The Science of Observation: Maximizing Productivity Through Mindful Awareness
Marilyn Vos Savant said, “To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”
Studies have shown that self-observation of daily activities can boost productivity by up to 18%. By tracking one’s day, you will be surprised that you spend more than 4 Hrs of your day on Non-Value-added activities. ( I hope you have started using the daily planner that I shared in the earlier email)
a survey conducted by Harvard Business Review found that 90% of high-performing leaders possess strong observation skills.
1. Try and observe your day and write it down. You will get unique insights.
2. You can try it for the week and share your experience with me.
Effective leaders observe their team members, work environment, and processes, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement. This allows them to make informed decisions and lead their team toward achieving their goals.
Being a good leader requires being a good observer. Being a good observer is more than just self-awareness.
Observing oneself is essential, but observing others provides another angle to absorb. Together, observing self and others creates richer insights to use.
Observation gives you the capability to understand, evaluate and analyze in silence. It’s the most crucial part of science as well. We are all surrounded by people, and when we observe, we can understand so many facts which are not discussed or shared.
Ever experienced happiness, gratitude, and a smile on someone’s face when you offered help just by observing – isn’t that a fantastic feeling 😊
Have you seen your kids observe and learn much faster than expected?
Similarly, your team members observe and implement your activity without being taught – that is productivity by observation.
8 Simple Tips to improve your observations
1. Record what you observe, even the sound and smell
2. Be inquisitive
3. Sit quietly for a while during the day
4. Try something new; it will make you more vigilant
5. Slow down and look outwards
6. Be interested to learn more about your subjects
7. Enjoy what you see and feel
8. Cut out distractions and concentrate
