Professional Development

“It’s so easy to stay productive. I just consult my to-do list, start my day fresh at 6 a.m., and plow through until everything is crossed off.”

Said no busy manager – ever.

Truth is, no matter how dedicated we claim to be to “getting stuff done,” it’s a job in itself to develop ingrained habits that keep us productive.

Just like that project inbox we let grow taller and taller, deciding to be more productive and doing something about it doesn’t happen overnight.

The first step is admitting it’s time to be more productive. Whether you’ve just hired fresh faces, taken over a monster project or seen a big surge in business, you probably are facing a mountain of work that needs to get done before it all comes barreling toward you like an avalanche.

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Most of us use our electronic devices throughout the day almost without thinking. (For some they’re almost like an extension of our hands!) But chances are, we’re not even using our phones, tablets and computers to their fullest extent to help us get things done.

That’s why if you aren’t already taking advantage of these readily available tools, you need to be. Toss out-dated calendars and cumbersome filing systems and replace them with one of these (mostly free) handy apps or programs.

Here are 25 online time management and productivity tools to make you more efficient and less stressed.

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We have a lot of great resources on the ResourcefulManager web site, but we are particularly proud of our infographics.

They’re loaded with valuable statistics and information every manager needs. And they are visually stunning, too.

In our “In Case You Missed It” section today, I’m recapping some of our best and giving you links so you can put them to good use.

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Can’t remember the last time you got a raise? Or at least a raise that actually felt like a raise?

Not a surprise. For many, the days of the automatic yearly raise have pretty much dried up. Particularly for managers.

Now if you want a raise that will be meaningful, you’re going to have to ask for it.

Gulp! Bet that made your mouth go dry. Asking for a raise can be intimidating and nerve-racking.

But it shouldn’t be.

You’ve earned it. You deserve it. So just do it!

But to make the process easier on yourself and increase your odds of being successful, put this 11-step formula to work:

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We’re a collaborative group at ResourcefulManager, so I wasn’t surprised when Dannie Evans, our Marketing guru, shared this with me:

“Heard this podcast on Hubspot today. Guy wrote a new book on coaching employees. Great stuff! Gotta get it.”

Oops! Michael Bungay Stanier’s “The Coaching Habit” was sitting on my desk. He had sent it to me earlier this year. And I hadn’t shared it – with Dannie or our readers.

So here goes. Yes, it’s a valuable read. It’s a fresh, innovative approach to coaching employees.

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