At the Office
In order to improve your productivity at the office, consider some of the following tips:
- Catch yourself procrastinating and keep tabs on the triggers. Is it a particular type of project or task that sets you
off? Is it a particular time of day? Is it a particular client? Is it an overly chatty colleague who interrupts you? Do you
receive frequent personal calls at work? Is it your habit to take a long lunch? Do you arrive late and stay late? Does
perfectionism paralyze you? Have you worked on the same paragraph for half an hour? Understanding how you
spend your time each day can help you manage your time better. Enlist your assistant to help you keep track of your
hours. Again, reward yourself for overcoming the urge to procrastinate … but only after you have completed the project.
- Delegate. Are you one of those persons who feels they have to do everything themselves? Is it possible for you to
delegate some of your work to others? Are you busy taking on tasks that could be better handled by technology or
service providers?
- Prioritize. Review your work activities and obligations and determine which are necessary and which are not. If you
are on committee that has not generated any work or benefit for you, consider resigning. Is there a client that requires
you to do extensive travelling but that does not generate significant revenues. Can you transition this client to another
junior lawyer? Is your schedule filled with networking functions? Can you reduce the number of functions and focus
on one or two that have been helpful to you in the past? Your schedule should be prioritized according to the following
criteria: Does the work generate revenue, Is the revenue profitable?, Does the client pay on time?, Does the activity or
meeting add value to my practice? Is the trip necessary or can we try a conference call or a video conference? Can I
delegate all or part of the project to someone else?
- Commit to leaving on time one or two days per week. As you schedule appointments and trips, avoid taking trips on
these days or making appointments late in the day.
- Clear your desk and office space at regular intervals. You will feel less overwhelmed if you clear out old files and
projects that no longer require your attention. If you do not have the time to do so, engage an assistant, paralegal or
file clerk to help you. Schedule a time to do it and make it a periodic event.
At home
- Hire Help. Consider hiring help with your household management. Take advantage of home delivery services.
- Share the burden. Team up with your spouse and your children's friends' parents to rotate chauffeuring the kids
around during the week and on weekends.
- Clear your schedule. Do not overly commit yourself with appointments and activities that are not truly important to you
and your family.
- Leave the Office at the Office. Make sure you leave the office worries and concerns where they belong. Create a
ritual designed to remind you that your are now at home and are no longer practicing law. Argumentative skills may
work well at the office but not at home with friends and family.
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