Some people need to be reminded that good communication skills include knowing the difference between fruitful communication and pointless time-wasting. You may have someone in your office who likes to “visit” with coworkers throughout the day, or always seems to be talking on his or her phone. This type of social activity is not appropriate for the workplace. It prevents the job from getting done.

Good communication skills in the workplace can generally be summed up in two categories. There is the type of communication which should be as direct, brief, and to the point as possible. You can say whatever needs to be said, or ask a question, or clarify something, without wasting your own time or the other person’s time. The other type of communication is the one which involves giving, receiving, or exchanging information. You may need to fill someone in on an aspect of the job, or request a detailed explanation about a project. In most cases, these are the only forms of communication which enhance the workplace and increase productivity.

Good communication skills also involve being receptive to, and listening to, what the other person is saying. Simply waiting your turn to speak is a negative habit which should have been shed in childhood. If you have not yet developed the habit of good listening skills, it can be helpful to practice this habit during your free time. If you occasionally have lunch or breaks with your coworkers, this can be an excellent time to develop your listening skills.

Practicing good communication skills in the workplace saves time. When questions, answers, and explanations are fully received when they are first spoken, it eliminates the need for repetition. It also gives the other person the message that what he is saying is valuable. When everyone is “on the same track,” everyone will get more done.

Setting and ranking priorities means acknowledging that some tasks require more time than others, and some tasks require more work than others. If you make the mistake of trying to allot equal amounts of time to every task, it will slow you down and you will not accomplish as much as you should.

While you want to give your best to every task, determining which ones will require more time and effort is a much more productive approach than trying to look at everything equally.

Setting and ranking your priorities also means determining which tasks need to be completed first. You may figure that this is only logical, but it often does not happen that way. Perhaps there is a very large project on the horizon, which will require a significantly larger amount of time and effort than the smaller projects you have at hand. Perhaps there is one which includes an important time frame, or even a deadline. In instances like these, you may have been tempted to do the smaller, easier tasks first. Although it does mean that these easier tasks will be completed, the one which you should have given your attention to first may not.

When you rank your priorities, you can begin by deciding which job or project needs to have your attention before any others. This method will not only ensure that it does get done, but also that you meet it without enough motivation to do it correctly. Similar to what was said earlier in this book about taking on the toughest jobs first, the sooner you begin one with a deadline the more likely you will be to complete it on time.

Setting and ranking your priorities is not a difficult nor a time-consuming venture. If you begin each work day with a brief outline of everything you need to accomplish, you can then assign top priority to the tasks which must be completed first. Your entire work day will be much smoother, and you will get more done.

As each person is an individual, it can be helpful for you to determine the best ways to de-stress. A coffee break, a brisk walk, or putting your mind on something entirely different for a few minutes, are some ways that may be useful for you. Your own individual personality and needs must be the deciding factors. A method that works for one person does not necessarily work as well for the next person.

If you do not de-stress when it is necessary, you will not get much done. Stress can override your concentration, leaving you focused on everything other than the task at hand. Too much stress, especially if it is prolonged, can make you fatigued and physically ill. In addition to causing headaches and a general feeling of unwellness, prolonged stress even has the power to weaken your immune system. At its worst, extreme and prolonged stress can result in medical complications.

When stress has the power to cause all of these problems, it should be easy to see how it can affect your job. This is why de-stressing whenever it is necessary to do so should not be considered a luxury, foolish, or a waste of time. Neglecting the need to de-stress can prevent you from getting anything done.

De-stressing should not be seen as an excuse. Once you have begun to assess the effects of stress on your work life, it should not be difficult to determine when the need to de-stress arises. However, neither you nor your job can afford to use de-stressing as an excuse to be lazy or irresponsible. With only a small amount of practice, noticing when stress is beginning to have an effect on your work will come easy. A little break for whatever specific kind of de-stressing method is most appropriate for you should reduce or relieve your stress. When you are not overwhelmed by stress, it will be easier to focus on what you are doing and get it done.

You may know someone who is a workaholic. He may be finding some aspect of his job to be doing long after he has left the workplace. He may feel that there is always a little something more that he needs to do, many hours after he has left work. This person may feel that no job will get done, or will not get done correctly, unless he himself is doing it.

If you are this person, now is a good time to assess your habits of overextending yourself. While you surely want to be conscientious and complete everything that is your responsibility, overextending yourself will not make you more productive. It may have the exact opposite effect.

Overextending yourself on a regular basis will wear you out, burn you out, and wreak havoc with your health. Allowing yourself to get into this condition can affect your ability to concentrate and focus properly. You may begin making unnecessary errors, or become forgetful. You will not get nearly as much done as you had hoped.

You can resist overextending yourself by being reasonable about both your abilities and your time. Even if you are working on a very important project, you cannot put “24/7” into it and expect it to turn out well. You need to take a reasonable amount of time for rest, eating and exercise, and even some recreation, in order to be in prime condition for doing the job.

Overextending yourself by attempting to do a job that is beyond your capabilities can also backfire. If you are not fully qualified to do it, it will not turn out well. Instead of overextending yourself with something which you know you cannot do, it is better to leave it to someone who really is qualified to complete it correctly.

Becoming discouraged about your job does not need to happen. If you make a point of not overextending yourself, you will be more productive than if you try to take on everything by yourself.

This is why granting yourself little “extras” for doing your job is not usually a good idea. It is even more negative if you expect special recognition or rewards from your boss or coworkers for doing what you are supposed to do. Rewarding yourself along the line as if you have made a spectacular accomplishment is not the best way to go about getting the job done.

Instead, applying some self-encouragement should be the only reward you need. When you complete a task on time, or do a project especially well, you can acknowledge it as a small but important success. When you apply this kind of self-encouragement with a figurative pat on the back, you are rewarding yourself for a job well done. You will also be prepared to move on to the next task or the next step.

This concept works equally well whether you work on your own or in a group. If no one feels compelled to believe that he should gain some kind of special recognition for doing his job, getting the job done will be the priority. In work settings which include a number of people working together as a group, no one will feel more or less important than anyone else. Each person will realize that he is expected to contribute something, without expecting to receive anything unique for doing it.

Encouraging yourself along the way will serve to keep your spirits up and your sense of motivation at its peak. While significant accomplishments may result in some kind of little extra reward, self-encouragement should be the only reward necessary for doing your job.

First, teamwork is much better than competition. When you use the approach that everyone is working for the common good of the company, more will get done. When the sense of competition is eliminated, each person will want to contribute his very best simply because it is his place to do so. He will not feel that he must outdo his coworkers, which in turn will increase the feeling of teamwork. When everyone is working as a team, and working toward a common goal, productivity will increase.

Second, everyone needs to feel that he is valued. This is as true in the workplace as anywhere else. The best employee, and the employee who gets more done, is the one who believes that his work is appreciated.

Another factor in increasing productivity is to reduce the amount of tension, friction, and conflict in the workplace. When there are employees who make a point of not getting along with others, expecting someone else to do their jobs for them, or simply being difficult to be around on a regular basis, these kinds of problems should be dealt with as quickly as possible. All it takes is one or two people who like to argue, or shirk their responsibilities onto others, to turn any workplace into an uncomfortable place where no one can concentrate on doing their jobs. It is important to eliminate these problems so that everyone in the workplace can get things done.

Productivity is at its best in the workplace where everyone present gets along. This does not mean wasting time with unnecessary chatting and visiting. Simply acknowledging that everyone is there for the same purpose is usually enough.

The workplace should be a place where every employee feels comfortable. It should be a place where everyone knows that his coworkers all have the same goals in mind. When each person knows that he is a valuable part of the company, and a valuable part of the team, each person will feel more confident and will be more productive.

Negativity can come in many forms, and they are all counterproductive. Negativity can come in the form of belittlement. You may be unsure of your ability to do the job, or to do it well. If you believe that failure is on the horizon, this is the surest way of making it happen. You can resist the negativity of belittlement by reminding yourself of your competence. You may need to practice doing this on a regular basis. When you do not allow a negative light to overshadow your abilities, it will prevent you from coming to a standstill.

Negativity can also come in the form of complaining. Whether you are complaining about your job or about something else in your life, this kind of negativity can affect your work. Complaining wears you down, and ruins your ability to focus properly. When you resist the urge to complain every time you feel the desire to do so, you will be taking steps to keep negativity out of your work life. Instead of becoming tired and grouchy from complaining, your energy level will be at its best.

Worry is another form of negativity. It can slow you down, and cause you to be less productive. Although it may sound difficult, a good approach is to remind yourself that worry does not accomplish anything. If the subject is something which you can resolve, doing so as quickly as possible will reduce your worrying. If it cannot be dealt with immediately, try to put the worry out of your mind while you are working. You may even need to tell yourself that worry itself will not solve a problem. This will help you to focus and concentrate better.

If you find that your negativity is extreme, asking for some outside help can be useful. You can learn to be in a better state of mind. This is better for your health in general, and also better for your productivity. The more able you are to resist negativity on a regular basis, the more you will accomplish.

If you have problems in your personal life, the more able you are to keep them out of your work day the better you will perform. Even if something is especially troublesome, you should try your best to keep your personal problems separate from your work life. If there is something which you need help with, getting help during your free time can prevent it from interfering with your work.

On the other hand, if there is something negative about your work life, it should be addressed and dealt with as soon as possible. Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, or burdened will only slow you down.

The more you are able to remain positive and upbeat, the more you will accomplish. Even if you are facing a task which is especially large or difficult, a positive frame of mind can help you to accomplish more than you thought you could.

Nothing can be done all at once. Sometimes it takes many small steps to get something done. Sometimes errors and setbacks occur. However, when you keep in mind that each step is getting you closer to your goal, you are on the right track. When you tell yourself that each small accomplishment is an accomplished goal in itself, you are giving yourself the encouragement and the motivation you need for success.

Having a positive frame of mind does not come naturally to everyone. If you are one of the many people who have never put much thought into it, today is the ideal time to start. A positive frame of mind will allow you to feel more confident about yourself, and more confident about your abilities. Even if self-confidence is a relatively new experience for you, you will be reaping the rewards in no time at all. You will soon see how much a positive frame of mind affects how much you get done, and how pleased you are with the results. You will be more productive, and more satisfied with the outcome.

No matter what kinds of supplies you use during your average work day, neglect can slow you down. You cannot do a job effectively if your supplies are broken, damaged, or worn out from use. If you try to use supplies which are not in good condition, the quality of your work can suffer. It can take you much longer to get things done, and they will not be done as well as they would with supplies that are in top-notch condition.

Think of it this way: if you are trying to work on a computer that is not up to par, or using a hand tool that is bent or otherwise damaged, or a piece of office equipment which stalls while you are operating it, your productivity can come to a complete standstill. You may become frustrated or angry, and possibly not get the job done at all.

When all of your supplies, tools, and equipment are kept in ideal condition, they are in better shape to do the job properly. Your work will not be slowed down, and you will not risk errors from faulty equipment. Good supplies in good condition mean getting things done and having the best results.

No matter how much of a hurry you are in to complete a task and end a work day, taking a few minutes to be sure everything is in good shape will save you time and eliminate unnecessary frustration. You can also make a point of replacing damaged supplies or equipment as soon as possible. You can take this positive new habit even further by making sure all of your supplies and equipment are put away where they belong when you are finished using them.

These new habits will benefit you, as well as everyone else who uses the same supplies and equipment. When everything is checked for good condition and put away, they will all be in good condition and easily accessible the next time you or someone else needs them. It will make your work day proceed that much smoother, and you will be more productive.

The first negative form of delegating involves the person who wants to do everything by himself. While this may sound positive at first, it actually is not positive at all. The person who insists on taking on more work than he can reasonably do, or work he is not fully capable of performing on his own, not only makes himself less productive but also affects the productivity of everyone who is counting on him to do the job. Whether he is afraid to ask for help, or whether he is simply boastful, it can slow everyone else down as well as himself.

The second negative form of delegating involves the person who shirks his own responsibilities. He may ask others to do tasks which he really should be doing himself. Not only is he not carrying his own weight, he is taking up other people’s valuable time.

Positive delegating is sensible. When you acknowledge that you cannot do everything, and that you cannot do everything equally well, you are boosting your own productivity in addition to the productivity of those around you.

When you have a very large or very tough assignment or project, asking others for assistance will help in getting the job done, and getting it done quicker. Instead of looking at delegating as an admission of weakness or incompetence, you are acknowledging the scope of your own role and your own capabilities. This, in turn, will give others the opportunity to pitch in and help to get the job done.

Delegating for the sake of doing less than you can do, or less than you should reasonably be expected to do, is always negative. However, when you are up against more work than you can reasonably do on your own, or work which you are not capable of completing on your own, delegating is the sensible solution. When a job needs to be done, and on time, and well, teamwork will give the best results.