In this eBook, we will talk about:

• Whether it’s possible to be productive in extreme circumstances
• Identifying the changes that will mark “the new normal”
• The importance of safety
• The challenges employees and employers face in boosting productivity
• How you can improve productivity by focusing on employee health – both physical and mental
• Tips for managing remote and blended teams
• Using schedule optimization to promote productivity
• The best partnership you can form to help navigate workforce changes

Chronic procrastination may get the best of you. Despite your best efforts to remain productive, you may quickly fall behind on everyday tasks. And the more you fall behind, the harder it becomes to rebound.

Ultimately, you need to take measures to avoid chronic procrastination. With the right approach, you can remain productive. Best of all, you’ll be able to get the most value out of your time, energy, and resources.

5 Productivity Tips That Work

1. Find Out Why You Procrastinate

In some instances, procrastination can occur due to anxiety or fear of failure. Or it may be related to a lack of energy or motivation. Regardless, you need to identify the root cause of your issue, so you can put this problem in the rearview mirror.

Self-awareness is key, particularly when it comes to procrastination. So, take a look in the mirror and figure out why you procrastinate in the first place. Then, you can make a plan to address the problem.

2. Start Slow

One of the biggest problems that procrastinators face: getting started. Yet, those who embrace the opportunity to start a challenging task are well-equipped to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling that often accompanies the endeavor.

Typically, it helps to start slowly to boost your productivity. Much in the same way Rome was not built in a day, you should not expect your procrastination habit to go away immediately. Rather, begin a task and work diligently to complete it. Take breaks as needed along the way. Don’t forget to track your progress, too. Over time, you’ll become more productive as you tackle task after task. In the long run, you’ll overcome your tendency to procrastinate as well.

3. Establish Deadlines

You may feel like you have all the time in the world to complete a task. However, the clock can run out if you are not careful. In the worst-case scenario, you may end up rushing to complete a task, which can lead to poor results.

Deadlines are must-haves for chronic procrastinators. Generally, it helps to give yourself as much time as possible to complete a task.

To determine an appropriate deadline, map out the steps involved in a task and how long it takes to complete each one. Next, you can identify how much time is required for the entire task. It can also be beneficial to build buffer room into your deadline. That way, if an emergency arises, you’ll still have sufficient time to finish your task on deadline.

4. Get Organized

It may seem like a pipe dream to get organized. But anyone can become an organization expert — even a chronic procrastinator. In fact, with patience and hard work, a procrastinator can get organized without delay and reap the benefits of doing so long into the future.

To get organized, declutter your workspace. Remove any non-essential items, along with potential distractions that can otherwise hamper your productivity. Furthermore, it can be beneficial to use a personal organizer and take notes throughout the day. This can help you stay on track with myriad tasks.

5. Find an Accountability Partner

If you’re concerned about procrastination, get an accountability partner. This allows you to be accountable to yourself and someone else. It can challenge you to push the limits of your productivity as you work hand in hand with a peer who drives you to perform your best.

An accountability partner can be a colleague or friend who wants you to be the best version of yourself. You and your partner can provide regular updates on how well you perform day after day. Plus, you can offer support to each other. In doing so, you and your accountability partner can achieve unprecedented results.

Your career is important but it should never come before your health. Otherwise, stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can crop up. These issues can affect your ability to perform your best at work. They can also make it virtually impossible to enjoy your time outside of work. And, if left unaddressed, mental health problems can lead to body pain, headaches, and other physical health issues.

The bottom line: you need to prioritize mental and physical wellness. Now, let’s examine five of the key dimensions of wellness, along with tips you can use to recalibrate your life and live better than ever before.

1. Emotional

Expressing your emotions in a safe, healthy manner is paramount. Yet, many people choose to “bottle up” their emotions, despite the fact that doing so can cause serious harm.

Those who suppress their emotions may struggle to deal with challenging situations at work and home. They also face a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic illnesses than people who can effectively manage their emotional wellbeing.

To improve your emotional wellness, find constructive ways to express your feelings. For instance, meditation or deep breathing exercises have been shown to help people minimize negative emotions. Or, you can go for a walk or perform other physical activities that promote emotional wellness.

2. Intellectual

Having opportunities to engage in mentally stimulating activities can make a world of difference. In fact, those who nurture their curiosity can become lifelong learners who are well-equipped to thrive in any work environment at any time.

To foster your intellectual well-being, capitalize on any learning opportunities that come your way. For instance, you can read books or take up new hobbies. You can even visit a museum or art gallery to help get your creative juices flowing.

Don’t forget to take advantage of learning programs at work, too. If you are ready to take on more responsibility at work, ask your manager about any available learning opportunities. And, if you are on the job hunt, search for free courses on LinkedIn, Skillshare, and other learning websites.

3. Occupational

Everyone deserves to feel good about their work. However, there may be times when work problems escalate to the point where they cause people to feel bad about themselves. There may also be instances when employees are overworked, resulting in an unhealthy work-life balance.

To optimize occupational wellness, network with industry peers. This allows people to build professional relationships and grow them over time.

In addition, pursue professional development opportunities. Those who continuously look for opportunities to accelerate their professional growth can develop the skills required to accomplish their career aspirations.

4. Physical

How you take care of your body can have far-flung effects. If you constantly eat fast food and avoid exercise, your body can wear down quickly. The result: you may feel physically exhausted day after day, and you face a high risk of severe health problems.

A daily exercise routine can be beneficial. Engaging in 30 minutes of moderate daily physical activity can help you feel your best and extend your life.

Along with daily exercise, healthy eating and consistent rest are crucial in terms of physical wellness. Consume foods rich in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals whenever possible. Also, try to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

5. Environmental

You should feel safe, comfortable, and calm in your everyday surroundings. However, if your surroundings make you feel panicked and worried, your overall well-being may be at risk.

To enhance your environmental wellness, assess your home and work environments. Remove any clutter and eliminate any distractions from these settings.

Furthermore, volunteer in your community when you can. Volunteerism can help you connect with your community and foster new relationships. It can also help you build an emotional attachment to your community.

The Bottom Line on Wellness

There is no “magic bullet” to achieve true wellness. Instead, ongoing practice of the wellness dimensions mentioned above can help you feel your best now and in the future at work and outside of it.

Of course, a recruiter can help alleviate stress as you search for new career opportunities, too. Recruiters can offer expert tips and guidance to help you find a job that complements your life.

A global human talent shortage plagues businesses around the world. According to management consulting firm Korn Ferry, if left unaddressed, the shortage could reach more than 85 million people by 2030. At this point, the shortage could result in about $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenues, too.

Your business needs skilled professionals on staff. Yet, identifying, attracting, and retaining talent remains difficult. Fortunately, options are available to help you strengthen your workforce, regardless of your recruiting strategy. These options include upskilling and reskilling.

What Are Upskilling and Reskilling, and Why Should Your Business Use Them?

Upskilling involves learning new skills or enhancing existing ones. For instance, an employee can complete a training program that allows them to add new skills or improve current ones to further contribute to their company’s success. In this instance, the employee and their business can reap the benefits of upskilling.

Comparatively, reskilling involves developing new skills for a new role. For example, an employee who wants to move into a management role may enroll in online management courses. Upon completion of these courses, the worker will possess a wide range of management skills. Plus, the worker can transition into their management role without a steep on-the-job learning curve.

Ultimately, there is a lot to like about upskilling and reskilling. Key reasons why businesses utilize upskilling and reskilling across their workforces include:

1. Increased Employee Engagement and Retention

Upskilling and reskilling provide businesses with myriad opportunities to invest in their employees. Meanwhile, workers can leverage upskilling and reskilling programs to bolster their skill sets. These employees can feel great about the fact that their businesses are committed to their success. The result: companies that leverage upskilling and reskilling can maximize their employee engagement and retention levels.

Struggling with turnover or employee motivation, ? GPS can help you build a more engaged, loyal workforce.

2. Improved Customer Satisfaction

Skilled employees can deliver exceptional contributions across a business — and customers are likely to notice. So, if a company implements an upskilling or reskilling program, it can help its workers become better in various areas. These workers can then apply their new knowledge and insights to assist customers like never before. This can lead to improved customer satisfaction, along with increased revenues and exemplary customer loyalty.

3. Talent Recruitment

Businesses want to attract top job candidates, regardless of role. With upskilling and reskilling programs, a company can distinguish itself to superb candidates. A company can use these programs to show job seekers it is willing to invest in their futures. This can help the business promote itself to candidates. And it may allow the company to recruit candidates who want to stay with it long into the future.

How to Close the Skills Gap Across Your Workforce

Your business can use upskilling and reskilling programs at any time. However, to get the most value out of these programs, it helps to plan. This ensures your upskilling and reskilling programs empower you to close skill gaps across your company.

Now, let’s look at five tips to help you optimize the ROI of your upskilling and reskilling programs.

1. Establish Skill Adjacencies

Identify skill adjacencies across your workforce. To do so, look for workers who possess skills that align with those required to perform various tasks. Next, you can provide these employees with training to help them advance their skills.

2. Create Training Programs for All Types of Learners

Set up training programs tailored to different types of learning styles. For instance, some educational programs can leverage microlearning, which involves short videos and other media that cover topics in short increments. On the other hand, in-person and workshop classroom-style learning sessions can cater to workers who prefer hands-on learning. You can even offer online training sessions that employees can complete anywhere an internet connection is available.

3. Reward Workers Who Engage in Your Programs

Celebrate workers who upskill and reskill. You can offer bonuses, gift cards, and other financial rewards to employees who complete upskilling and reskilling programs. Or you can recognize these workers’ accomplishments during business meetings.

4. Provide Multiple Program Options

Give workers the flexibility to choose upskilling and reskilling programs that correspond to their career goals. Offer multiple programs, and employees can select ones that can help them accelerate their career growth.

5. Make Your Programs Accessible to Everyone

Ensure workers across all departments can access your upskilling and reskilling programs. This enables employees to gain the skills they want to accomplish their career aspirations.

Need Help Bridging the Skills Gap Across Your Business? Partner With a Recruiting Company

Upskilling and reskilling programs can deliver tremendous value. And, if you use these programs in combination with an effective talent recruitment strategy, your business can avoid a skills gap that can otherwise hamper its growth.

If you need help bridging the skills gap across your business or want to develop and implement an effective recruiting strategy, it pays to partner with a reputable recruiting company. The right recruiting company can help you get the best results from your upskilling and reskilling programs — and get more done.

Do you have an upcoming interview?

Congratulations!

We want you to put your best foot forward. Whether you are an entry-level candidate or a seasoned professional, interviewing remotely or in-person, we will show you how to shine – and land a great new job.

Get this eBook by clicking this link https://resources.gpsjobs.net/index.smpl?c=52751#ebook-form

ASK ME ANYTHING: MASTERING THE MODERN JOB INTERVIEW

Do you have an upcoming interview?

Congratulations!

We want you to put your best foot forward. Whether you are an entry-level candidate or a seasoned professional, interviewing remotely or in-person, we will show you how to shine – and land a great new job.

Get this eBook by clicking this link http://resources.gpsjobs.net/index.smpl?c=52751#ebook-form

Merry Christmas from Gallman Consulting!

Gallman Consulting wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We thank all of our clients and candidates for choosing to be a part of the GPS family.

HUGS Drive

All donations must be in original packaging.

Newberry County Young Professionals www.nbyyp.com/ newberrycountyyp@gmail.com along with the Muller Center at Newberry College, The Rotary Club of Newberry, The Newberry Museum, Gallman Personnel Services, Inc., Newberry Dental Associates, and the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a H.U.G.S. drive to benefit the students of Newberry County.

Drop Off Locations:

Newberry County Chamber of Commerce
1209 Caldwell Street
Newberry, SC 29108
M-F: 8:30am-5:00pm

Newberry College
Keller Hall
2100 College Street
Newberry, SC 29108
M-F: 9:00am-4:30pm

Gallman Personnel Services, Inc.
2402 Wilson Road
Newberry, SC 29108
M-F: 8:00am-5:00pm

The Newberry Museum
1300 Friend Street
Newberry, SC 29108
Tu-Sat: 10:00am-4:00pm

Newberry Dental Associates
2306 Harrington Street
Newberry, SC 29108
M-Th: 8:00am-4:00pm

Does mindfulness ramp up your team’s speed, quality, and motivation – or is it just a waste of time?

With all the “magic bullets” being marketed these days, it’s difficult to tell what’s effective and what’s nothing more than an expensive placebo or clickbait. Workplace productivity “cures” are no exception, bringing us to contemplate if techniques such as mindfulness and meditation actually improve job performance, or if they’ll leave us with little more than wasted hours.

Luckily, unlike most “magic” weight loss pills, meditation’s link to productivity has been thoroughly studied. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of mindfulness – so you can decide for yourself if such tools are right for your team.

Pros – Meditation’s link to workplace productivity

• Meditation can make employees less prone to making mistakes – According to a study run by Michigan State University, different forms of meditation have different effects on neurocognitive function, including the neural signals that occur half a second after someone has made a mental error. The study suggests that open-monitoring meditation – a form of meditation that allows participants to let thoughts flow through their mind instead of shutting them out – increases the strength of a person’s conscious error recognition if practiced regularly.

• Self-discipline is strengthened through regular meditation – The practice of regular meditation, even just a few minutes per day, can do more than bring about a cultivated sense of peace; it can strengthen a person’s self-discipline. The act of taking time out of your day to sit quietly and prevent one’s thoughts from running around like a rampant toddler provides ample practice in the development of discipline.

• With discipline comes focus – Focus is tied to self-discipline, so it makes sense that developing one would develop the other. During meditation, a person focuses on their breath, body, or specific visualization while avoiding the distractions of everyday life. In the same way, a productive employee must focus on their work tasks while avoiding the distractions of the office. Less focus on chatter, ringing phones, and the clock ticking away the seconds between lunch and the frustration of rush hour traffic means more focus on work-related tasks.

• Meditation increases patience – No employer expects any employee who wants to keep their job to sit patiently throughout the workday, and that’s not the type of patience we’re talking about. Meditation increases the kind of patience that allows a person to slow down mentally and become more detail-oriented by giving them the tools used to step away from the emotional rush of time constraints, such as deadlines or quotas.
  
• A decrease in stress that boosts morale – Morale has a heavy hand in productivity, and meditation increases morale by giving employees a chance to relax their bodies, clear their minds, and recharge their mental batteries.

Cons – Meditation might not be as helpful as we thought

• Meditation may lower a person’s motivation – A recent study suggests that meditation, while increasing focus and discipline, may actually lower an individual’s motivation to complete a given task. The study separated participants into a mindfulness group and a distracted group before having them complete simulated office tasks, and the mindful group reported less motivation to complete tasks than the distracted group, even after being offered a financial incentive.

• Mindfulness shifts focus from the future to the present – It’s important to live in the present, but it’s also important to plan and strive for future goals. Mindfulness meditation shifts a person’s perspective away from future rewards and advancement (major motivational factors in any workplace) and places it on the here-and-now. Whereas focusing on the present sounds great in theory, most people probably wouldn’t work as hard if they had no future goals.
  
• Meditation shows no net gain in productivity – In the same study that suggested lowered motivation in mindful individuals, participant performance was measured and showed that meditation provided no benefit to (or detraction from) the quality of work performed.

Overall, meditation seems to increase focus, discipline and morale without increasing individual productivity. But whether you decide to implement a meditation program or not, staffing and recruiting firms can deliver focused, motivated and productive candidates both quickly and cost effectively.

The one thing you should know about us is that our number-one priority is helping you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a job seeker or a hiring manager—we have the experience, the expertise, and the resources to provide you with the solutions you’re seeking.

We’ve been in the search and placement business since 1985. We believe strongly in the importance of relationships, and that’s why we want to introduce the members of the Gallman Consulting Team:

The faces of Gallman Consulting

Georgette Sandifer

Smith Richardson

At Gallman Consulting, we use everything at our disposal to help you meet your hiring needs and achieve your career goals. Gallman Consulting is an executive and professional employment search firm that guarantees quality talent. Honesty, integrity and ethics are not just buzzwords, they are the words we live by. Our goal is to build solid relationships with our clients and candidates by matching top talent with excellent career opportunities. Our parent company, Gallman Personnel Services has been in business since 1985.

As an affiliate of Top Echelon, a national recruiting organization, we follow stringent guidelines for membership related to candidate and client relationships. We are a Top Producer for, and a “Preferred” member of Top Echelon. Top Echelon holds the distinction of being the nation’s largest and most prestigious independent recruitment association. These affiliations provide access to the resources of over 2000 association members, and enable us to share in a large pool of currently employed, hidden candidates.

Our services can save your staff the cumbersome job of recruiting, qualifying and narrowing the field. We send only the candidates that we believe fit the individual job description.Gallman Consulting can provide you with candidates in the following positions:

Manufacturing

• Plant Management
• Quality
• Engineers
• Manufacturing Managers
• Materials, Logistics, Purchasing
• CNC
• Design
• Process Management

Human Resources

• In various industries to include manufacturing, service, distribution, and others.
• HR Generalists
• Employee Relations
• Labor Relations
• Benefits Specialists

Engineering

• Electrical
• Industrial
• Chemical
• Civil
• Mechanical

Construction Management

• Construction Management
• Project Managers
• Superintendents
• Estimators

Other

• Administrative
• Accounting
• Executive Placement
• Contract/Consulting Staffing