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Studio owners want to get as much done as possible. We’re constantly moving, but movement does not always equal productivity.

It’s often overwhelming to think of ways to become more productive. Where to start? How about starting with one percent?

The One Percent Better philosophy says that future success hinges not on life – altering transformations but on simple gains made through small changes in habits.

I recently lost 70 pounds after using this system to improve my health and fitness. I started with small incremental changes to my workout habit. On the elliptical, I would set a goal for two minutes longer than the day before or increase the intensity by 30 seconds. It took time and perseverance to keep going, but now I am healthier than ever.

The same can be done with productivity: if you make a change today, keep it, and add another tomorrow, those small steps will move you toward your goal. Looking back, you might be amazed at what those small steps accomplished.

Personally, my journey-to-better-productivity began by establishing a Sunday planning session. On my calendar I wrote down and prioritized all of the tasks I wanted to accomplish, designated an amount of time I would spend on each task, and blocked out the time I needed for the top priority tasks. It took practice to build the habit, but this one small Sunday planning session moved the needle quite a bit on my productivity.

Does this sound intriguing? Or at least doable? Let’s consider how to use the One Percent Better system to attack some common studio owner productivity pitfalls.

Productivity Pitfall #1

Not maximizing calendars/planners

An effective productivity goal is to put all events, meetings, and appointments into your Google calendar or physical planner every Sunday. To improve your planning productivity by one percent, try:

Deciding on your top three priorities for the week and scheduling the time you need to work on them each day in your planner.

  • Adding birthdays and setting reminders.
  • Adding planning time for meetings.
  • Highlighting tasks as you complete them for an easy visual.
  • Reviewing your planner at the end of the day. Decide if unfinished items are still a priority or not. If yes, schedule them for another day.
  • Assessing your planner weekly. Evaluate each day: did you plan too many things that had to get moved?
  • Listing wins and losses for the week. (I keep track with the help of Darren Hardy’s goal-setting guide, Living Your Best Year Ever.)

Productivity Pitfall #2

Work time that doesn’t “work”

Think about how to best schedule your day according to your own personal or circadian rhythm. Set up daily time frames where you can work uninterrupted. Start with 60 minutes. Be sure to schedule “big brain” work for when your mind is the clearest. (I like to do “big brain” work first thing in the morning when there are fewer distractions.) For improved productivity, try:
  • Turning off your phone and putting it away.
  • Putting a “do not disturb” sign on your office door.
  • Closing the extra tabs on your computer.
  • Turning off email notification.
  • Scheduling something directly afterward: this deadline pressures you to get the work done

PRODUCTIVITY PITFALL #3

Distractions

Distractions can be huge productivity killers. Pay attention to what your distractions are and tackle them one by one by using 17th century scientist Francis Bacon’s “scientific method”: observe, ask questions, make a hypothesis, experiment, analyze data, and communicate results. Here’s an example:

Observe. You are working in blocks of time but still don’t get your project done.

Research. Stop and consider whether those 20 text messages you received in your hour block distracted you from your work.

Change a variable. For the next block of time, put your turned-off phone in your desk drawer.

Result. At the end of this block you realize that you were much more focused—not only did you complete the project, but it is some of your best work. 

Most important: don’t get discouraged if you get off track. When that happens to me, I take time to reflect on my week. In my planner, completed tasks are marked in green; orange highlights tasks moved to another day. For weeks when I see too much orange, I will tally those uncompleted tasks and write the number on my planner. That next Sunday when I set out to plan the week, I look at the number: it motivates me to work one percent better—to achieve more “green” and less “orange.”

Even when everything is clicking and going smoothly, you want to ask yourself: “What would 1 percent better be?” Focusing on that next small step helps you make more intentional decisions with your work and productivity. And remember to look back on your progress! Give yourself credit for each milestone you pass on the way to your goal.

 

In a report published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, University of Kansas Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jeffrey Hall studied how people develop close connections. He learned that it takes about 50 hours of time between two people to move from acquaintance to casual friend, 90 hours to go from acquaintance to simple friend status, and more than 200 hours before you consider someone your close friend. So, if we take that information and relate it to the time we spend with our staff, we can see how important it is to invest time in relationships! You want to build stronger connections with your team and the effort you make matters. As Aristotle said:

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit."

Having a strong connection with the people you work with is essential when you run a small business. While you may not become close friends with everyone on your team, developing a friendly rapport is key. In this article, we’re going to explore 10 ideas you can implement to build meaningful bonds with the people who work for you, including steps you can take to increase their trust.

Be approachable

Always show your people that you are happy to see them by giving them a warm greeting. We get so busy that it can be easy to give a quick wave and move on. Slow down and use those moments to ask about their weekend or tell them you’re happy to see them. Make small  connections so you can build a relationship.

Give compliments

Be sure to give your staff compliments that are genuine and authentic. Everyone likes to hear a nice compliment and be noticed, whether it’s because you love their new shoes, or you noticed that they went the extra mile in the classroom yesterday.

FIND COMMONALITY

People like to feel like they are similar to you. For example at my studio, there are a few staff members that love Disney like I do, and we bond over all things Disney. It makes it fun to share stories and I find that the more we share, the stronger our connection is.

Be a good listener

Really hear someone when they are talking to you. Be attentive and put down your phone or step away from your computer. Giving them your full attention shows you care.

Spend time together

Plan time throughout the year to spend time outside of work as a team, as well as with each person individually. Regular coffee runs or group activities can help foster connections by allowing everyone to relax outside of their regular work environment. You could also consider volunteering for a local cause as a group.

Open up and share something personal

Don’t be afraid to show some vulnerability. Start by sharing something small like a worry or a fear. This could be something that you are anxious about that is coming up in your personal life. Opening up a bit of your personal self will show your team that you’re human, just like them.

Be open to receiving feedback

As a studio owner, receiving feedback from your team can be tough, but it also helps you grow and improve your leadership. Solicit feedback from your staff by surveying them or asking directly. And remember that giving feedback to your boss takes courage! Thank them for their honesty and kindness.

Enjoy a meal together

There is something special about sharing a meal with your staff. Create bonding time with them by asking what types of food and drink they like, or specific restaurants they enjoy. When your team shares a meal, members connect on a new level. They let their guards down and share more personal stories. Consider putting this on your calendar a few times each year, perhaps at the holidays or following performance times.

Have quality conversations

What makes a quality conversation? Balance and positivity! Help steer conversations in that direction by contributing, listening, and asking questions in equal measure.

Be yourself

Authenticity goes a long way toward cementing strong bonds. Studies show that we like those who we know like us: You can feel it when someone likes you! On the other hand, you can also feel it when someone doesn’t like you or is unsure about how they feel. Do small acts of kindness to let your staff know you care.

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