I’ve been approached a lot lately with questions about how AI will impact workday productivity. One of the more specific questions I’m asked is if AI will change the way I teach Taskology® and the quick answer to that question is undoubtedly a “no.” Why? Well, because AI won’t replace your ability to think and make decisions, plan and prioritize, or deal with changes in priorities, the unexpected, or nuances. It’s easy to get sucked in by the thought of AI taking something—or a LOT of things—OFF your plate, because promises of tools, rules, and AI make you think that you don’t have to THINK ..read more

I had a wonderful breakfast with a new friend a few weeks ago and we got onto the topic of mental health at work. More specifically, we talked about how people are dealing with the feelings that come up when they’re overwhelmed with the amount of work they have to do. Since we were from the same generation, we agreed that “way back then,” early in our careers, crying at work was just NOT something you do.  And by that, we meant outside of REAL emergencies, deaths, and unexpected trauma when others might cry along with you. But I can remember one time when I DID cry. To my boss. Yes… I did ..read more

I saw a recent article in Inc.com about one of the trends for 2024 being “strategic slowness.” Sounds good, right? Most of the article was about writing articles, but then it expanded to include how business owners and entreprenuers are working these days—in a rushed, reactive, and often frenzied way—and I believe it’s true for just about every professional today. It’s time… to slow… down. You might be thinking, “Leslie, I’d love to! But how can I with all that I have going on?” I get it. I do. I feel the same way sometimes. But that’s when I remember to rely on the system I have in place—whi ..read more

Did you enjoy a fun and festive December filled with occasions to celebrate the Holidays and ring in the New Year? It’s such a great time of year to spend with family and friends. I hope you benefited from a break—some time to recharge so you could start 2024 with energy and enthusiasm! Are you ready to make 2024 your BEST year EVER?! I know we are! The first 11 months of 2023 were so productive that one of several goals was reached by December 1, which gave me peace of mind—plus something to celebrate!—as I took most of December off, which was refreshing. I had a chance to relax, recharge, an ..read more

 The ONE most important work technique you were never taught, but need to know. In too many companies, employees never learn how to work most efficiently or effectively.   Have you ever had one of those days? A day when you’ve just had ENOUGH? You know, that moment when you’ve reached a critical point where the stress and frustration just can’t get any worse, but at the same time, you have a sinking feeling they just might? Maybe for you, these feelings have surfaced more readily in recent times—and more often than you’d like to admit. And today was one of those days. You had a serie ..read more

Amanda felt chaotic today. And it was only 8:20 am.  No sooner had she arrived at her office did three people follow her to her office and line up to talk with her.  The first person asked her where the agenda was for today’s monthly staff meeting. Amanda realized with horror that she had completely forgotten about it. She was not only responsible for running the meeting, but also for creating and distributing the agenda a week in advance, which normally made these meetings very productive. Dave was the second person in line. He worked in another department and asked her for a report ..read more

Do you feel prepared for most days? Are you ready for anything? Or do you feel like the day snuck up on you and surprised you—in a bad way? Readiness is a valuable state to be in, especially in the midst of ever-shifting priorities and a steady occurrence of the unexpected. Being prepared gives you a level of control and confidence in your day that will serve you well to… …prioritize quickly, easily and accurately …remain level-headed and calm …consider tasks carefully and prioritize with precision …make smart decisions about how to spend your time …be responsive to calls, emails, and requests ..read more

If you’ve ever overbooked or double booked your time, or you’ve been late for meetings (or missed a few altogether) you may be running around more reactively in your workday than you like. You may be in a mad dash to get to meetings or you’re trying to be in two places at once. You’re also likely running out of time to work on tasks and answer emails, and have to come in early, work nights, or work weekends to catch up—or all of the above. This can happen for many reasons. Here are the top 5… You have a digital calendar, but you’re not using it very well or very often, so it doesn’t accuratel ..read more

We’re in the third month of summer and coming to the end of vacation season shortly. I hope you’ve had a chance to get away at least once—if not more than once!—to take a break and to refresh, relax and renew. I certainly have enjoyed three trips in three states bordering Maryland: a week in Philadelphia, PA, a week in Bethany Beach, DE, and a week in Williamsburg, VA. It’s been a lot of fun to get away without having to travel too far—or get on a plane. Your trips may have been more exotic, but no matter where you went or for how long, if you stepped away from your office and your email Inbox ..read more

You want to be more productive, but you say your job is different, right? You want to be more proactive, but you say you’re busier than everyone else. You want to make more progress, but your workday is like none other and you’re not sure how certain methods, systems, apps or approaches are going to work for you, yes? After 20 years of working with clients, I’ve heard a LOT of these beliefs and what I confirm time and time again is that when you want to be more productive, make incredible progress, and achieve a greater level of success, your beliefs are holding you back if you think your work ..read more