January 27, 2026

Productivity Hacks for Improving Professional Performance

We all have our days where everything runs smoothly, and we achieve an outstanding amount of work. We also have our days where it seems that nothing is going our way. Despite our desire to perform flawlessly every day, there will always be days where we are not performing as well as we should be. If you’re dealing with one of these days, here are some productivity hacks to improve your professional performance.

 

Clear Your Plate

stress, sales, business, exhaustion

Believe it or not, the problem you are having is most likely due to an excess of tasks. When we have too many things to do, we become overwhelmed and stressed, which makes us want to procrastinate and avoid our work rather than tackle it. For example, you can outsource some of your marketing tasks to specialists. Simplify your to-do list and only focus on the things that you must get done today. With less on your plate, you can focus and utilize your energy effectively.

 

Take Breaks

professional young

We live in a busy society that glorifies people who can work all day without resting. Unfortunately, this is not how our bodies and minds function. Instead of forcing yourself to work for hours on end, give yourself a break when you finish a major task. This will give your mind time to rest and energize before taking on the next big project.

 

Batch Tasks Together

It can be distracting to go back and forth between similar items. For example, let’s imagine that you have to write a few emails, tackle a project that is coming due, and then write another email later on. Breaking your focus by separating tasks like this is sure to ruin your productivity. Batch similar tasks together and accomplish them all at once to get them out of the way. Using this method, you will get all of your emails out of the way and you will have an easier time devoting your focus to your project later.

 

Boost Your Energy

office team

Sometimes, our slow performance is because of our energy levels. If this is the case, consider taking more caffeine throughout the day or even nootropics. According to MindLab, nootropics encompass “a huge variety of different compounds, including simple things like vitamins and minerals, as well as herbal extracts and even some synthetic substances. Most specifically, they’re supplements which improve things like brain power, focus, memory, and reaction time.”
The most important thing to remember is that bad days will pass, and that’s good news. As a hard-working professional, you need to bring your “A” game every day. For more tips about improving performance, schedule your coaching session with Shannon today!

How to Make Your Team Feel Like an “Office Family”

How to Make Your Team Feel Like an "Office Family"

You spend at least 8 hours every day at the office. You work with them, chat with them, eat lunch with them, and more — they’re basically your family away from home. But just like any family, creating an environment where these people actually feel like family takes effort. You need to have a shared sense of purpose that everyone is striving to achieve. If you’re feeling stumped, here are some ways to get started:

Foster Productive Open Dialogue

Part of building a team is being able to communicate effectively with one another. This means that all members of the team need to contribute to achieve success. Evaluating employees’ communication skills first can help you determine areas of weakness that may need training. There is a difference between talking to fill the silence and engaging in meaningful conversation. Productive dialogue involves the give and take of ideas. When dealing with hurt feelings, modifiers need to be added to the conversation. This means that one person states how the other person made them feel without laying blame for the situation.

Establish Rules for Interactions

Just as in a family, there must be rules that lay out ways to have positive interactions with each other. There also needs to be clear avenues for how to address grievances. You want your team to feel as though they’re valued. Everyone has something different that they can contribute to the team. Having ground rules can make these interactions more productive for the entire workplace.

Participate in Team Building Workshops

Team building workshops are a good way to get everyone on board. It’s most effective if you do this by signing up for structured courses. These programs are designed to engage everyone that attends, often involving group activities. The point of the activity is so that your team can learn how to work together to achieve a goal. The instructor can observe the interactions and make suggestions to correct behavioral problems. After the workshop, teams often experience “improved productivity, greater bottom-line results, and more quickly attain organizational goals” (CMOE Corporate Team Building Workshops).

Encourage Active Listening

Active listening is a skill that doesn’t always come naturally, but it can be learned. Those that practice active listening are more likely to be successful at work. This means listening to what the other person is saying before formulating your response. Repeat back what you think you heard. This way there won’t be any misunderstandings. This can lead to a more harmonious workplace and can also foster an environment of respect and trust.


Even the best technology and business models can’t succeed with successful relationships (Forbes). Having good workplace dynamics improves productivity, employee morale, and the quality of work produced. A large part of this involves communication. In order for your team to be successful, pretend you’re a family and work together.

We offer business and marketing consulting to increase revenues, develop a high performance team, and avoid costly mistakes. Book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session with Shannon today!

Happy New Year – Living Your Life Purpose in 2017

lifeofpurposeIt’s this time of the new year we set intentions for the year ahead. Often they are in regards to something we believe we should quit or something we feel we should begin or do more of. Sometimes we set specific targets we want to achieve, items we hope to acquire and events we want to attend. While this “Resolution Making” is better than not setting any goals or making any plans, they miss the opportunity to create significant lasting change towards a more fulfilling, abundant and joyful life.

With so many articles, blogs, and information about this time of year, it can be overwhelming to know what’s best. Many times people have become frustrated, so they move away from resolutions or setting goals. Yet it is the pause and review that can provide so much clarity.

I believe everything has an ending, and when we take time for reflection and closure, we can begin our next steps with inspiration and a new vision. This applies to relationships, projects, businesses, and everything we interact with or create.

Over the last 20 years I have been inspired to take this time to review, reflect, reset, and then create intentions for the New Year.

I would love to share what that process looks like for me in the hope of inspiring you to create your own year-end ritual or celebration.

Over the years I have worked with different modalities to create an intentional year, such as create vision boards, be a part of burning bowl ceremonies, writing future letters to myself, and so much more. I love all of this stuff!! My favorite things to do are rituals that involve family or community. This holds a greater level of accountability and sense of support.

Many of these are experiences that look to the future and I have discovered that closing out my year has a greater impact on creating an intentional new year.

Every year end I spend time reading Dan Millman’s book, The Life You Were Born to Live – Finding Your Life Purpose. Dan is the author of numerous best-selling books, including the one that he is most well known for, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. In Dan’s book about life purpose, he has a unique way to look at your life based on your birth date and numerology. At first I was skeptical; however, as I started reading I ended up in tears that someone would understand my life, my strengths, and personal challenges so clearly. It literally describes me and my life to a T. The best part was that it offered a roadmap to navigate through business, life, and relationships with more grace and ease from understanding my life purpose.

So at year end, using Dan Millman’s book, I look at areas of my life that I want to strengthen for the year to come and pick one or two key areas to focus on. I also acknowledge the growth from the prior year’s intention.

It also important to celebrate successes!! Success Breeds Success!

So I make a list of what milestones and successes were accomplished in my life. It is key to look at all areas like personal development and growth. This list can not be too big, so acknowledging the small stuff can make a big impact.

Then I move into creating an intentional year which is a process I learned from one of the most powerful coaches I have ever worked with over 10 years ago. This process allows me to look beyond the “stuff” and more into the type of individual I want to BE. It is beneficial as a stand-alone; however, it brings me deeper into the work of Dan Millman’s above. It touches so many areas of our lives that can be easily overlooked.

I am excited to share that I will be giving this simple 2-page process away to everyone that joins us for Mastermind Monday’s Google Hangout. You can register and get the reply too!

So to recap the three key tools that I find fun and inspirational at the end or very beginning of the year (or quarter)…..

  1. Review my personal birth date in The Life You Were Born to Live – Finding Your Life Purpose book by Dan Millman
  2. Create a list of milestones and successes – acknowledge both big and small accomplishments
  3. Design a plan for my intentional year

This year has been one full of great accomplishments and transformations. From moving into a new home, developing an App for the Business Acceleration Summit, and having a major surgery after years of fear, this past year has been in full motion.

This year I am committed to getting more organized, going on more dates with my husband, then growing my daily physical and spiritual practice. I have been so busy focused on being a new mom again to my now-three-year-old Ryan and building my business these last few years, that it is time to focus on these other areas of my life.

Please feel free to share your New Year’s rituals, Goals, or Successes you want to celebrate. I would love to hear them!

Counting my blessings and wishing you more. Hope you enjoy the New Year in store. Have a joyous New Year, my dear friend!

To your business & life success,
shannonsignature

 

 

 

P.S. To register our Mastermind hangout and access “Creating Your Intentional Year” go to www.BusinessAccelerationSummit.com