Ideas for Reducing the Need for Constant Communication

"I need to be always available" is a lie you're telling yourself. Let's bust this productivity myth wide open. Most jobs require a mix of reflective work (focused planning and strategizing) and reactive work (responding to emails and notifications).  Unless your job demands that you be on call, like an ER doctor, being reactive all day is a productivity trap. Why? Because it's easier to respond to every ping and ding than to ask ourselves (or our boss) what's truly important. That nagging feeling that you need to be constantly available is likely not an objective fact. It's an internal trigger driving you towards distraction. When you tell yourself, "Someone might need me," or "I might look bad if I don't respond immediately," you're not stating facts. You're expressing anxiety. You can ease that anxiety by scheduling time for reflective work. Use techniques like timeboxing and schedule-syncing with your boss to carve out distraction-free periods. Then, if you've communicated your schedule effectively, you're set. The world won't end if you don't respond to every message immediately. Don't let the "always on" mentality trick you into running fast in the wrong direction.  For more insights like this, subscribe to my newsletter (link in bio)! You can also learn more about this in my article:  https://lnkd.in/eKfD_9Sg

Managers: The thing you’re doing to get more from your team… might be doing the exact opposite. Work communication. It sounds basic, but it’s not (at all!). Most people (managers and otherwise) never get formal training on how to communicate well at work. But it’s often the biggest factor in whether teams feel respected - or resentful. And that impacts how your teams work, and how long they decide to stay. In today’s video, I share one tip - and here are three more to take it further: 1. Set expectations for response times (and make them reasonable and clear up front). 2. Stop confusing “urgency” with “convenience.” If you always expect a call or Slack reply ASAP, you may be interrupting your team right in the middle of them being productive - and also burning them out in the process. 3. Add context when you ask for something. Use their name. Tell them why it matters. And assume they might need time to think before replying. Communication that considers the other person is what leads to trust and productivity… and results (not just yelling “ASAP” louder). #LIPostingDayMay