Category: Professional Development

5 Time Management Tips You Need to Know

Olivia NolesFree Advice, Professional Development, ,

When you have an ambitious to-do list, it can be a challenge to accomplish everything. If you’re feeling like there just isn’t enough time in the day, it may be a sign you need to improve your time management skills. As someone who struggles with time management, these tips help me stay on track and increase my productivity. Here are our top tested and proven time management tips.

1. Create a to-do list

Writing down everything you need to accomplish at the beginning of the day clears your mind before diving into work and ensures that you won’t forget any of your tasks. Making to-do lists is one of the best ways to stay organized, and it’s also incredibly satisfying to see items get crossed off throughout the day.

2. Set a timer

If you often find yourself losing focus or getting hung up on a task, you may benefit from setting a timer. Setting a timer for each task tricks your brain into being more productive because you feel like you only need to stay focused for short periods of time rather than hours on end. Giving yourself a deadline keeps you motivated, allowing you to power through the task.

Setting a timer not only helps you complete tasks more efficiently, but it also gives you a realistic look at how long it actually takes you to complete something – a fantastic reality check for people who struggle with time management skills. Realizing how long items actually take will help you with our next suggestion: time blocking.

3. Practice time-blocking

Now that you know exactly how long each task should take, try time-blocking your day. Time-blocking is a game-changer because it reinforces the benefits of using a timer and allows you to effectively organize your day, which prevents you from wasting any time and helps you complete all your tasks on schedule.

4. Don’t fight yourself

If you cannot stop thinking about a certain task on your list, accomplish that task first rather than trying to force yourself to work on something you’re not connecting with at the moment.

For example, if you are working on one project, but cannot stop thinking about the ideas you have for another project, switch to the one you cannot stop thinking about and get all your ideas out so that when you come back to the previous task, you are able to focus.

5. Stop multitasking

You may think you’re getting a lot done when multitasking, but in reality, each task is probably taking longer and is probably not resulting in your best work. Focusing on one task at a time allows you to complete each task more effectively, and most likely, more efficiently.

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Dana Phelps to speak at 2022 NCPRSA Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference

Olivia NolesProfessional Development, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , ,

Clairemont’s Dana Phelps has been selected as a speaker for the 2022 NCPRSA Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference. A repeat presenter at the annual conference, this year Phelps is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor.

2022 NCPRSA Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference

The 2022 NCPRSA Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference theme is “transformation.” The conference will feature speakers and panel discussions from which both new and experienced communication professionals will benefit. These sessions will improve your skills and knowledge in the rapidly changing world of communications.

Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor

During the Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor session, Phelps will share three of her coined concepts, knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing, that will guide communications professionals who desire to grow from tactical execution to trusted counseling.

The conference is Friday, November 18, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at The Mckimmon Center in Raleigh. Register to attend the 2022 NCPRSA Strategic Communications & MarCom Conference here!

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5 Tips for Increasing Productivity

Olivia NolesFree Advice, Professional Development, ,

Overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? If you’re struggling to accomplish everything that needs to get done, try establishing a routine that keeps you on track. These tips for increasing productivity are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and will help you check off everything on your to-do list.

1. Determine a system for prioritizing tasks

Identifying which tasks are most important each day helps you ensure that you are allocating your time effectively and staying on track with your goals. Many planners have guides for prioritizing tasks, such as to-do lists with sections for your “top three priorities,” and you can also easily note your top tasks for the day on your own by the order on your to-do list or with stars, for example.

2. Organize your day strategically

Did you know that different people perform better at different times throughout the day? According to Medical Daily, it is important to listen to your body’s natural clock and learn how your mind works best to increase your productivity levels. Once you have determined which tasks are most important and when you work best, plan to accomplish your more important tasks during your high-performance time of day.

For example, I find that I am most creative and productive during the first half of the day, so I always plan to tackle the projects that require more brain power, such as writing blog posts, in the morning and save the tasks that are more manual and less creative, such as posting pre-written social media copy, for the afternoon.

3. Work in an environment where you can focus

If you work from home, creating an environment where you are able to focus without distractions, such as TV, roommates or family members, is extremely important to improve productivity. Having a dedicated space is also beneficial for work-life balance when working remotely because it helps your brain differentiate between work and home.

If you do not work in-office or have an environment in which you can focus at home, try working at a coffee shop, library or co-working space and see what works best for you.

4. Take breaks

Did you know that regular breaks help decrease stress and increase productivity? If you feel yourself losing focus, it’s more productive to take a short break from your task and return to it later rather than trying to push through in the wrong headspace.

5. Do the hardest thing first

Our last tip to improve productivity is to do the hardest thing on your to-do list first. Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t actually that hard, you are just putting it off because, for some reason, you have a mental block with the task. It may simply be that you haven’t given the project much thought yet, or maybe you have to make a phone call that you are nervous about. Whatever the task you’re dreading is, once you get that out of the way, the rest of your to-do list will flow more easily.

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SPOKEN WORD MAKING A COMEBACK

Derek BullingtonBlog, PR People, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , ,

I had the opportunity to attend the virtual 2021 NCPRSA Strategic Communications + Marcom Conference in November. It was my first time attending a NCPRSA event. Hearing new ideas, perspectives and how the industry of public relations is changing is always enjoyable. Even virtually, it is inspiring to network with fellow professionals in a collaborative learning atmosphere.

Spoken word making a comeback

The virtual, two-day program featured five sessions per day with national and regional industry executives from strategic communication, marketing and PR fields. The sessions covered a variety of topics, such as, audio being added to communications strategies, the misinformation crisis, diversifying the PR profession, the age of influencers and the use of cutting-edge visual technologies being used to tell stories.

AUDIO IS CHANGING OUR JOBS

A session that really caught my attention was “Listen, Do You Hear That? It’s Audio Changing How We Do Our Jobs” with hosts Gene and Julie Gates. This duo was named “Personality of the Year” by the National Association of Broadcasters and shared their expertise on using audio to connect with clients. They are seeing a major spike in audio entering the marketing and PR fields since the start of the pandemic and people being cooped up in their homes.

The ever-growing audio trend is made for the multitasker, and that is what we are all becoming. Now that we are mixing our home lives with work lives, more people are getting news while performing their morning routines, helping the kids get ready, cooking dinner or doing their daily chores. People are less likely to sit down and read longer articles. We are used to quick snippets of news on social media platforms, making long form articles daunting to readers.

SPOKEN WORD DRAWS IN A LARGER AUDIENCE

Spoken word helps alleviate this and draws in audiences that may not take the time to read full articles. Audio can encourage deeper engagement as there is less effort needed. You can repurpose your written content to expand on the topic and bring in a wider audience. Listeners can share their favorite content easily by listening with their significant other, friends or co-workers.

When you first hear the term audio alongside communications, marketing and PR your mind probably goes straight to podcasts, but that is not the only option. Many online newspapers and magazines are developing audio articles alongside written articles on its websites. While audio articles and podcasts may sound similar, they are completely different products. Audio articles are about convenience and delivering content in an easy way for readers. Podcasting is its own form of storytelling all together.

DON’T WORRY, WRITTEN CONTENT IS NOT DEAD

Spoken word is making a comeback, but don’t worry, written content is not dying. In fact, great written content is the foundation for audio. There is plenty of room for audio articles, podcasts and written content to co-exist. Developing a mix will build a larger and more diverse audience. If you’re looking to expand your audience, this may be a great addition to your already strong content. Spoken word was the original storytelling, and it sounds like it is making a strong comeback.

Visit some of the top PR podcasts to hear what is being done and to get some ideas!

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