Productivity Tips You Learn on the Job

I have often credited my job as a news producer for honing my time management skills. Working in television has not only taught me the value of a minute, but also how to stick to a strict deadline. That’s because the news happens with or without you and you better be ready as a producer.

But what about other professions? Here are some example of jobs and the productivity tips we can learn from them.

Firefighters – These guys and gals are known for being ready to go at a moment’s notice. All their equipment is laid out, the tanks are filled, the whole process is geared to take as little time as possible. Because a couple of minutes can make all the difference when it comes to a fire — preparation is key. While your day to day might not be as important it’s still a good idea to do as much as you can in advance.

Agricultural Workers – Life on a farm is not as easy breezy as playing Farmville on Facebook. Most farmers have to get up before the sun rises if they want to check off everything on their list for that day. Being an early riser isn’t easy, but it’s a great way to start your day. I like to wake up early so I can ease into the day and I don’t feel so pressured to get out the door.

Athletes – During training season every minute of an athlete’s day is planned. Where they go, what exercises they do, what they eat – everything is calculated down to the smallest detail. I don’t go quite as far as that, but I like to plan a rough idea of my day the night before. It keeps me focused and stops me procrastinating.  I also like to plan out meals so it’s a no brainer when I get hungry.

Fisherman – Knowing the optimal time to go after what you want is what separates a good catch from a great catch.  Fishermen do lots of prep work to figure out the best times to head out on the water, what gear they’ll need and who they want on their team.  Research is so important to being productive.

Surgeons — I’ve talked about this before but surgeons are not only very skilled but they are extremely productive in the operating room.  And that’s thanks to checklists.  There are checklists for most of the tasks that need to happen before a surgery — like washing hands, identifying the patient and so on.  These checklists help to keep mistakes from happening.

How does your job help you be productive?