Productivity Planner

The flexibility and convenience of working at home is a sweet dream for most employees. That dream often becomes a nightmare when working at home is a forced alternative to going into the office with a fever, stitches, or ill attitude (i.e. it took you six months to realize he’s just not that into you.)

Faced with the choice of either allowing the huge pile of papers on your desk to multiply during your absence, or doing homework, you reluctantly open your laptop, prop up on that germ-infested pillow, and log on to the Internet.

It is essential to plan ahead for those days when sickness is not an option. Turning your bed into an efficient, ergonomic workstation is simple. Here are a few useful home office products that will increase your productivity without decreasing your recovery time.

*High speed Internet connection with a home network and wireless router
Advantage: Connects your wireless ready notebook PC, printer, and other devices without cables so you don’t trip going to the bathroom.

*Bed Lounger(with armrests)
Advantage: Back support, reduces the strain on head/shoulders/neck, and it’s more comfortable than leaning against the headboard or wall.

*Knee Pillow
Advantage: Increases circulation and decreases pressure points; meaning no numb legs. Look for one with a removable cover that’s machine washable.

*Adjustable Book Light
Advantage: Decreases eyestrain while you’re typing, writing, or reading boring reports. Bulbs that reproduce natural light are best.

*Portable Desk or Laptop Table
Advantage: Keeps hot laptop off your thighs and the nice, wide ones also accommodate a reference book or legal pad. Some feature a handy drink holder, also.

*Noise-Canceling Headset
Advantage: When the headset is in the off position, it blocks out the kids, the dog, and the lawnmow [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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For years manufacturing has been one of the strengths in the overall U.S. economy, and an especially strong force in the Houston economy. However, in 2007, according to a report out from the Institute for Supply Management, factories produced less, saw their orders decline, cut workers, and manufacturing activity in December was the slowest in 4 years. These findings are raising recession worries, especially amid troubling signs the economy is fragile such as last week’s global Stock Market plummet.

Manufacturing, nationwide, accounts for about 12% of the U.S. economy and one out of every 10 jobs. So, when the ISM’s gauge of manufacturing activity fell for a sixth-consecutive month to a seasonally adjusted 47.7% in December, down from 50.8% in November, the lowest since April 2003, there is justification for concern.

Even foreign presses, such as Russia’s Pravda, are running articles with statements like Alexander Timoshik’s claim, “Great economic recession is in store for USA.” And while it’s true that a number of factors will probably damage manufacturing growth during 2008, the most damaging possibly the housing market and high gasoline and fuel oil costs, the fears of zero growth this year may be a little too negative, at least for Houston.

On the bright side, particularly for Houston, four industries had strong year-over-year growth in the last quarter of 2007, including aerospace products, electrical equipment, communications equipment and private, non-residential construction, so downstream industries like machine shops, fasteners and heat treating are doing especially well. Since these are all strong area in the Greater Houston area, we can, I believe, expect a better year than what is predicted at the national level.

As in all industries, how individual manufacturers are affected by a recession depends, to a large [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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Some people think that hiring a business coach implies you lack something. Or worse, that you must be doing something wrong.

When Tiger Woods won his tenth major tournament do you think he decided he should stop being coached because he was such a stellar performer? Of course not, he recognizes the value in continuing to learn and improve… and it is paying off for him.

Many highly successful and ambitious business people seek out coaching because they recognize the value they get from it. If you are a high performer, here are three fundamental reasons to consider being coached:

1. Even the toughest of the tough, need to blow off steam.

Building an on-going relationship with a coach provides you with a safe, confidential sounding board to express frustration, confusion and even fear that are a natural part of any growth curve. Even the most confident and ambitious business people experience stress when they move into uncharted territories. During coaching sessions you can work through these challenges with raw honesty, without concern of retaliation or backlash.

Let’s face it - there are politics in every organization. I once worked with a Director who discovered a Vice President was talking negatively behind her back. My client thought the criticism was unjustified, yet recognized she played a role in where the misconception had begun. Through coaching, she began to see the situation from the Vice President’s perspective and was able to make a shift in her approach. She invited the Vice President to lunch and began developing a constructive working relationship. She continued to make efforts to build the relationship and within just a few weeks, noticed a significant difference in their interactions. Coaching allowed her to safely vent her frustrations, offered her a neutral perspective, and helped her develo [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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