve stress, improve memory, help you sleep better, and boost your overall mood. Whether you want to lift weights at the gym, go on a short run, or even play a game of basketball, the good news is that all physical activity can have these positive benefits. Staying active will improve your cognitive ability and enhance your overall well-being.

Refresh Your Mind with a Nap

Naps aren’t just for kids. A 20-minute nap can improve your memory, enhance immune health, boost your mood, and increase alertness. Taking a short nap can help you avoid that second cup of coffee and enable you to stay more productive for the remainder of the day.

Practice Mindfulness

 Finding ways to detach from a hectic work environment can help you recharge and enable you to improve your focus. You can incorporate mindfulness throughout your workday. Take three deep breaths after each meeting ends, spend ten minutes at lunch listening to a guided meditation on app like headspace, do few yoga poses between Zoom calls or simply taking a break from your smartphone.

Stay Ahead of Deadlines

Frantically completing work at the last minute is stressful. If you constantly work overtime to meet deadlines, this extra stress can add up and lead to burnout. Change how you manage your projects to avoid the taxing experience of constantly playing catchup at work. Put all project due dates on your calendar. Break large projects into smaller tasks. Time yourself completing project related tasks so you can accurately plan and allocate your time.

Find a Fun Hobby

Work is an important part of your life. However, if it is the center of your life, it increases your chances of experiencing occupational burnout.  Think back to your childhood and what you adored doing. Did you enjoy reading a book, playing video games, spending time in nature, painting, coloring, drawing, or baking cupcakes? Hobbies can improve your well-being and help you unwind from a stressful day. Time to play and engage in activities you enjoy is vital for your wellbeing.

Create a Schedule

A structure to your day will enable you to get your work done and enjoy your life. Schedule your most difficult tasks in the morning when you are more alert and fresher. Check email and complete administrative tasks in the afternoon.  

You are a human being, not a human doing. What will you do differently today to take back control of your mental, emotional, and physical health so you can avoid occupational burnout?

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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How to Deal with Stress at Work

How to Deal with Stress at Work

By Carson Tate on May 13, 2021

An excessive workload, unclear expectations, lack of social support, insufficient autonomy, or uninteresting work are all workplace stressors that can quickly accumulate over time. They create a highly stressful work environment, can undermine your productivity, and lead to interpersonal conflict in the workplace. In today’s fast-paced environment understanding how to deal with stress at work is a necessity.

To help you cope and address stress in the workplace, here are ten stress management strategies.

1) Start Your Day from a Place of Relaxed Control

Racing to get your kids ready for school and skipping breakfast is a recipe for stress. Set your alarm to wake up 15-minutes earlier so you can have time to meditate, pray, do some light stretches, or just enjoy a cup of coffee without any interruptions. Decide to start your day from a place of relaxed control, versus a reactive frenzy and watch your stress melt away.

2) Plan Your Days and Weeks

Invest the time to plan your days and weeks so you focus throughout your workday. You’ll notice and increase in efficiency and be less stressed about meeting your deadlines. 

3) Understand Your Job Requirements and Performance Expectations

Unclear job requirements and expectations significantly contribute to psychological stress. A lack of clarity makes it difficult to know if you are performing your job correctly and how your performance is being evaluated. Reach out to your manager and ask for specific, quantitative, and qualitative job requirements and performance expectations. Ask for them to clarify how to perform any unclear job tasks. Clarity and consistent communication will reduce your stress and ensure you exceed performance expectations.

4) Try to Avoid Interpersonal Conflict

Interpersonal conflict in the workplace always causes stress. Clashes with other employees increases your stress hormones which makes it difficult to concentrate and focus on your tasks.  Avoid discussions about potentially controversial topics like politics or religion to reduce conflict. Assume honorable intent and shun workplace gossip and watch your relationships flourish.

5) Get Comfortable

A comfortable work environment can reduce psychological and physical stress. For example, an uncomfortable chair can lead to back problems and make it difficult for you to focus due to the pain. A loud, noisy office can make it difficult to relax. Place a cushion on your desk chair, put a lamp on your desk for additional lighting, or wear headphones. Get creative and find ways to create a quiet and comfortable office space so you mind and body can relax.

6) Use Mindfulness Exercises

Mindfulness exercises are a powerful way to reduce your stress. Take a series of deep breaths to focus on the present moment, create a gratitude list, or practice moments of stillness throughout the workday.  

7) Avoid Multitasking

When you attempt to work on multiple projects at once, you decrease your effectiveness and increase your stress. Focus on one task at a time so you can minimize errors, reduce stress, and boost your productivity and impact.    

8) Exercise

In a clinical trial run by the Body-Brain Performance Institute in association with Swinburne’s University and Brain Sciences Institute, there was a clear link between physical fitness, brain function and reduced stress levels at work. Paul Taylor, who led the research, said that there was a marked improvement in the employee’s mood and cognition from the exercise group with the exercising group showing a 4% increase in overall brain function. When your brain is performing at full capacity, you can focus, concentrate, and make better decisions. Take a walk during your lunch break, do a Zoom morning yoga class, or dance around your office between meetings.  

9) Listen to Music

Music can have a profound effect on both your emotions and the body. It can be an effective relaxation and stress management tool. Faster music can make you feel more alert and concentrate better. Upbeat music can make you feel more optimistic and positive about life. A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Listen to music on your way to work, on your way home from work, and/or throughout your workday.

10) Focus on Progress Not Perfection

Attempting to complete everything perfectly all the time is unrealistic and stressful. Focus on progress not perfection. Pay attention to each step you take toward a goal and celebrate your achievements.

Stress will always occur in the workplace, whether you’re working on multiple projects with the same deadline, preparing for a client presentation, or dealing with conflict with another coworker. Understanding the causes of work stress and strategies to help you cope are essential for your mental, physical, and emotional health.  

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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Five Strategies to Control the Most Common Distractions at Work

Five Strategies to Control the Most Common Distractions at Work

By Carson Tate on April 1, 2021

Distractions are pervasive in the workplace. They make it difficult to stay productive whether you are trying to meet a tight deadline or avoid being late to a meeting. As you have probably experienced, mitigating the impact of distractions in the workplace is never an easy task.

Here are five of the most common distractions in the workplace and how you can overcome them to save time, reduce stress, and achieve your goals.

Checking Your Email

Most of us have the urge to immediately check our inbox each time we receive a new message, even though most of the emails we receive are what everyone else wants us to do and may not be aligned to our strategic goals and priorities. These constant interruptions can undermine your productivity and make it difficult to stay focused throughout the day. One simple way to overcome this challenge is to designate specific times of the day to read and respond your emails. For example, you could check your emails in the morning, before lunch, mid-afternoon, and at the end of your day and then close your email application.

Checking Your Smartphone

How often have you glanced at your smartphone with the intention to quickly check one of your social media accounts only to look up 30 minutes later? Smartphones can be an exceptional productivity tool for work-related activities; however, they can also waste your time and distract you. Put your smartphone away – in a drawer, in a bag, or under a pile of papers – to remove the temptation to check it. Set up a specific ring tone for family members or significant others so you don’t worry about missing an important call when your smartphone is tucked away in the back of your desk drawer.

Instant Messaging With Coworkers

Instant messaging platforms have enabled us to quickly message our colleagues throughout the workday. However, while instant messaging is an excellent way to get the answer to a question or check on the status of a project, it can also be a distraction. One way to overcome this common problem is to discuss with your team what type of information you want to communicate through this tool. For example, questions that can be answered with a yes or no or in a sentence or less. Also consider turning off your instant messaging tool when you need to focus your attention and not be interrupted. Team and individual usage guidelines on how and when to use instant messaging creates a win-win for everyone and improves productivity.

Browsing the Internet

The internet is an invaluable source of information. However, it can also be one of the leading distractions at work. Mindlessly browsing the internet for a few minutes can quickly become much longer without you even realizing it. Make browsing the internet one of your breaks in your workday. You will look forward to it and it will allow your mind to rest and reset from the cognitive demands of your work. When you do begin your internet perusing set a timer for how long you want to spend to so you don’t get caught in the time black hole of the internet.

Internal Distractions

Internal distractions are your thoughts, such as worrying about a deadline, an unfinished project, or ruminating on the difficult conversation you had with a team member. These thoughts can make it difficult for you to stay productive and focused at work. One way to control the run-away train of your thoughts is to complete a “brain dump” and get all your to-dos out of your head and on paper or in a task management tool. You can then use your mind to think about your work instead of reminding you of your tasks. As you complete the tasks on your to-do list use the feeling of accomplishment to help you stay motivated and engaged during your workday.

Distractions are common and inescapable in the office. As you have experienced, they can make it difficult to remain productive throughout the day. Use these simple tips to eliminate and mitigate the impact distractions so you can save you time, get your work done, and accomplish your goals.

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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Here are ways to make the most out of a less-than-perfect job

Here are ways to make the most out of a less-than-perfect job

By Carson Tate on March 31, 2021

If you’ve smacked into a plateau, you’re not alone. According to research published by Gallup last fall, only 40 percent of American workers said they’re in good jobs.

Add the pandemic to the mix, and things have only gotten worse. A poll by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, an independent nonpartisan research institution, in June revealed that only 14 percent of Americans are happy — a five-decade low.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. These authors weigh in on how you can make the most out of a ho-hum role to not only survive, but thrive, even in a so-called dead-end job.

Define joy, find meaning

Carson Tate, author of “Own It. Love It. Make It Work: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job” (McGraw-Hill Education, out Oct. 6), said employees should identify what they need to be more fulfilled, stimulated and joyful at work. “Change starts with you. But first, you must know what you want,” she said.

In Tate’s research and work with clients, she identified five ways to channel your energy in order to love your job and design it to find meaning in your work:

• Acknowledge and ask for the recognition and appreciation due to you

• Align your strengths and skills to support the accomplishment of your company’s goals

• Organize your work in a way that aligns with your life and the goals of the company

• Develop knowledge and skills that motivate and inspire you and can advance your career

• Cultivate authentic relationships with the team

“You can find your worth in your work through your interactions with other people by being on a team united around a common purpose or expressing common values and beliefs,” said Tate. “Substance can be found in the context or nature of the work, the tasks you perform, the organization’s mission or commitment to the environment, sustainability or community service.”

Work it

Make a list of what you would like to get out of your employment, said Gorick Ng, author of “The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career off Right” (Harvard Business Review Press, out April 2021).

“What types of people do you want to meet?” he said. “What skills do you want to build? What topics do you want to learn about? What do you want to be able to put on your resume? The better idea of what you want, the more effectively you can pounce on opportunities.”

Learn as much as you can

Every job has growth opportunities.

“You can learn through training courses, coaching, job shadowing, mentoring, and from observing others,” Tate said. “And do not discount the learnings that can occur when you witness ineffective or unproductive behaviors. Knowing what not to do can be as important as knowing what to do.”

Volunteer and expand

One of Tate’s clients wanted to support women in her organization by becoming a mentor, but it was outside her responsibilities. So, she contacted the chair running the internal women’s group. Tate says that this was smart.

“Ask yourself, who do you want to connect with to create an opportunity for more significance in your work? Or who do you want to connect with who has a skill you want, or has a position in your company you want to have?”

Network internally

An internship early in her retail career proved to be a savvy move for Hilary Jane Grosskopf, leadership strategist and author of “Awake Apprentice: A System for Transforming Your Job Into a Creative Career” (Awake Solutions Press). But after a busy year, her manager abruptly stopped giving her new projects. “I was frustrated,” she said.

Grosskopf initiated lunch plans with co-workers from other departments. “I asked if they needed help with their tasks and projects. I ended up making a lot of new connections and gaining new experience.”

Ultimately, Grosskopf met her future manager who hired her for a higher-level position.

Exceed expectations

“The most important thing anyone can take from their job is the sense of having made a difference,” said Gary Hamel, author of “Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them” (Harvard Business Review Press).

“Commit yourself to exceed expectations. Others will notice, but even if they don’t, being exceptional is its own reward.”

Care about co-workers ​

“The key to any relationship is empathy,” said Hamel. When you have a one-on-one online conversation, ask your colleague, “How are you doing? Be patient. Let them unload. Listen intently. The crisis has imposed incredible burdens, and we can’t bear them alone. All of us remember the people who were there for us during difficult times. You can be that person . . . perhaps the actual job isn’t fulfilling, but employees can compensate in other ways by having deep, robust professional relationships.”

Focus on the destination

Ng recommends thinking about your situation as your own hero’s journey. What quest are you on? “What does success look like a year from now? Five years from now? Ten?” said Ng. “Double down on the things that are propelling you toward your destination.”

Chalk it up to experience

Jonas Altman, author of “Shapers: Reinvent the Way You Work and Change the Future” (Wiley), said that regardless of the type of job, it does provide two essential things.

“One is the means of survival (food, clothing, shelter) . . . But the second is a lesson: Performing this kind of job teaches someone that they’ll do whatever they can to never hold a similar one again. Dignity is something we desire.”

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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How to Set Goals – SMART Goals

How to Set Goals – SMART Goals

By Carson Tate on March 10, 2021

In our overscheduled, 24/7 always on, hyper-connected world it can be hard to focus on and achieve your long-term goals. It’s time to enhance your productivity and elevate your goal setting and use the proven SMART methodology to set your goals.

SMART Goals = Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely

The focus of a SMART goal is that it is specific, measurable, and achievable. These goals also are relevant and time-bound so you can achieve both your short-term and long-term goals.

Here is how you can use SMART to achieve your objectives, reach your potential, and fulfill your dreams.

1) Specific

Each one of your goals needs to be clear and precise. As you have probably experienced, when goals are not explicit, you are less likely to accomplish them. Vague goals make it difficult for you to remain motivated long-term. To set a specific goal, ask yourself exactly what you want to do differently.  For example, instead of setting a goal to lose weight, set a goal to lose 25 pounds. Or, instead of beginning your day in your inbox reacting to what everyone else wants you to do, set a goal to spend 5 minutes each morning on a high value task on your to do list.

2) Measurable

Measurable goals empower and motivate you because you can assess your progress, and not feel overwhelmed. For example, you set the specific goal of losing 25 pounds. Break this goal down into how many pounds per week you need to lose to achieve your goal.  A measurable goal makes it simple to track your progress over time and increases the chance of your success.

3) Achievable

A SMART goal is achievable and realistic. An achievable goal will help you stay committed and inspired because you take small, incremental steps to reach your destination. For example, if your goal is to lose 25 pounds, you make it measurable when you determine the number of pounds you will lose each week. Now, to make your weight loss goal achievable and realistic consider your activity level and nutrition so you can determine a realistic number of pounds to lose each week. An achievable goal galvanizes you and enables you to not quit before you achieve your goal.  

4) Relevant

SMART goals need to be relevant to your life. Why you want to reach this goal is critical because it influences how hard you will work to achieve it. Ask yourself, what’s in it for you to achieve this goal? What’s at stake if you do not achieve this goal? Personally? Professionally? What will be different in your life when you achieve this goal? Whey you connect your goal to your why it will embolden you so you can achieve your goal even in the face of adversity or setbacks.

5) Time-Bound

All of your goals, large and small, need to have an end date. A deadline provides a sense of urgency and energizes you to take action to reach your goals instead of only talking about them. The length of time for a goal can vary, whether it’s a short-term goal that can be achieved in a couple of weeks or it’s a long-term goal that can take six months or longer to accomplish. Amplify your odds of success and set a deadline for your goals.

Why is Goal Setting Important?

Using SMART goals is one of the most effective ways to stay focused on what you want to achieve without overwhelm. A specific, measurable goal will give you a clear purpose and enable you to visualize exactly what you achieve. Achievable and relevant goals help you stay motivated until you complete your challenge. Time-bound goals stop procrastination and induce you to take action now.

SMART goals are relatively easy for anyone to use, whether you are looking to improve a specific skill or become a better version of yourself. Today is the day you set SMART goals and  make your dreams a reality!

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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9 Simple Steps to Increase Productivity

9 Simple Steps to Increase Productivity

By Carson Tate on March 9, 2021

Overwhelmed, overstretched, and or just over it? It’s time for simple, yet proven productivity hacks that enable you to accomplish your tasks each day, save you time, ensure you never miss a deadline again, and ultimately exhale.

Of course, improving work productivity doesn’t happen instantly, it’s the result of taking numerous small steps that make a significant impact on how you work.

Here are a nine steps you can take today to increase productivity.

1) Create a To-Do List

Create a to-do list at the end of your workday for the next day so you can boost your productivity. A list is an excellent way to organize each of your tasks by priority. You start your day and focus on your number one task and then systematically work through your to-do list for the rest of the day. As you check tasks off your list, you gain a sense of accomplishment which helps you stay motivated.

2) Reduce Distractions

Trying to eliminate all distractions while working sounds great, however, we all know it is probably not practical. Alleviate the impact of distractions and turn off the new email notification alerts on your computer and phone, minimize or close all applications on your computer not in use you can focus your attention the application you are using, and set a timer when you log onto your social media accounts so you don’t get sucked into the dopamine rush of new posts.

3) Avoid Multitasking

Focus on one task at a time. When you try to do multiple tasks at one time you undermine your productivity, performance, and effectiveness. Numerous studies have shown that focusing on only one task can dramatically save you time.

4) Take a Break and Be Active

You are a human being, not a human doing. Breaks throughout your day are essential for your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. They also improve your work performance and productivity. The most effective break for your brain and body involves physical activity. Go outside and take a quick walk around your neighborhood. When you return, you will have more energy and find it easier to focus on your next task.

5) Take Small Steps

How many projects have been on your to do list so long that if they were in your refrigerator, they would have grown mold? Numerous projects are frequently not completed due to their complexity and size. Break down multipart projects into small, discrete action steps. The project will be more manageable, and you will stop overwhelm before it starts. As you successfully complete each step you stay motivated to finish.

6) Limit Unnecessary Meetings

Too many meetings throughout the week wastes time and energy. Identify the meetings on your calendar that are informational or status updates. Replace these meetings by sending an email or making a quick phone call and watch your work productivity soar.

7) Get Plenty of Sleep

Too many of us yawn through our days. Inadequate sleep negatively impacts your mood and makes it more challenging to stay productive. The number of hours of sleep each person needs is varies, however, sleep researchers suggest between seven to nine hours each night.

8) Use Project Management Software

Get your work tasks completed faster when you invest in project management software. Project management software makes it easy to schedule tasks, coordinate projects with team members, find and save required task related documents, and communicate with your coworkers whether you work from home, the office, or have a hybrid work model and work both at home and in the office.

9) Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

Your co-workers have skills and experiences that are different from you and compliment your aptitudes and capabilities. Identify the unique strengths of your team members and delegate tasks to them that enable them to showcase their competencies and boost your productivity.  

So, what will you do differently today to streamline your workday, complete tasks quicker and increase productivity in the workplace.

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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3 Unexpected Things You Can Do to Be Happier at Work

3 Unexpected Things You Can Do to Be Happier at WorkBy Carson Tate on March 1, 2021

It’s probably not a surprise to you that happiness leads to success in nearly every domain of your life, including health, friendship, community involvement, creativity and, specifically, your job, career and business (Lyubomirsky, 2005). Happy workers have higher levels of productivity, produce higher sales, perform better in leadership positions, and receive higher performance ratings and higher pay.

However, happiness probably feels like an ephemeral fairy tale. There’s a global pandemic. Kitchen tables and sofas are the new work cubicle. Interactions with co-workers, vendors and clients are completely virtual. Zoom is now both a verb and a noun. The movie Groundhog Day describes your life.

In this environment, is it even possible to be happy at work? Yes!

Here are three things you can do.

Build more certainty in your workday.

Your brain craves certainty. It wants to know the pattern occurring moment to moment so it can predict what is next. Anything that is unexpected or does not follow a pattern can make you anxious, fearful or stressed. Think about the roller coaster of emotions you’ve experienced during this pandemic as work and life norms were radically disrupted. Now think about how you feel when you hear a familiar song on the radio and sing along with the lyrics. It brings a smile to your face. You’re happy because your brain immediately recognizes the pattern.

If you want to be happier at work, build more certainty in your workday. Turn off new email notifications and decide when you will check your inbox. Ask for a meeting agenda for all meetings on your calendar. Clarify due dates for all tasks and projects. When you join a new project team, discuss and agree to project working agreements, explicitly outline how you will manage project meetings, and establish what you will do if the project derails. Decide in advance how you will address the roadblocks and problems that are inherent in any project. You and your brain will relax once you know what to expect.

Override your brain’s negativity bias.

When your brain’s stuck on an endless repeat of your mistakes and bad work experiences it can be hard to be happy at work. It’s easy to get trapped in the vortex of negative ruminations. Why? Because of the brain’s “negativity bias.” Your brain is simply hardwired for a greater sensitivity to unpleasant news (Rozin, 2001). While this may have served us well thousands of years ago when we had to avoid rampaging predators and rival tribes, today this negativity undermines your happiness at work.

It’s time to override your brain’s negativity bias.

Negativity Bias Strategy #1: Rehearse Good News and Share It

You log off your computer at end of the day, and the first thing out of your mouth is what went wrong today. The internet went out during your Zoom call with your boss, the dog barked throughout your presentation to the team and your client received the wrong order.  Before you know it, you’ve spent most of the evening telling anyone who will listen everything that went wrong during your day. You’re fixated on the negative.

Simply flip your brain’s negative script and instead share only the good things that happened to you during the day. Your mind needs practice focusing on the positive. Let the first words out of your mouth be the three positive things that happened during the day.

Negativity Bias Strategy #2: Share Two Roses and a Thorn

At the end of your workday, share two roses and a thorn. The roses are positive events, experiences, or feelings from our day, and the thorn is the negative. Use this simple framework to help you identify your successes or enjoyable events from your day. Ask your family, a friend, or a colleague to do this with you so you have the accountability and support to do this daily.

Create more opportunities for positive, successful work experiences by asking for feedback.

Real-time, specific feedback is one of the most effective ways to create more affirmative, successful work experiences. When you feel capable, confident, and valued, you are happier at work.

However, feedback can be stressful. To reduce and eliminate feedback anxiety, ask for it and use my S.E.E. framework.

Be specific. Ask for the specific type of feedback that you want to receive.Share an example. Provide an example of the type of feedback you want to receive.Explain .  Ask the person you requested feedback from to explain what you did or did not do.

When you ask for feedback, you put yourself in a psychological state that is ready to receive negative news. You also have more certainty because you focus the conversation where it will be the most useful for you. 

Here’s an example of how my executive coaching client, Annette, used my S.E.E. feedback model with her manger, John. She asked him for specific feedback on her ability to communicate clearly and succinctly during her presentations to the senior leadership team. Annette shared an example of the type of feedback she wanted to receive by asking him to tell her when he did not hear her central point within the first three sentences of her presentations. Finally, she asked John to tell her at what point he did hear primary point during her presentations.

It is possible to be happier at work. You can reduce anxiety and stress by building in more certainty throughout your day. You can override your brain’s “negativity bias” when you practice focusing on the positive. And you can create more opportunities for positive, successful work experiences by asking for feedback. Don’t let external circumstances undermine your happiness at work.

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Take the free Dream Job Assessment and pinpoint exactly where you need to start to make any job your dream job!

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Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

Sources:

Lyubomirsky, S., King, L. & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803-855.

P. Rozin and E. B. Royzman, “Negativity Bias, Negativity Dominance, and Contagion,” Personality and Social Psychology Review 5, no. 4 (2001), 296–320.

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“I Love My Job,” How to Fall in Love with Your Job Again

“I Love My Job,” How to Fall in Love with Your Job Again

By Carson Tate on February 12, 2021

Very few people stay with the same company for their entire career.

The median employee tenure is slightly over four years according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of course, you don’t always have the option to quit your job when you are ready for a change. You may need to stay at a job that you don’t love because of the benefits or flexible work schedule.

However, there is a downside if you stay in a job and you are not fully engaged. Engaged workers are 37% less likely to miss work on a regular basis, and they are 18% more productive than their disengaged co-workers, according to a Gallup survey. Engaged employees also earn 18% more on average compared to other workers. If you are unmotivated and unfulfilled at work, it can have a long-term financial impact.

Now is the time to reignite your passion at work. Here are five simple ways you can fall in love with your job again and love where you work.

1) Identify the Root Cause of Your Frustration

There are plenty of reasons you fall out of love with your work. So, the first step to overcome the “work sucks” mantra resonating in your head is to understand why you are less than enthused about your job.

Maybe your boss is a micro-manager and you’re tired of constantly learning new technology applications to support your remote work. Or your dry eyes can’t take another day of back-to-back Zoom meetings.

Whatever your situation, you won’t be able to address your problem until you know the root cause of your frustration. Create a list of the things that you don’t enjoy about your job so you can identify where to focus your time and energy to make changes. Once this list is complete, next to each aspect of your job you don’t love, identify one small change you can make that would make the item more tolerable or even pleasant.

The final step is to write a list of all the positive aspects of your job. Refer to this list when you need a boost during your workday. And, when you are ready to search for a new job, this list can help you identify exactly what you want and need to be fulfilled and engaged in future positions.

2) Build on the Positive Attributes of Your Job

There are positive attributes of your current job. How can you capitalize and build on them? For example, since you no longer spend two hours a day stuck in traffic commuting to and from the office, can you use this time for professional development? Or can you use your former commute time to focus on a hobby or cultivate a more interesting side hustle?

And don’t overlook the job perks that you may have but are not using. For example, many companies offer tools to support their team members’ mental, emotional, and physical health – online meditation classes, access to online fitness classes, or special interest groups like book clubs. These small things can help improve your job satisfaction and make it easier to love your work again.

3) Overcome Negative Self-Talk

We often unknowingly demotivate ourselves each day with negative self-talk. One way to combat this problem is to use a sports psychology technique and change your negative self-talk into a positive self-talk. Olympians and professional athletes are successful because they use positive self-talk. They focus their inner dialogue on what they can do, their prior wins, and their experience to complete a tough workout or beat a fierce competitor. It’s much easier to get and stay motivated if you approach your workday from a positive perspective.

4) Develop an Internal Locus of Control

Many people struggle to feel successful at work due to an external locus of control.

Locus of control is a concept developed by psychologist Julian Rotter.  It refers to the extent that a person believes that they can control the events that affect them. A person with an internal locus of control believes that success or failure is due to their own efforts, while a person with an external locus of control believes that success or failure is controlled by other people, environmental factors, chance, or fate.

Research shows that an internal locus of control often results in high-achieving employees that are better paid. On the other hand, an external locus of control often causes employees to feel less happy or satisfied with their job.

While your tendency to feel in control of your environment was formed during childhood, you can still develop a greater sense of control when you focus on a few things you can change. For example, you can’t cause your boss to be more supportive, but you can gain support from coworkers or mentors. Focus on what you can control so you can be more fulfilled and satisfied in your current job.

5) Create a Plan for Your Professional Future

What are your professional goals? What do you want your career to look like five years from now? What will it take for you to say “I love my job”? Create a plan for your professional future so you can find a job you enjoy instead of dreading Monday mornings.

So, where do you start? Talk to people who love their work. These conversations can help you explore alternative career paths and understand the steps they took to find their dream job. And, for a few minutes you will focus on your future instead of wallowing in what you don’t enjoy about your current job.

So, what small step will you take today to love your job again?

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies.

She is the author of Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, and just released, Own It. Love It. Make It Work.: How To Make Any Job Your Dream Job. Order your copy HERE! For more information, please visit www.carsontate.com.

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How to Increase Productivity in a Work from Home, Virtual World

How to Increase Productivity in a Work from Home, Virtual World

By Carson Tate on February 11, 2021

Working from home is now the reality for most of us. Staying productive while working from your couch or kitchen table isn’t always easy because of the numerous distractions of remote work. Family members, barking dogs, ringing doorbells, and spotty WIFI can derail even the most prolific workers. To stay productive as a remote worker its vital to understand how to overcome these challenges and elevate your productivity.

Here’s how to boost your remote work productivity.Plan Your Workday

To stay productive during virtual work, plan your entire workday to work smarter, not harder. Focus on high-priority tasks at the beginning of your day to ensure these assignments get done. When you complete these tasks, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to tackle the next project on your to-do list. Include breaks throughout your day to stay fresh and avoid burnout.

Create a Home Office

When working remotely it’s easy to work on the couch or in your favorite chair. However, one way to increase remote work productivity is to create a home office or a dedicated workspace. This space will allow you to focus on getting tasks done without the distraction of the TV or the fridge. If possible, set up your home office away from the distractions of family, children, or roommates. A quiet place will increase your focus and make it much easier to complete virtual work without constant interruptions.

Establish Regular Work Hours

Create a schedule for yourself so you can complete your work and avoid the black hole of procrastination. Depending on your job, you may have the flexibility to choose your schedule, or you may need to be available during certain times of the day.  Establish regular work hours that support and enable you to optimize your energy, motivation, and attention.

Dress for Work

As a remote worker it’s tempting to hang out at home all day in your favorite sweatpants and t-shirt. However, to boost your productivity dress as if you are headed to work. Why? It will help you stay motivated and avoid feeling sluggish throughout the day. And the daily routine of getting dressed prepares your mind for work and supports your productivity. Dressing for work and staying professional is especially important if you are on a Zoom call with co-workers or if you need to reach out to a customer.

Limit Distractions and Implement the “Stoplight” System

One of the biggest challenges of virtual work is dealing with distractions. Constant interruptions from your “co-workers” who share your home or a loud TV in the background can make it hard to focus while working remotely. Reestablish working agreements with your family or roommates to halt interruptions and restore sanity to everyone’s workday. Implement the “stoplight” system.

Here’s how it works. Each person places a colored square of paper on the edge of their workspace indicating their current level of focus and availability for interruptions. A red square signals that the only reason to be interrupted is if there is an emergency. It is critical that you define an emergency. In our household there are two emergencies – fire and bleeding that cannot be stopped with band aids. A yellow card means you are working on a project that requires a significant amount of focus and concentration, so proceed with caution when interrupting. A green card means you are open and available. And, if you leave your card on red all day every day the system will fail. I learned this lesson the hard way.

Stay Organized

Organization is an essential virtual work productivity strategy. A messy office makes it difficult to focus and makes it easier to lose important documents. One way to avoid this problem is to set a weekly cleaning schedule to ensure everything stays organized and you don’t waste your precious hours searching for misplaced documents.

Take Breaks

Working non-stop may sound productive, but it’s not sustainable over the long-term. To ensure a high level of productivity while working remotely schedule short breaks throughout your day. Go outside and enjoy the sunshine or talk to a family member. This is a great way to get your mind off work and help you relax. Work for 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. You’ll stay energized, engaged, and motivated throughout your workday.  Experiment with different types and lengths of breaks to find what works best for you.

Keep Socializing

One of the most significant drawbacks of remote work is the lack of socialization. Sitting at home behind a computer screen without human interaction can undermine your mental health. Make time to socialize with others throughout your workday, whether it’s a phone call or a video chat with friends or family members. This will break up the monotony of a day and these small social interactions can positively impact your mental health and help you better focus on your job throughout the day.

The Bottom Line

A remote work environment can be a challenge. Dealing with constant distractions and trying to maintain a schedule is often difficult while working remotely. Keeping up with tight deadlines and collaborating with co-workers outside of the office is stressful. However, following a few of these simple tips can help you increase your productivity while working from home.

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