Top CEO Productivity Tips

from Mashable.com 21 Apr 14 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz

CEO = 0 EZ. Everyone knows that leading a company is one of the toughest gigs around. Whether running a Startup, small business or a multi-national Corporation, CEOs have to manage time, resources, & multiple demands while finding the time & head space to make decisions & plot strategies that will determine the course of their business.

How to make it EZ-r. Good CEOs have developed some master systems & tricks to maximize their productivity. So, why can’t we steal a few moves from their playbooks? Whether you aspire to start your own business or want to be more productive at your current job, check out this list of CEO-proven tips that you can apply to any facet of your life.

1. Take BREAKS every 60-90 minutes. Tony Schwartz, president of the Energy Project, suggests taking breaks every 60-90 minutes to maximize your productivity. The reason? Human bodies have an energy cycle that operates at 60-90 minute intervals throughout the day. When we’ve been working on something for an hour or longer, it’s natural that our alertness levels will go down and our attention will wander or we’ll feel drowsy (or start checking Twitter or Facebook).

The Counter-Intuitive Secret to sustainable great performance is to live like a sprinter. In practice, that means working at your highest intensity in the mornings, for no more than 60-90 minutes at a time, and then taking a break. So, the next time your eyes are glazing over, instead of reaching for another cup of coffee, step away from your work for a few minutes instead. Take a short walk or some other physical activity. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll get done in the long run.

2. Make yourself Un-INTERRUPT-able sometimes. There’s nothing more frustrating than finally getting into the “zone” working on a big project — and then being interrupted by a co-worker or boss who drops by your desk. Worse, research shows it can take up to 25 minutes to get back on track after an interruption.

Cone of Silence. And that’s exactly why Andrew Marsh, CEO of Fifth Column Games, has developed a system to make sure that everyone in his office can work without being interrupted. By placing a “cone of silence” on their desks, employees have a tangible symbol that conveys that they should not be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.

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