HowCouldYouBeMoreProductiveAtWorkWithLessStress Jaleel Polin

7/31/2019 HowCouldYouBeMoreProductiveAtWorkWithLessStress Jaleel Polin

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How could you be more productive atwork with less stress?

Jaleel Polin 2012

What will we discuss about?

Who are you?

What is stress? How to manage it?

What is emotional intelligence & itsrelation to productivity?

How to plan your life strategically

How to break down your plan intoachievable goals ?

What factors hinders productivity ?

What prevent you from achieving yourgoals?

How to make all these work together & bemore productive in both your life & work?


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The new world of work

High productivity is required more

than ever before in the new world ofwork.

We are all required to deliver morework in less time without sacrificingquality.

Look around you, how are peopleworking these days?

If you have not change the way youwork, it isTIME for CHANGE!

The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), used tocall on Muslims to take the initiative to do

good deeds before any obstacles arise.

For instance, he said, "Lose no time to

do good deeds before you are caught

up by one of seven calamities awaiting

you: a starvation which may impair your

wisdom; a prosperity which may mislead

you; an ailment which may damage your

health; an old age which may harm your

senses; a sudden death; the Dajjal

(Antichrist); or Doomsday, which is indeed

the hardest and most bitter." (at-Tirmidhi,

al-Baihaqi)

Productive v/s Unproductive People

Productive people:

Are always energetic

Have clear plans and goals in their

lives.

More ambitious & creative at work

Deliver more & Better in less time

Most likely to achieve their goals and

ambitions in life.

Achieve more work life balance

Suffer less from stress

Enjoy better relation with their family

and colleagues.

A recent study has shown that many people are mostly productive on Tuesdays only!


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Unproductive people

Often get Sunday blues Comes at work tired

Less creative and feeling under pressure every time.

Always procrastinate

Dont have clear plans of their present and future goals.

Just accept what they get in life

Often get the feeling that they are lost and nothing is

working in life.

Feeling frustrated at times and may face difficulty in their

family lives

Who you are & Where is your energynaturally directed?

Extroverts v/s Introverts

Extroverts & Introverts are as different as apples and oranges.

Introvert

Extroverts


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Extroverts

Have high energy

Are interested in what is happening aroundthem

Are open and often talkative

Compare their own opinions with theopinions of others

Like action and initiative

Easily make new friends or adapt to a newgroup

Say what they think

Are interested in new people

Easily break unwanted relationsSource: Jung's theory of Psychological Types & personalitytype.com

Introverts

Have quiet energy

Listen more than talk

Think quietly inside their heads

Think, then act

Feel comfortable being alone

Prefer to work "behind-the-scenes"

Have good powers of concentration

Prefer to focus on one thing at a time Are self-contained and reserved

Need to have own territory

Usually do not have many friendsSource: Jung's theory of Psychological Types & personalitytype.com


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Stress & Productivity

Source:http://altered-states.net/barry/newsletter419/index.htm

A certain level of stress is important to be productive!!

Managing Stress

Have the right attitude to be able

to manage stress

Change your situation (How?)

Verily Allah does not change a people's

condition unless they change their inner

selves Surah Ar-Ra`d (13:11).

Discard stressful objects/things &

people

Avoid negative people

Eliminate negative thoughts

Think positively (How?)


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Your interpretation of reality & paradigms

Is the glass half emptyor half full.Dua of the prophet- O Allaah, I takerefuge in You from anxiety and sorrow,

weakness and laziness, miserliness and

cowardice, the burden of debts and

from being over powered by men.

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7/158

Verily Allah does not change a people'scondition unless they change their inner

selves Surah Ar-Ra`d (13:11).

It is the right of every muslim

to be free from anxiety,

weakness, sorrow, debts and

laziness But you have to

change your own situation..

How you can change your situation

depends on how you view reality.

The example of a believer is like a freshtender plant which resist the wind

Abu Hurairah (r) said: The Prophet,

peace be upon him, remarked: The

example of a believer is like a fresh

tender plant; from whichever direction

the wind blows, it bends the plant. But

when the wind dies down, it straightens

up again. (Similarly a believer is tested

by afflictions to strengthen his faith and

heart, and he remains patient andfirm). And an evil person is like a pine

tree which remains hard and stiff until

Allah breaks it whenever He wills.

Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1


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Negativity that hinders performance.

There is too much to do and there is never time to

do it.

The school is placing too many demands/pressure

on me.

I have to accomplish new tasks everyday and I dont

like it.

There is change everyday and I dont like it.

I dont like my job and it is a nightmare to work

here.

I am underpaid and other people are getting more.

I dont have good colleagues or they dont like me.

My senior colleague, head, rector, supervisor or

manager are incompetent.

Think about it..

If you often come across negative thoughts think about the

following saying from Umar ibn al-Khattab r.a:

"No amount of guilt can change the past andno amount of

worrying can change the future. Go easy on yourself for theoutcome of all affairs is determined by Allah's Decree. If something

is meant to go elsewhere, it will never come on your way, but if it is

yours by destiny, from you it cannot flee.(Umar ibn al-Khattab r.a)


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Thinking Positively

I am to recognize my weaknesses and act upon it.

I believe that change is an inevitable part of life andI will adapt to changing circumstances.

I view remarks, feedback and mistakes as lesson forimprovement in life

I am willing to accept more tasks as a challengeand feel satisfied and more confident afteraccomplishing goals set.

I dont feel overwhelmed or too much pressure asI plan and prioritize my tasks.

I am willing to innovate & take risks, facechallenges.

Lifelong learning is a must for my personaldevelopment.

Be positive while even while facingdifficulties..

It is very important to be positive &

realistic even in difficult times.. Indeed, with every hardship comes ease"

(Surah94: 5-6)

Common Saying: There's a

light at the end of the tunnel..


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Why should I be happy where I

work? Some positive ideas.. I have a good salary compared to the

number of hours I work.

I have ample time to spend with my family &kids during holidays

I am working for a noble cause; educatingthe employees, parents and leaders oftomorrow

My workplace is clean, secure and have agood infrastructure

I am working for a top ranked school whichis expanding every year while other private

schools are closing down

Facilities I get at school

I can have my kids near me at from pre-primary, primary,..

Indirect benefits: Discounted fees for kids & for

my personal development at tertiary level.

I work in a sound environment compared to

other school

I get ample FREE training for my personal

development.

As the organization is expanding rapidly, there are

definitely future career opportunities, like

managerial roles, tertiary dept etc..


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Defining Success in life

How do you define success? Cultural & Islamic point of view?

Climbing the career ladder?

Having a good home life?

Raising your kids properly?

Having a lot of money?

Having or maintaining a good health?

What is the key to success?Whoeverworks righteousness whether male or female

while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism)

verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect,

contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay themcertainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to

do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter) [al-Nahl 16:97]

Understanding Success

A successful person has a clear definition of success.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're

going, because you might not get there. (Yogi Berra)

Is achieving work life balance part of your success?


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Importance of emotional Intelligence for

success

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to theability to perceive, control and evaluateemotions.

Your ability to manage your emotions isa determinant factor for success in life: IQ only account for 20% of a persons

success in life

What accounts for the other 80%? Some ofthe missing ingredient lies in emotionalintelligence the capacity to acquire andapply emotional information.

References: http://www.training-games.com/pdf/Connecting-Emotional-Intell-To-Success_pdf.pdf

http://www.6seconds.org/2007/04/16/white-paper-emotional-intelligence-success/

Having the right attitude for success(Emotional Intelligence)

Success is an attitude not just a setof achievement or financial gains.

Your attitude at the beginning of ataskmore than anything else willdetermine your success or failure.

Sets achievable goal

Lives life to the full

Prioritize important issues

Maintain a positive mental attitude Recognize success

Stop chasing false goals andexpectations

Holden & Renshaw, 2002


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Work Life Balance

How could work life balance bepart of your success?

Could you work smarter but not

harder ?

How could you be more efficient,

talented & creative in what you

are doing?

Do you know how to set criteria

and develop plans for success?

Work life balance concept in Islam

A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of theProphet asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when theywere informed about that, they considered their worship insufficientand said, "Where are we from the Prophet as his past and futuresins have been forgiven." Then one of them said, "I will offer the

prayer throughout the night forever." The other said, "I will fastthroughout the year and will not break my fast." The third said,"I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever."Allah's Apostle came to them and said, "Are you the same peoplewho said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and

more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I dosleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow mytradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers)."

Narrated Anas bin Malik


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Thinking Big

You are what you think.

Success is determined by the size of onesbrain but by the size of ones thinking.

If you think Positively & BIG, your brainwill help you find innovative ways to doit..

The size of someone bank account,happiness account or general satisfactionaccount is dependent on the size of onesthinking

People are not thinking big because they

believe opportunities to lead does notexist. (David J.Schwartz from the book, the magic of thinking big)

The Islamic Obligation of thinking big: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgTzDp8iSKY

What you think iswhat you get.

Strategic Thinking

You can take actions in the present that will

help determine the future.

Don't make predictions about the future,

but rather suggest multiple possible futures,

often in the form of "scenarios" or stories

about the future.

Understand your life

Explore plausible futures (personal

scenarios)

Plan to achieve the future you want

(personal strategic planning)(Wheelwright,2011) & www.personalfutures.net


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Planning Your life strategically

(Personal Strategic Planning)

Create a vision of your future

Visualize your future

Develop plans and strategies to

achieve that future.

Begin with the end in mind (Coveys 2ndHabit)

Comfort Zone & RiskManagement

You have to take risks if you want

success and a better future.

You need to get out of your comfort

zone

Risk can be managed

Assess the risks properly

Create contingency plans

Use Scenarios Planning A,B,C

Risk Management in Islam.. Leave your comfort zone andtake risks!!

Who risks nothing, gains

nothing

Qui ne risque rien na rien

(French Proverb)

And that there is nothing for man except

what he tried, His efforts shall be seen. And

rewarded to fullest extent."(Sura An-Najm53:39-41)


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Short term Planning

Break down your long term plan inan action plans with SMART goals.

Short term (Monthly, Weekly, Bi-

Monthly etc..)

Assign checkpoints & milestones

Check whether every actions you are taking are moving you towards

your goal or away from it?

To do List

On a daily basis, write down the

activities that you need to accomplish

Make use of sticky notes either on

your PC Desktop (virtual) or use the

paper version.

At the middle of day & End of day,

review your to do lists & plan for the

next day.

PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT or ADJUST

DemmingsCycle: Plan > Do > Check > Act


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Procrastination The emotional battle

You procrastinate because you want todo things that you find too difficult.

Then you indulged immediately inactivities that are either less painful orpleasurable.

Think what is preventing you to moveforward.

You feel good about the thing that youwant to do it is also generating negativeemotion.

You have two options: Give up on thatdesire, either for good or to acceptpostponement until another time

Adapted & Source www.1dayhabit.com

Low productivity due to Multitasking

Research shows that our brains can

only focus on one thing at a time.

Increased levels of stress related

hormones are present during

multitasking.

Build a clear and manageable to-do list.

Then work your way through it, one

task at a time.

Youll actually get more done both interms of quantity & quality.


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How to make all these work together?

The new world of work require you to

be more productive

Know who you are (Introvert or

Extrovert)

How do you view reality?

What are your paradigms & Worldviews

Define your own meaning of success


Be emotionally intelligent

Be patient..it takes time to succeed..

Manage Stress

Fight against negative thinking

Think positively

Have the right attitude for success

Self Motivate yourself

Commit yourself to work towardsachieving work life balance

"Oh you who believe! Seek help with patience

perseverance and prayer, for God is with those

who patiently persevere. Quran (2:153)


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Think Big

Think Strategic

Turn your strategies into actions

Short term planning

Smart goals

To do list

Everyday avoid:

Procrastination Battle against yourself emotionally

Multitasking Finish one task first then tackle another one.

How you can change your situation?

Remember: Verily Allah does not change a people's

condition unless they change their inner selves Surah Ar-

Ra`d (13:11).

And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity And

throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of

truth, the God-fearingSurah Al-Baquara 2:177.

Verily, with every difficulty there is reliefSurahAsh-

Sharh 94:5-6


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Act NOW!!!!

You now have the tools/keys tosolve/unlock the success puzzle

It is time for change before it is

too late

You need to start NOW!

Start solving the puzzle for

success

Remember : Plan > Do >

Check > Act

The End

Feedback

Questions & Answers


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References & Recommended Reading List

Documents

HowCouldYouBeMoreProductiveAtWorkWithLessStress Jaleel Polin