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Transform Your Business with These Powerful ChatGPT Prompts for 2024

n the fast-paced world of 2024, leveraging AI for business growth has never been more essential. ChatGPT, an advanced AI language model, offers an array of prompts that can help you kickstart various business ventures and side hustles. If you’re looking to get rich quick, these 7 insane ChatGPT prompts could be your golden ticket. Let’s dive into how you can use these prompts and tools to create successful businesses.

7. AI Graphic Design Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to launch a graphic design business that incorporates AI technologies. Provide detailed advice and a step-by-step action plan covering these key areas: Business concept and market analysis, business structure and legal, AI technology and integration tools, service offerings and portfolio development, pricing strategy and financial planning, marketing and client acquisition, product management and workflow, quality control and client feedback, and at last scaling and business growth.”

Getting Started: Launching an AI-powered graphic design business involves integrating advanced tools like Canva and Miro. Canva, known for its user-friendly interface, can be combined with AI-driven design suggestions to enhance creativity. Miro offers collaborative brainstorming and visual content creation, essential for developing innovative designs.

Key Steps:

  1. Business Concept and Market Analysis: Understand the demand for AI-integrated graphic design services.
  2. AI Technology Integration: Utilize tools like Canva and Miro to streamline design processes.
  3. Marketing and Client Acquisition: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn and Medium to reach potential clients and showcase your portfolio.

6. Affiliate Marketing Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to create an affiliate marketing blog. I need a complete guide that covers all the essential aspects, strategies, and best practices for launching and growing an affiliate marketing blog. Provide in-depth information and actionable steps on the following key areas: Niche selection and market analysis, blog setup and platform optimization, content strategy and creation, affiliate partnership and monetization, traffic generation and audience building, performance tracking and analytics, scaling and growth strategies, and at last long-term sustainability and adaptation.”

Getting Started: Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative side hustle if done right. Tools like Notion-AI and Google Docs can help in organizing your content strategy and streamlining the creation process.

Key Steps:

  1. Niche Selection and Market Analysis: Identify profitable niches using tools like Google Trends.
  2. Content Strategy and Creation: Use Notion-AI for idea generation and Google Docs for drafting and editing.
  3. Traffic Generation: Implement SEO strategies and use LinkedIn for networking with other marketers.

5. Copywriting Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to start a business focused on AI-driven copywriting services. I need a complete blueprint covering the essential steps, strategies, and considerations for launching and growing this business successfully. Provide detailed guidance on the following aspects: Market analysis and business planning, technology and tools, service and portfolio development, client acquisition and sales strategies, operational workflow and quality control, and at last business model and pricing.”

Getting Started: AI tools like Quillbot can enhance your copywriting efficiency, making it easier to produce high-quality content quickly.

Key Steps:

  1. Market Analysis: Identify industries in need of quality copywriting services.
  2. Technology and Tools: Incorporate Quillbot for paraphrasing and improving content quality.
  3. Client Acquisition: Use LinkedIn and Medium to network and showcase your expertise.

4. Social Media Marketing Agency Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to start a social media marketing agency. I need a detailed plan that encompasses all critical elements of establishing and operating a successful agency in this field. Provide in-depth guidance on the following key areas: The business foundation and niche identification, service offerings, package development, building a team and resource management, and at last, client acquisition and relationship management.”

Getting Started: Social media marketing requires creativity and strategic planning. Tools like Canva for content creation and Notion for task management can be invaluable.

Key Steps:

  1. Niche Identification: Determine which industries you will serve.
  2. Service Offerings: Develop packages tailored to different business needs.
  3. Client Acquisition: Utilize LinkedIn and other social media platforms to attract clients.

3. Email Marketing Agency Prompt

Prompt: “I am in the process of establishing an email marketing agency. I need a detailed plan that covers all crucial components of creating and managing a thriving email marketing agency. Provide in-depth advice and strategies on the following key areas: Market analysis and defining services, the agency setup and legal considerations, building a skilled team, client acquisition and sales strategies, operational tools and technology, client onboarding and project management, performance measurement and analytics, and at last long-term growth and scaling the agency.”

Getting Started: Email marketing remains a powerful tool for businesses. SaneBox can help manage emails efficiently, ensuring that important client communications are not missed.

Key Steps:

  1. Market Analysis: Research businesses that can benefit from email marketing.
  2. Service Definition: Create service packages, including campaign creation and analytics.
  3. Client Onboarding: Use SaneBox to organize and streamline client communications.

2. YouTube Content Ideation and Planning Prompt

Prompt: “You are a creative consultant for a [NICHE] YouTuber. Based on their target audience of [TARGET AUDIENCE] and their previously successful themes of [previous successful themes], please generate five unique video content ideas and a brief script for all of them.”

Getting Started: Content creation for YouTube requires a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. Tools like Miro for brainstorming and Notion for planning can be extremely useful.

Key Steps:

  1. Content Ideas: Use Miro to brainstorm and map out content ideas visually.
  2. Script Writing: Draft scripts in Google Docs or Notion for easy collaboration.
  3. Execution: Plan the production schedule and optimize video SEO.

1. Detailed Podcast Topic Ideation Prompt

Prompt: “You are a podcaster using the [specific podcasting strategy model]. Your task is to create an episode plan for the upcoming episode titled [Episode Title]. This episode is aimed at [Target Audience]. The objectives for this episode are [Objective 1, Objective 2, Objective 3]. This episode should cover some key themes: [Theme 1, Theme 2, Theme 3]. Using the principles of the [specific podcasting strategy model], please create an episode plan including the following sections: a) Title: [Episode Title], b) Objectives: As stated above, c) Key Themes: As stated above, d) Episode Details: Detailed content ideas covering the objectives and key themes, e) Engagement Suggestions: Innovative ideas to engage your listeners during and after the episode, f) Evaluation Methods: Methods to assess the reception and impact of the episode.”

Getting Started: Podcasting is a growing field with a lot of potential. Using tools like Notion for planning and organization can streamline the process.

Key Steps:

  1. Episode Planning: Use Notion to outline and organize episode content.
  2. Content Creation: Draft scripts and detailed notes in Google Docs.
  3. Engagement: Implement strategies to engage listeners and evaluate episode performance.

Tools Mentioned

  • Miro: A visual content creation tool that offers a freemium pricing model. Ideal for brainstorming and collaborative planning. Website
  • Notion: An all-in-one productivity and task management tool, priced at $8/month for an annual subscription. Website
  • Canva: A popular graphic design tool that integrates AI suggestions to enhance creativity.
  • Quillbot: An AI tool for paraphrasing and improving the quality of copywriting.
  • SaneBox: A tool to manage and organize emails efficiently.

FAQs

How to prompt ChatGPT for business? To prompt ChatGPT for business, clearly state your business idea and the specific information you need. For example, “I am planning to launch a graphic design business that incorporates AI technologies. Provide detailed advice on business structure, AI integration, and client acquisition.”

What is the prompt for generating business ideas in ChatGPT? For generating business ideas, use a prompt like, “Generate innovative business ideas that leverage AI technologies for the year 2024, focusing on emerging trends and market needs.”

How to start your business with ChatGPT? Starting your business with ChatGPT involves using it for market analysis, business planning, and strategic advice. Begin by asking ChatGPT for a step-by-step guide tailored to your specific business idea, covering aspects like market research, legal considerations, and client acquisition strategies.

ChatGPT offers a wealth of opportunities to kickstart your business ventures in 2024. By utilizing these 7 insane prompts, along with powerful AI tools like Canva, Notion, and Quillbot, you can streamline your processes and achieve remarkable growth. Whether you’re diving into affiliate marketing, social media management, or launching an AI-driven graphic design business, ChatGPT can be your ultimate guide. Start leveraging these insights today and watch your business soar!

By 

Sourced from Grey Journal

By

Transform Your Business with These Powerful ChatGPT Prompts for 2024

In the fast-paced world of 2024, leveraging AI for business growth has never been more essential. ChatGPT, an advanced AI language model, offers an array of prompts that can help you kickstart various business ventures and side hustles. If you’re looking to get rich quick, these 7 insane ChatGPT prompts could be your golden ticket. Let’s dive into how you can use these prompts and tools to create successful businesses.

7. AI Graphic Design Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to launch a graphic design business that incorporates AI technologies. Provide detailed advice and a step-by-step action plan covering these key areas: Business concept and market analysis, business structure and legal, AI technology and integration tools, service offerings and portfolio development, pricing strategy and financial planning, marketing and client acquisition, product management and workflow, quality control and client feedback, and at last scaling and business growth.”

Getting Started: Launching an AI-powered graphic design business involves integrating advanced tools like Canva and Miro. Canva, known for its user-friendly interface, can be combined with AI-driven design suggestions to enhance creativity. Miro offers collaborative brainstorming and visual content creation, essential for developing innovative designs.

Key Steps:

  1. Business Concept and Market Analysis: Understand the demand for AI-integrated graphic design services.
  2. AI Technology Integration: Utilize tools like Canva and Miro to streamline design processes.
  3. Marketing and Client Acquisition: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn and Medium to reach potential clients and showcase your portfolio.

6. Affiliate Marketing Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to create an affiliate marketing blog. I need a complete guide that covers all the essential aspects, strategies, and best practices for launching and growing an affiliate marketing blog. Provide in-depth information and actionable steps on the following key areas: Niche selection and market analysis, blog setup and platform optimization, content strategy and creation, affiliate partnership and monetization, traffic generation and audience building, performance tracking and analytics, scaling and growth strategies, and at last long-term sustainability and adaptation.”

Getting Started: Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative side hustle if done right. Tools like Notion-AI and Google Docs can help in organizing your content strategy and streamlining the creation process.

Key Steps:

  1. Niche Selection and Market Analysis: Identify profitable niches using tools like Google Trends.
  2. Content Strategy and Creation: Use Notion-AI for idea generation and Google Docs for drafting and editing.
  3. Traffic Generation: Implement SEO strategies and use LinkedIn for networking with other marketers.

5. Copywriting Business Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to start a business focused on AI-driven copywriting services. I need a complete blueprint covering the essential steps, strategies, and considerations for launching and growing this business successfully. Provide detailed guidance on the following aspects: Market analysis and business planning, technology and tools, service and portfolio development, client acquisition and sales strategies, operational workflow and quality control, and at last business model and pricing.”

Getting Started: AI tools like Quillbot can enhance your copywriting efficiency, making it easier to produce high-quality content quickly.

Key Steps:

  1. Market Analysis: Identify industries in need of quality copywriting services.
  2. Technology and Tools: Incorporate Quillbot for paraphrasing and improving content quality.
  3. Client Acquisition: Use LinkedIn and Medium to network and showcase your expertise.

4. Social Media Marketing Agency Prompt

Prompt: “I am planning to start a social media marketing agency. I need a detailed plan that encompasses all critical elements of establishing and operating a successful agency in this field. Provide in-depth guidance on the following key areas: The business foundation and niche identification, service offerings, package development, building a team and resource management, and at last, client acquisition and relationship management.”

Getting Started: Social media marketing requires creativity and strategic planning. Tools like Canva for content creation and Notion for task management can be invaluable.

Key Steps:

  1. Niche Identification: Determine which industries you will serve.
  2. Service Offerings: Develop packages tailored to different business needs.
  3. Client Acquisition: Utilize LinkedIn and other social media platforms to attract clients.

3. Email Marketing Agency Prompt

Prompt: “I am in the process of establishing an email marketing agency. I need a detailed plan that covers all crucial components of creating and managing a thriving email marketing agency. Provide in-depth advice and strategies on the following key areas: Market analysis and defining services, the agency setup and legal considerations, building a skilled team, client acquisition and sales strategies, operational tools and technology, client onboarding and project management, performance measurement and analytics, and at last long-term growth and scaling the agency.”

Getting Started: Email marketing remains a powerful tool for businesses. SaneBox can help manage emails efficiently, ensuring that important client communications are not missed.

Key Steps:

  1. Market Analysis: Research businesses that can benefit from email marketing.
  2. Service Definition: Create service packages, including campaign creation and analytics.
  3. Client Onboarding: Use SaneBox to organize and streamline client communications.

2. YouTube Content Ideation and Planning Prompt

Prompt: “You are a creative consultant for a [NICHE] YouTuber. Based on their target audience of [TARGET AUDIENCE] and their previously successful themes of [previous successful themes], please generate five unique video content ideas and a brief script for all of them.”

Getting Started: Content creation for YouTube requires a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. Tools like Miro for brainstorming and Notion for planning can be extremely useful.

Key Steps:

  1. Content Ideas: Use Miro to brainstorm and map out content ideas visually.
  2. Script Writing: Draft scripts in Google Docs or Notion for easy collaboration.
  3. Execution: Plan the production schedule and optimize video SEO.

1. Detailed Podcast Topic Ideation Prompt

Prompt: “You are a podcaster using the [specific podcasting strategy model]. Your task is to create an episode plan for the upcoming episode titled [Episode Title]. This episode is aimed at [Target Audience]. The objectives for this episode are [Objective 1, Objective 2, Objective 3]. This episode should cover some key themes: [Theme 1, Theme 2, Theme 3]. Using the principles of the [specific podcasting strategy model], please create an episode plan including the following sections: a) Title: [Episode Title], b) Objectives: As stated above, c) Key Themes: As stated above, d) Episode Details: Detailed content ideas covering the objectives and key themes, e) Engagement Suggestions: Innovative ideas to engage your listeners during and after the episode, f) Evaluation Methods: Methods to assess the reception and impact of the episode.”

Getting Started: Podcasting is a growing field with a lot of potential. Using tools like Notion for planning and organization can streamline the process.

Key Steps:

  1. Episode Planning: Use Notion to outline and organize episode content.
  2. Content Creation: Draft scripts and detailed notes in Google Docs.
  3. Engagement: Implement strategies to engage listeners and evaluate episode performance.

Tools Mentioned

  • Miro: A visual content creation tool that offers a freemium pricing model. Ideal for brainstorming and collaborative planning. Website
  • Notion: An all-in-one productivity and task management tool, priced at $8/month for an annual subscription. Website
  • Canva: A popular graphic design tool that integrates AI suggestions to enhance creativity.
  • Quillbot: An AI tool for paraphrasing and improving the quality of copywriting.
  • SaneBox: A tool to manage and organize emails efficiently.

FAQs

How to prompt ChatGPT for business? To prompt ChatGPT for business, clearly state your business idea and the specific information you need. For example, “I am planning to launch a graphic design business that incorporates AI technologies. Provide detailed advice on business structure, AI integration, and client acquisition.”

What is the prompt for generating business ideas in ChatGPT? For generating business ideas, use a prompt like, “Generate innovative business ideas that leverage AI technologies for the year 2024, focusing on emerging trends and market needs.”

How to start your business with ChatGPT? Starting your business with ChatGPT involves using it for market analysis, business planning, and strategic advice. Begin by asking ChatGPT for a step-by-step guide tailored to your specific business idea, covering aspects like market research, legal considerations, and client acquisition strategies.

ChatGPT offers a wealth of opportunities to kickstart your business ventures in 2024. By utilizing these 7 insane prompts, along with powerful AI tools like Canva, Notion, and Quillbot, you can streamline your processes and achieve remarkable growth. Whether you’re diving into affiliate marketing, social media management, or launching an AI-driven graphic design business, ChatGPT can be your ultimate guide. Start leveraging these insights today and watch your business soar!

By

Sourced from GREY JOURNAL

 

Reader Interactions

 

By Sonia Simone

Sonia Simone was a founding partner of Copyblogger Media. These days, she helps content writers become fiercely creative and insanely productive. Check out her brand-new free report on 7 Things Prolific Writers Do Differently — written especially for content writers.

Sourced from copyblogger

Compared to the beginning of the 21st century, you’ve got plenty more ways to keep in touch with your audience. For example, social media has boomed, and podcasting has become incredibly popular. But despite all that, email marketing remains one of the best ways to engage with your audience.

Creating an email marketing list has several advantages; perhaps the biggest is that you can talk directly to people that have permitted you to do so. On top of that, you can promote any new products or services you release. Mailchimp is one of the best tools for managing email marketing campaigns. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? That’s what we’ll discuss today.

What Is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is an email marketing platform that has been around since 2001. Since then, it has grown into one of the most popular tools for managing mail campaigns on the web. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is well-known for its quirky branding and marketing campaigns.

Today, Mailchimp is owned by Intuit—which trades publicly, and bought the company for $12 billion in 2021. Mailchimp has more than two million monthly active users and over 13 million in total. The company generates well over $500 million in annual revenue.

How Much Does Mailchimp Cost?

Mailchimp has a wide selection of pricing plans available, and the amount you pay will depend on multiple factors. Pricing varies depending on the number of email subscribers you have, and you’ll also need to consider the service you want to use.

If you have fewer than 500 contacts in your email list, you can use Mailchimp for free. The free version allows you to send up to 2,500 monthly emails, and you can benefit from multiple third-party integrations. On top of that, you will also find an easy-to-use email creation tool.

Mailchimp has three paid tiers, too. If you have fewer than 500 contacts, you can get the Essentials subscription for $11 per month. You can add up to three users to this plan, send as many as 5,000 emails, and have up to 50,000 people in your contacts.

Mailchimp Pricing Plans Screenshot

You can also use Mailchimp Standard, which costs $29 per month—and this is good for up to 100,000 contacts. Meanwhile, Premium—which gives you unlimited contacts and allows you to send up to 150,000 emails per month—costs $299 per month. Note that all of the above prices increase as your subscribers rise. You will also need to pay additional fees if you exceed your monthly allowance.

Does Mailchimp Have Third-Party App Integrations?

Regardless of whether you’re a creator or running a full-scale business, you will probably use multiple apps. These could range from communications tools like Slack to note-taking apps such as Notion or OneNote.

To reduce the amount of strain you place on your brain, you’ll ideally want to keep all your apps in one place. And with Mailchimp, you have the opportunity to do precisely that. Mailchimp lets you integrate multiple third-party apps, including:

  • Shopify
  • Stripe
  • Zapier

You can also sync your contacts from multiple places elsewhere, including Salesforce and Squarespace.

Can You Use Mailchimp on Different Devices?

If you don’t want to limit managing your email marketing campaigns to your computer, knowing where else you can use Mailchimp is a good idea. For users with Apple devices, you can download an app for your iPhone or iPad. Mailchimp also has an app for Android users.

Download: Mailchimp for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

What Can You Do With Mailchimp?

Now that we’ve discussed more about what Mailchimp is, let’s look at what you can do with the platform. In the sections below, we’ll mention the main things that Mailchimp is useful for.

1. Manage Subscription Lists

As your mailing list grows, you’ll want to manage your subscriptions—especially when you’ve already seen that Mailchimp can get expensive. Fortunately, managing your contacts in Mailchimp requires little effort. When using Mailchimp, you can easily add or remove people from your subscription list.

To get rid of contacts, go to Audience > All contacts > Manage contacts. Then, select Unsubscribe addresses from the dropdown menu. Type the users you want to unsubscribe from your list before selecting the Unsubscribe button. You can also use Mailchimp to manage subscriber preferences, import contacts, and add new subscribers. The app also lets you manage messages you receive from others.

2. Create Campaigns

One of the main reasons that people use Mailchimp is to create email campaigns. And if you want to produce messages, you don’t need to have experience in coding or graphic design; everything is straightforward. In Mailchimp, you can create both emails and landing pages. With both, you’ve got a good selection of customization options—including the ability to upload your own images and logos.

You can also use Mailchimp to make embedded forms. To access all of these, go to Create in the top left-hand corner—before choosing the form of media you’d like to begin making. When using Mailchimp, you can also use the Creative Assistant to help you produce better campaigns with minimal effort.

3. Track Analytics

When you run an email marketing campaign, tracking success is crucial. And in Mailchimp, you’ve got a selection of tools to help you do precisely that. If you go to Campaigns > Email Analytics, you can discover the click-through rate of your emails. On top of that, you also have the ability to see how many users opened your message.

Mailchimp offers a couple of other handy analytics tools. For example, you can find out how much money you’ve made from each email. Moreover, you can find how many users unsubscribe from your messages.

4. Create and Automate Customer Journeys

As your business grows, you’ll want to automate as much of the manual stuff as possible. And if you use Mailchimp, you will find it much easier to do so. When you expand the Automations tab, you’ll find a wide selection of tools that will let you send welcome emails, order confirmations, and much more.

To use tools like sending emails, you will need to sign up for a paid subscription to Mailchimp. It’s something to keep in mind in your early days, as welcome emails are handy for engaging your audience from the get-go. You might also want to check out some of the best email template builders for freelancers.

Mailchimp: An Excellent Email Marketing Tool to Manage Your Audience

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly tool to manage your email marketing campaigns, you could do a lot worse than Mailchimp. The service offers plenty of features to get excited about, even if you only have a free plan.

When using Mailchimp, you can automate various communications with your audience. On top of that, you can easily create emails without needing to leave the app. With multi-device capabilities, too, you can keep track of everything on the go

By Danny Maiorca

Sourced from MUO

By Jerry Balworth

How can we increase productivity with your home office?

Whether you are working from home, or at the office, we can often find ourselves losing focus. Working 9-5 with only one break can feel overwhelming or monotonous. At times like these, we can feel ourselves slowing down. If you are working from home, you may feel that your lack of focus increases. Everyday distractions and having the pleasantries of your home at your fingertips can make focusing difficult.

home office

To increase productivity, we have to first look at our environment. Here are some easy ways to increase productivity at your home office.

Distractions

It goes without saying that a home office will have a considerable increase in distractions. Anything from family life, to your hobbies, can make you lose focus. Having a personal computer close by may result in idle browsing, or extended time looking at social media, decreasing productivity. Family life can also get in the way, usually with the little ones.

One of the easiest courses of action for this is to create a home office, separate from your personal computer or any distractions. This can help separate you from potential distractions and allow you to focus on your work.

Office layout and design

Picture your work office, what is it like? Most offices are kept clean and open, creating an environment that helps motivate employees. It’s no surprise that your surroundings can have a serious effect on your mood. Therefore, it’s so important to keep your office space clean and open. Don’t leave clutter around, and make sure it isn’t too cramped. Having a window and plants help with motivation as well.

You should also consider the furniture you have. Think about how it’s designed, is it ergonomic? You will be sat down most of the day, so having a comfortable chair and mouse is a must. You should also consider details like lighting. Lights can strain eyes or be off putting and distracting. In winter times, you will be using them a lot more, so make sure to find something which fits your office space perfectly.

Breaks

It might seem counterproductive but increasing short breaks may help with productivity and motivation in your home office. Our minds can only work so much until they start to drift. If you feel yourself drifting and losing focus, it might be time to take a short break. Go outside for a quick walk, or briefly check social media, do something to take your mind off things.

Whatever it may be, giving yourself 5 minutes every hour or so can really help lower stress. Taking a break allows the mind to rest and gather its thoughts, letting you tackle your work with renewed energy.

Health and mental wellbeing

If you are a social person, then working from home might not be for you. That being said, some offices may require you to work some days from home. On these days, it may feel difficult to get work done, especially if you are used to the social environment of an office. At times like these, it is important to keep communication up. Keep communicating with your team via Microsoft Teams or whatever communication software you may use. Keeping a dialogue going can help streamline work and make sure you don’t lose motivation from a lack of contact.

Conclusion

Working remotely can be challenging to those who aren’t used to it or enjoy working in an office. It can cause a lack of motivation and negatively affect productivity. By following these tips, you can hopefully see a boost in productivity when working from your home office.

By Jerry Balworth

Sourced from Talk Business

By

It’s Thursday morning and you have a report due on Friday. You start working on it, then realize that you have a meeting with your team. After the meeting, your coworker invites you to grab lunch. Your unfinished report is in the back of your mind during the entire lunch, and you are feeling anxious to get back to your desk and finish it. This psychological phenomenon is called the Zeigarnik effect.

What is the Zeigarnik effect?

Simply put, the Zeigarnik effect is the tendency to remember uncompleted tasks more than finished ones.

“The effect relates to four important workplace factors: motivation, learning, memory and task completion. In part, the effect is thought to be of evolutionary benefit, as our brains flag items that need to be completed–thus ensuring our survival,” explains Dr. Joseph Michelli, a psychologist, organizational consultant and New York Times #1 Bestselling Author who has authored 10 McGraw-Hill business books related to consumer behavior and customer experience excellence.

According to Michelli, the Zeigarnik effect is powerful because our perceptions and memory tend to fill-in gaps. “If I were to start to draw a circle but not finish it, your brain would likely perceive it as a completed circle. In essence, your brain works for perceptual closure,” he says. “If we want people to remember important concepts, we can frame those concepts in the form of questions or challenges, which pushes their brains to close the loop and keep the concept top of mind.”

In other words, the Zeigarnik effect causes you to have lingering thoughts about deliverables you have yet to finish because your brain is looking for closure.

How to leverage the Zeigarnik effect for productivity

Now that you are aware of the fact that there are cognitive and behavioral forces that influence your productivity and to-do list, you can leverage the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage. “Many people experience the intrusive thoughts that come with an unfinished or interrupted task, but there are many personal benefits to be gained if individuals learn to effectively channel these thoughts and the internal desire to get the job done,” according to a GoodTherapy article.

So the first thing you want to do is avoid procrastination, as it will only cause you mental distress and affect your productivity negatively. “In a practical sense, the Zeigarnik effect explains why it’s best not to procrastinate on important tasks (because our brains ruminate about unfinished business),” says Michelli.

And, if you tend to multitask, awareness of the Zeigarnik effect can convince you to close all your browser tabs and focus on one task at a time. “A thorough understanding of the cognitive intrusions accompanying uncompleted tasks will help workers appreciate that each new task is essentially an interruption of what was previously being done,” shares GoodTherapy.

By choosing to focus on a single task, you are reducing cognitive overload and attacking one unfinished task at a time to clear mental space for the next one.

Additionally, you can trick your brain into constantly innovating thanks to the Zeigarnik effect. “My main tip is to continually ask, What else can I do? If we conclude that a project is done, that project fades from memory. If, however, we want to continue to iterate or innovate, we need to view the project as incomplete–so our brains push to solve the mystery, quandary or challenge,” explains Michelli.

There is one more important thing to keep in mind. The Zeigarnik effect can increase feelings of self-doubt and even exacerbate impostor syndrome, says Jeffrey M. Gabriel, co-founder of Saw, a domain brokerage service.

“In addition to the panic created by having unfinished tasks potentially exposed by managers, workers often feel that they’re not doing their best, which can impact feelings of self-doubt,” says Gabriel. “In fact, the Zeigarnik effect and impostor syndrome may be interlinked. We put an extra emphasis on work we don’t finish, which makes our ‘failures’ seem to stand out more. Surely, we think, a real employee (a non-imposter) wouldn’t remember so many incomplete tasks.”

This subtle factor is, therefore, crucial to be aware of because low self-esteem in the workplace leads to decreased performance. Now that you know that the Zeigarnik effect is a universal human tendency, you can remind your inner critic that everyone experiences feelings of overwhelm around incomplete tasks and that it’s not a reflection of your abilities.

By

Sourced from Hive

By Chris Odogwu

Written communication is a process of exchanging information, messages, and ideas through text-based messages. Here’s how to improve it.

Do you read some messages from your colleagues that rub you the wrong way? The messages may not be insulting, but the tone is just off. You feel offended, and it reflects in how you relate to them. They probably meant no harm but used the wrong choice of words.

Written communication can go south in many ways. You have to be deliberate in improving how you communicate in writing, so your intentions aren’t misunderstood.

What Is Written Communication?

Woman Typing on Computer

Written communication is the process of sending text-based messages and instructions through letters, reports, manuals, etc.

Used to pass information across in the workplace, written communication often takes a formal approach. It’s contained in official documents that serve as evidence and point of reference.

New developments are communicated to the team in writing. When team members exhibit unruly behavior, they are issued a query through written communication and respond in the same manner.

Unlike verbal communication that can be forgotten if not recorded, written communication lasts for long, especially if it isn’t tampered with.

The Challenges of Written Communication

Woman Thinking at Work

As with other forms of communication, the goal of written communication is defeated if the recipients don’t understand the content of the message.

Written communication has several hitches that could alter the meaning of the message or the intention of the sender. Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. A Lack of Clarity

Communication loses its essence when it’s complex. The choice of words used by the sender in written communication can leave the receiver confused. And since the sender isn’t available to clarify things, the confusion lingers.

If employees feel compelled to take action upon receiving complex written messages, they may end up making mistakes due to a lack of understanding of the messages.

Mistakes made at work as a result of clarity issues are a setback for the organization as time and resources are wasted.

2. Time Constraint

The most efficient workflow is one that’s constantly moving. Team members should get whatever information they need instantly and apply it to their work. But that’s not always the case with written communication.

In written communication, the sender sends the message to the receiver. Instead of getting an instant response, they have to wait until the receiver receives the message and then replies. The time spent in between can be costly in urgent situations. The damage may have already been done before the information was gathered.

3. A Lack of Flexibility

The message you sent to a colleague at work might contain inaccurate information. You might want to update the message for more clarity. But once you have already sent it, you can’t do that.

You have to write another message from scratch addressing the misinformation or including the updates that you want to pass across. Doing all that is stressful, especially when you have a pile of work on your hands.

4. Delay in Decision-Making

Making decisions in the workplace requires some level of speed. Everyone involved in the decision-making process has to be updated with the latest developments and make their inputs in a timely manner.

When the decision-making process is coordinated with written communication, the time spent on receiving, reading, and responding to message delays the decision-making process. You can enhance your group decision-making process with the right tools.

5 Ways to Improve Your Written Communication

Man Sitting and Typing on Computer

If you want to thrive in your job or career, you have to pay more attention to your written communication. And that’s because you communicate with people in writing almost every day.

Ensuring that they understand the messages you convey to them helps you to get the desired response. In light of this, let’s discuss some ways you can communicate better in writing.

1. Identify the Goal

What are you trying to achieve with the message? It’s important that you identify this at the beginning, so you can articulate your thoughts in that direction. You can get people to open and read your emails easily with effective writing.

A written message without a clear goal in mind is like a running commentary. You’ll have a full page of content without saying anything concrete. The content of your message may be misleading to the receiver if you don’t figure out your goal.

2. Step Into the Recipient’s Shoes

Written communication misses the mark if the recipient doesn’t have the necessary background information or context to understand the message they are reading. If you write to someone and mention things that they are oblivious of, they’ll be lost.

Put yourself in the reader’s shoes as you compose your message. How much do they know about the subject? Do they need background information or context?

Understanding the reader’s state of mind regarding the subject also helps you to choose the right words and tone to convey your message.

3. Jot Down Ideas

Having made a mental note to write a message, start preparing ahead for it by jotting down ideas that come to mind.

Since you can’t easily retrieve your message from the receiver to make edits or updates, jot down all your points beforehand, so you can include them in your message.

You don’t have to carry a notebook around for that purpose. A note-taking app like Simplenote makes it easier for you to jot down your ideas on your mobile devices on the go. You can access your notes remotely whenever you need them.

4. Be Clear and Simple

The most effective written communications are clear and simple. Now isn’t the time to impress your reader with big words and grammatical expressions.

There’s a tendency for you to want to come across as intelligent with the use of fancy words, but that’s counterproductive in written communication. Remember, you won’t be physically present when the reader reads the message. So, you can’t clarify things if they confuse the reader.

If you are working on a project, you can write a killer project purpose statement with effective written communication.

5. Edit Thoroughly

Reading messages with grammatical errors and typos is a turn-off. Save your recipient the trouble by editing your messages thoroughly before sending them.

Resists the urge to send written messages in a hurry. No matter how urgent it is, make time to edit it. There might be unnecessary words, expressions, and errors in the messages. Going through them one more time will help you spot them, but that won’t happen if you don’t make time for it. Apps like Grammarly are great for editing and fine-tuning your writing.

If you have a reputation for sending error-ridden messages, people will be reluctant to read your messages. They’ll allow your messages to linger until they have the mental strength to withstand the stress that reading your content causes them.

Passing Your Messages Across Effectively

The verbal interactions at work can be noisy. Written communication helps to create some quietness. Teammates can communicate in any situation without drawing attention to themselves.

Once your written communication is clear with the right tone, you can get people to do what you want without following up to clarify things. You also build a reputation for yourself as one who communicates effectively.

By Chris Odogwu

Sourced from MUO

 

By

Indoor Air Quality When first hearing it, you may think that indoor air quality is more of an advertising gimmick than a genuine concern. Or you may think it’s something that happens in some more hazardous areas, not your home, so there is no need to call air quality specialists now.

When first hearing it, you may think that indoor air quality is more of an advertising gimmick than a genuine concern. Or you may think it’s something that happens in some more hazardous areas, not your home, so there is no need to call air quality specialists now. However, there have been official studies conducted by universities and health organizations show that it is a pressing matter indeed.

After all, isn’t the air we breathe the most important thing for sustaining life? But, what studies have shown is that the quality of the air we breathe greatly affects the quality of our life, our thinking, performance, and our bodily functions.

Anyone who goes mountain hiking or camping in the woods will tell you how their thinking and mood immediately improves when they get the first whip of that fresh natural air, free from various pollutants we live with and ignore daily. But, those pollutants are not just outside in the streets, they are inside of our homes.

Indoor Air Quality and Productivity Correlation Research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is a scientific agency working within the United States Department of Commerce, estimates a loss of around $150 billion in various costs annually.  This is for the U.S alone as a result of illness and reduced productivity due to poor indoor air quality.

To make the figures clearer, the same research states that around $93B of that $150B is a loss due to headaches, irritation, fatigue, and similar conditions all coming from what is called the “sick building syndrome”.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which is an independent agency inside the US’ federal government, found that airborne pollutants indoors are, on average, 2 to 5 times higher in concentration than outdoor pollutants. Their studies have shown around 11% increase in workplace productivity after the indoor air was cleared properly.

Another study, this time from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted in 2015, has yielded even more staggering data. It was what is called a “double-blind study”, meaning no information was revealed that could influence the participants until after the study was complete.

They have observed people working in offices with good ventilation and low air pollutant levels and determined that their cognitive functions are twice as higher than in workers who are working in offices with only average levels of those same pollutants.

A Gas Leak In California

There is a documented study from 2015, conducted in Porter Ranch, California after a gas-leak alarm was raised in that area. All schools in a five-mile radius installed air filtration systems in all classrooms and offices after that.

The study used the schools’ standard academic testing information from before the event for the baseline of the experiment. After the new air filtration, the students’ scores significantly improved in that five-mile area. Areas beyond this, that did not change air quality, saw no improvement or any change in this regard.

Worth Its Weight in Fruit

There was another study that focused on fruit pickers in California. It was conducted by the University of California at San Diego, the University of Southern California, and Columbia University. The daily salaries of the fruit pickers were directly determined by how much fruit they picked on that day.

The study compared their daily score with the air quality measures and it was found that they picked, and subsequently earned, significantly less on days when ground-level ozone readings were at the highest. The worse the air got, the less they earned.

Of course, fruits are generally picked outdoors, or at least in glass gardens, but this only supplements the indoor air quality argument. This is because the indoor air is more susceptible to getting polluted because inside of a building there is no wind, drafts, and similar natural air cleansers.

How To Improve Air Quality and Comfort Now?

When talking about air comfort, we are talking about several factors that include:

●   Temperature

●   Humidity

●   Air Movement

Not much we could say about air temperature that isn’t common knowledge. Cold is bad, too warm is also not good. But, thermal discomfort is the #1 complaint in office workplaces and this is because they accommodate larger groups of people, all with different temperature preferences.

One could never satisfy personal, specific, off-normal temperature preferences for each person in a group of people. But, companies can make an effort to meet certified air standards easily available and reachable with the help of several things, like the IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Monitor, Air Purifiers, personal fans, and similar stuff.

Designing for Clean and Comfortable Air

However, if one would really like to improve air quality in a home or a workplace, one should start thinking about this before the build or during renovations. Many ventilation systems that can solve this problem for good, and they include:

●   Call Air Quality Specialist

●   100% outside-air systems

●   Underfloor air distribution systems

●   Displacement ventilation

●   Green Rating Systems (LEED, WELL, etc…)

●   Demand-control ventilation (DCV)

If we are talking about extreme climate areas, extremely hot or cold, naturally more complex solutions must be utilized. In these cases, it is recommended to separate the outside air supply system from the cooling or heating systems.

This must be done to conserve the energy needed to maintain the temperature, while still ensuring 100% or the outside air capacity needed for a healthy indoor environment.

Thanks for reading!

By

Armondo Mollindeo is the founder and owner of Elite Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning which is one of the leading companies in Las Vegas providing licensed services for air conditioning repair, heating, and plumbing.

Sourced from Thrive Global

By Dara Pollak

We all know there are things we can do to be productive when we wake up (i.e. coffee), but what about before we go to sleep? These are just a few things you can do to ensure you set yourself up for a good night ’s sleep to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Even if the day is sitting at home and taking a bunch of zoom calls.

Create a peaceful place for sleep

Your bedroom should be used only for sleeping, and a lot of people admit that they browse online in their beds, stay on their phones in bed, and watch TV to fall asleep. Try to stay away from electronics 30 minutes – 1 hour before bed. If you must have your devices on in bed, turn on “nightshift” on your iPhone (and other devices now have similar features), which cancels out blue light. Why is this helpful? Blue light is proven to disrupt our sleep cycles by “convincing” our eyes that it’s still daytime.

Ambient noise can be helpful if you find the right kinds

As mentioned above, the TV is not a good source of this, but white noise or pink noise can promote better sleep. Pink noise is classified as lower intensity and more soothing than white noise. Pink noise can be found in nature – think rustling leaves and light rain, or a cat purring. According to this small study, pink noise has been said to reduce brain wave complexity, so you can wake up ready to work! You can stream pink noise sounds on YouTube.

Don’t drink caffeine past 3 pm

It may seem like a long time before bed, but caffeine stays in your system for 5-6 hours after you drink it. In older adults, it can take even longer to process the caffeine out of the system. If you must have a beverage at night time, try some caffeine-free hot tea.

Pillow sprays

Lots of companies make pillow sprays now with essential oils and calming scents like lavender, which is proven to help slow activity in the central nervous system and aid in falling asleep faster. A popular one to try is ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray – spray in the air around your bed or directly mist onto your pillow. You can also try an essential oils diffuser to keep a steady mist of lavender or sandalwood, both great sleep scents.

Keep your bedroom at a cool temperature

No one likes sleeping in a hot, stuffy room. Optimal sleep temperature is around low-mid 60’s. If you get really hot when you sleep, you can look into cooling systems like the ChiliPad, which is a mattress pad that cools, helping you stay at optimal sleep temperature all night long. They can be pricey, but worth the investment if you have temperature issues.

Create a before-bed routine to help calm your mind

Journal, meditate, read, or try coloring! There are tons of coloring books for adults now, and this practice has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety by calming the activity in the amygdala, which creates a similar state in the brain as meditating. If neither of these options appeals to you, try some simple breathing exercises 30 minutes before bed. There are plenty of apps now that offer guided meditations and exercises for free.

Don’t drink too much water before bed

Avoid liquids at least an hour before you go to bed, and always use the restroom before you actually go to bed. Waking up in the middle of the night to do this can bring on a slow morning!

Feature Image Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

By Dara Pollak

Sourced from LADDERS

By Minda Zetlin.

You might need to change how you define ‘productivity.’

We all want to be more productive, but how do we actually make it happen? Most of us look for timesaving tips and tricks — use your calendar as a motivational tool! Take a break for moderate exercise during the day so you have more energy for work!

These kinds of tips can be highly useful, and I encourage you to try out any that make sense to you. But sometimes the best way to address productivity is to rethink everything about how you spend your time and how you set your priorities, helping you be not only more productive but also more fulfilled. And perhaps helping you reach the next level of success as well.

That’s how I would describe some advice from Laura Mae Martin, Google’s in-house productivity expert, who trains the company’s executives. Martin has shared lots of useful productivity tips, often around email, with Google executives. But her real strength is helping people change their approach to the whole idea of productivity, and to how they do their jobs.

Here are three pieces of masterful advice from Martin that I intend to start following right away. Maybe you should too.

1. Decide on your priorities and say no to everything else.

Choose your top priorities for each quarter, Martin advises in an interview on a Google blog. (I might try setting priorities for each month, since things can change quickly.) Write them down on a piece of paper and display that paper prominently near your desk. Then, whenever you’re asked — or tempted — to do something that doesn’t help you achieve those specific goals, say no. Having the note in front of you will make that no easier to say. Practice helps too — the more times you say no, the better you’ll get at saying it gracefully and without getting uncomfortable.

It’s important not to clutter up your calendar or your workday with things that don’t move the needle on what you care about most. “The more you say no, the more chances you have to say yes to something that really matters,” Martin explained.

2. Schedule half an hour of “me” time every day.

When a Google blogger asked Martin to name a habit that makes her successful, this is the answer she gave. She says she spends 30 minutes at the start of the day when she allows no interruptions, which she calls the “Laura 30.” What important tasks does she accomplish during the Laura 30? “I just drink my coffee, meditate, journal, or play the piano,” she explained in the blog. The point is to ground her and start her day with a calm and focused mind.

Speaking of a calm and focused mind, Martin believes that everyone who wants to be more productive should practice meditation. People find the concept intimidating, she acknowledges. But, she said, “if you had to cut a thousand pineapples, wouldn’t you spend some time sharpening the knife?” In the same way, taking a few minutes for meditation makes your mind sharper and aids concentration throughout the day.

3. Define productivity as doing what you intended.

A day spent sprawled on the couch watching Netflix is a productive day, Martin told Quartz, if that’s how you intended to spend it. Why would you plan to spend a day that way? I occasionally plan a day like that for myself when I’m feeling particularly tired or burned out and need to do something completely effortless. And when I do take a day to be lazy and self-indulgent, I usually find my productivity picks up when I get back to my desk.

But Martin’s larger, and very insightful, point is that productivity is really about intent. If you intend to spend the day writing a proposal but wind up watching Netflix instead, then that’s lost productivity — but that’s also true if you spend the day answering a thousand emails or sitting in meetings that aren’t directly helpful for your job. And if spending time with your kids is one of your priorities, then driving them to school is time spent productively.

The secret is “knowing what you want to do, intending to do it, and doing what you wanted to do,” Martin explained. That may be the smartest definition of productivity you’ll ever hear.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images

By Minda Zetlin

Co-author, The Geek Gap

Sourced from Inc.