So much has been written about "increased productivity," it has almost b​ecome a cliché. In the current economic downturn, productivity means doing more with less: less money coming in to a corporation has a tendency to translate into fewer people, fewer offices and, with mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies, fewer companies. Thus, the term "productivity" has taken on a very negative connotation for many: "this is just another way for corporate America to downsize and take away my job." Unfortunately, there is a lot of truth in that assertion.


However, there is a very positive aspect to personal productivity. That is the basis behind the naming of TAG for Productivity.

 

TAG is an acronym for the three critical aspects of increased productivity:

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• Target

• Analyze​

• Goal Oriented Activities



Let's take them one at a time.
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Target. Long before there was Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, and other notable golf coaches, there was a small scholarly looking man by the name of Harvey Penick. He was a golf coach, instructor, and mentor for a host of all time golf greats including such Hall of Famers as Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Betsey Rawls and dozens of others. One of the first lessons he gave to each of his students was this: ” Take dead aim!”

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What did he mean by that? He told his students never to aim for the green, or  "somewhere down the fairway" but rather exactly where you wanted the ball to go. Being absolutely clear on what you wanted to accomplish was the first step in making your desire a reality. He advocated that "once you address the ball, hitting it to the desired target must be the only thing in your life. Allow no negative thoughts, and focus on your goal."  

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So it is in the world of business and especially in the area of employment. It's so difficult to achieve success in any endeavor if you can't crisply and concisely define exactly what success means to you. For example, when looking for a job, you have a couple of different directions to take. You can say things like, “well, I think I might like something in sales, marketing, maybe research, and, oh, if they have an opening for president, I would consider that as well.”

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I have found that the people that succeed are those who can state exactly what they want and, as Harvey Penick said, “Take dead aim!"



Analyze. Once you know what your target or goal is, that's when the work really starts. You begin with such questions as:



• How much do I really know about this job?

• What do I see as the major pluses of this job?

• What are the areas of concern for me?

• How well do my abilities line up with the requirements for this job?

• What work do I have to do to fill out my skill set so that I will be a viable candidate?

• And so on.

Goal Oriented Activities. Okay, you've determined your target; you have done your analysis of things that must be done, and now its time to do it. Line up your activities, prioritize and then execute.



The interesting thing about this entire approach is that rather than going from steps one to three, you can start anywhere. You may have already begun some activities. Well, those activities have perhaps led you to some serious thoughts about what your target is. This in turn allows you to analyze a little more deeply as outlined above and continue with the process. It really isn't brain surgery. Rather, it's just a method to help you lay out a course and then follow that course regularly, predictably and systematically.



The “Afterburner Gasp”



This is another aspect of the acronym ​TAG. An afterburner is a component on a jet airplane engine designed to provide an increase in thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff and for combat situations. Pilots love to talk about the way they are slammed back into their seats when the afterburner kicks in and the plane races for the sky. This is sometimes referred to as the “Afterburner Gasp”, and is one of the highlights of a pilot’s flying experience.



Though not quite as dramatic, this is what an increase in productivity can do for you while you're in the midst of a worthwhile endeavor. I think we've all experienced this at one time or another in our lives. We may be slogging through a very difficult project and all the sudden, for whatever reason, the pieces come together and what formally was burdensome and difficult suddenly becomes easy and actually enjoyable. This is the whole aim of TAG for Productivity. That's what our organization lives for in Outplacement, Employee Coaching, Job Change Coaching, and Personal Improvement Coaching.



We look forward to helping you in any of these areas and, hopefully, providing that “Afterburner Gasp” to your endeavors.

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