(CNW) Why tackle today what can be put off until Tuesday? In a new survey, 53 percent of executives said Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for employees, followed by Wednesday at 19 percent. Monday followed close behind, but appears to be losing favour.
Only 18 percent of respondents ranked Monday as the most
productive day of the week, compared to 21 percent surveyed in
2001.
The poll includes responses from 100 senior executives --
including those from human resources, finance and marketing
departments. It was conducted by an independent research firm
and developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest
specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance
and bookkeeping professionals.
Executives were asked, "In your opinion, on which day of
the week are employees generally most productive?" Their
responses:
2007 2001
Monday............................
18% 21%
Tuesday...........................
53% 54%
Wednesday......................... 19%
15%
Thursday..........................
3% 2%
Friday............................
2% 2%
Don't know/no answer..........5% 6%
----
----
100% 100%
"In addition to serving as a 'catch-up' day after the weekend, Monday is when many regularly scheduled meetings occur, which can decrease the time available to complete tasks," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies(R) (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "Many view Tuesday as an opportunity to focus their efforts and establish momentum for the rest of the week."
Accountemps offers the following advice for maintaining a high level of productivity throughout the entire week:
- Make a plan. Spend 10 to 15 minutes at the
beginning of each day mapping out your desired accomplishments.
Prioritize the tasks that are most important to the business.
- Sharpen your focus. People are more productive
when working for an extended period in the same mental mode, as
opposed to changing gears frequently. Try to cluster tasks that
require similar effort or resources in the same time frame.
- Limit distractions. It can be tempting to review
e-mail each time a message arrives. However, unless your job
requires an immediate response, it's often best to check
your inbox periodically throughout the day.
- Don't delay. Even peak performers
occasionally put off working on unpleasant or overwhelming
assignments. One effective way to overcome procrastination is
to break a project into smaller, more manageable tasks.
- Recharge. Taking short breaks throughout the day
can help you replenish your energy and fight fatigue.
