How to use an ‘old forgotten gem’ to increase productivity
As my husband and I were taking a coffee break, we began dwelling on the “good old days”…
…Of a time when there were no cell phones around — just phone booths for getting in contact with clients while on the road. Remember phone booths?! We exchanged some stories about that time that now seems so long ago.
He talked about his beginnings in the finance sector – particularly about a method that he’d learned about how to improve productivity.
He learned about this effective, old-school method of improving productivity well before computers began to be used for even the simplest of tasks, such as flipping through a Rolodex to find a contact’s details. In the fast-paced world of finance, Rolodexes of course gave way to computerized phone books.
While we agreed that Computers and the Internet are great and a necessity for doing business, he then explained how he still believed that some pre-computer methods were more effective than computers for increasing productivity – methods from which we as Salespeople could still benefit in today’s fast-paced, computer-centric business environment.
He saw the doubt in my eyes. But, after he said his piece,
I found merit in his words.
Let me share one of those methods with you here.
To do so I’ll start with a statement then ask a question.
The Statement:
We all know about the importance of setting goals. Whether they are short-term, medium-term, or long-term – goals are undoubtedly essential to success.
The Question:
How many of you have used the old-school, daily “To-Do” goals cards?
For those who did not or who don’t remember them, they are cards that are around the size of an index card, printed with numbered lines. You handwrite your goals and aims for the day – your “To Do” items – directly onto the card. Write – not type.
Apparently, these old-school “To Do” cards were extremely effective for improving productivity in the fast-paced, computer-centric environment of the financial organization for which he worked. His boss swore by them and insisted that all the employees use them daily. After much quiet grumbling, they agreed. After all, their jobs were important to them.
Well, lo and behold, use of those old-school “To Do” cards in a computer-rich environment actually resulted in an 18% bump in sales!
And it’s just as effective today as it was in the “good old days”.
How to use it is simple:
At the end of your business day, you handwrite (yes by hand, no keyboard ;-))
your goals and to-do actions for the next day. And on the last Line #6
the task is always to “write a new Goal Card” for the next day!
A simple and effective tool.
Get some printed with your company logo.
Start using it. Spread the word. Share the secret.
Have a successful day,
Tammy
