Category: Productivity - JO RICHINGS

Let's talk about a really useful tool for managing your team - G.R.O.W.

6/11/2023

🌱 GROW is a brilliant little tool that can be used for a 5 minute coaching opportunity or 1/2 day development session. It can be used on a 121, in groups or even as a self-coaching model. It's great for clarifying expectations, exploring likely obstacles, brainstorming potential solutions \ actions, and most importantly , confirming who does what by when.

Let's dive into each step:

BEING BUSy VS BEING PRODUCTIVE

29/6/2023

Have you ever had one of those days where you're busy all day, but at the end of it, you feel like you haven't actually accomplished anything? That's the difference between activity and productivity!

Activity is running around all day, doing a million things but not really getting anything done. Productivity is actually getting things done, even if it's just one or two things...

Taking on Other People's Priorities

29/6/2023

How much of your working day is controlled by OPP? If you run a business, organisation, team or family, then I'd guess that most of it is!

So what is OPP I hear you ask? 🙋

OTHER PEOPLE’S PRIORITIES! 😀

Managing your workload when also trying to manage OPP can feel pretty impossible and extremely stressful...

Let's talk about the 'busyness' badge of honour.

30/3/2023

It's real and while most are given the badge to wear by their boss, some do choose to wear it with pride.

I see it all the time. Expecially in managers and business owners. In fact, I've been known to fall in that trap myself - loads to do, the adreneline kicks in and I'm like a VERY important whirlwind!

Ever been guilty of...

i am the 'waste detective'...

17/2/2023

Waste not, want not!

Many years ago I ran a B2B sales business where we would sell for companies that didn't have a sales force. At one point we were selling advertising for various companies and it was during this time that I first started thinking about business coaching.

I remember one company who'd just spent 50k on yellow pages advertising and didn't know how many sales they'd got from it!

WTH?

I was astounded!

How could you spend that kind of money and not know whether it was giving you a ROI?

I came across this type of scenario over and over again. I began to understand that most people start a business because they are good at a particular trade or job but that doesn't make them good at business.

I really don’t like waste. I'm like the Waste Detective!

WHAT IS IMPORTANT ON AN EMPLOYEE'S FIRST DAY ON THE JOB?

27/1/2023

Did you know that research shows that your new team members first day on the job can have a huge impact on what they think about working for you and how long they will stay?

Sadly, a lot of organisations and businesses don't get this right! It seems that if you are lucky you'll get a half assed induction and if you are not, you'll get enough information to scramble your brain by 11am!

It's either a case of too much too soon or not enough.

The first day of work is an experience worth investing in. In fact, let's take it back a step - the weeks leading up to the first day can be equally important to how someone feels on their first day...

What are your thoughts on training?

27/6/2022

Sadly, far too many managers are left to their own devices when it comes to managing their teams.

But, come on…be honest. Most of us have areas we need to develop! 😀

That could be in...

Tip 250) RingGo - great app for car parking!

30/5/2019

I'm quite surprised that everyone doesn’t already know about this nifty little parking app, so in case you are one of those who doesn’t know, I will tell you!

RingGo allows you to pay for parking via their app. The thing I love about it most is that you can top up your parking from wherever you are, rather than having to run back to the car in a panic! (Assuming you are not in a set time zone of course.)

I never have change on me, so I find this really useful. You can add multiple cars, and it emails you a receipt. (Anyone else always losing the little tickets you get and forgetting to put them through the business?)

I love little time-saving apps like these. I think I have an app for just about everything :-)

Saving you time!

Jo x

Tip 236) How to download YouTube videos to watch later

16/5/2019

I came across this fab piece of free software the other day which I thought I'd share.

It allows you to download YouTube videos directly to your PC or laptop. It takes seconds and best of all it's free!

They also do software to convert YouTube videos to MP3s.

Here is the link

Happy downloading!

Jo x

Tip 226) APPRECIATE that Every Detail Takes Time

6/5/2019

I love this guest post from Gail. A brilliant reminder that what looks like a small thing on your To Do list can often end up taking a lot more of your time than you planned.

Small Business Tip from @Gailreidartist
Every Detail Takes Time. Illustrated in the spirit of “a problem shared” through the medium of “ordering corner protectors for shipping framed artwork”.

I should have known it wouldn’t just take an hour to order folded cardboard corner protectors ...