Core Behavioral Competencies- Result-focused
Here are the key takeaways from the course "Enhancing Your Productivity":

Discover your most valuable activities: Learn to identify where you make the most valuable
contributions to your organization.

Focus by offloading tasks: Minimize and delegate tasks that are less valuable to free up time for
more important activities.

Enhance productivity around the office: Implement strategies to boost overall productivity in your
workplace.

Eliminate distractions: Learn techniques to reduce both external and internal distractions to
maintain focus.
Using the exercise files

Download and Print Worksheets: The instructor recommends downloading and printing the
provided worksheets from the Exercise Files tab on the Course Details page.

Pause and Fill Out Worksheets: Throughout the course, you'll be asked to pause the videos and fill
out these worksheets to track your progress.

Maximize Training Benefits: Having these worksheets on hand will help you get the most out of the
training.
What makes you irreplaceable?

Identify Your Most Valuable Activities (MVAs): These are the tasks you perform that are worth the
most per hour and are the most costly to replace. Focusing on these makes you irreplaceable.

Avoid Least Valuable Activities (LVAs): Spending time on tasks that add little value makes you easier
to replace. It's important to minimize these activities.

Increase Your Irreplaceability: By concentrating on your MVAs, you make yourself so valuable that
replacing you would be difficult for the company.
Discovering your most valuable activities

Identify Broad Work Activities: List your work activities in broad categories, not individual tasks.

Rate Your Talent and Replaceability: Assess your talent level and how difficult it would be to replace
you for each activity.

Estimate Cost to Replace: Estimate the hourly cost to replace each activity.

Rank Activities: Rank your activities based on their value, focusing on the top two most valuable
activities.
Avoiding the least-valuable-activity trap

Identify Least Valuable Activities (LVAs): Recognize tasks that add little value, such as mundane or
easily delegable tasks.

Increase Time on Most Valuable Activities (MVAs): Gradually spend more time on high-value tasks
to reduce time available for LVAs.

Ask Key Questions: Continuously ask yourself the value of each activity and why you are doing it to
avoid falling into LVA traps.

Build a Strategy: Develop a plan to minimize LVAs and focus on MVAs to enhance your overall
productivity.
Focusing with the Order of Offloading

Improve Personal Systems: Start by becoming as efficient, organized, and responsible as possible in
your personal work systems.

Enhance Business Systems: Ensure that business processes, procedures, and organizational
structures are well-documented and followed.

Use the Best Technology: Invest in up-to-date technology and tools to avoid productivity slowdowns.

Outsource and Hire: Begin with outsourcing or temporary help before making long-term hiring
commitments.
Offering assistance

Ask a Key Question: Regularly ask, "What's one thing I can do to make your job easier?" to show you
care and want to help.

Follow Through: Genuinely listen to the response, ask follow-up questions for clarity, and take action
on the feedback.

Increase Your Value: By making others' jobs easier, you increase your own value and become
irreplaceable.
Identifying coworkers' most valuable activities

Identify and Focus on Your MVAs: Understand your own most valuable activities (MVAs) and help
coworkers identify theirs.

Collaborate and Support: Work together with coworkers to support each other in focusing on MVAs,
making both of you more irreplaceable.

Redistribute Workload: Compare MVAs and least valuable activities (LVAs) with coworkers to
redistribute tasks, allowing each person to focus more on their MVAs.
Creating a plan of improvement

Schedule One-to-One Meetings: Set up a meeting with coworkers to discuss and share your most
valuable activities (MVAs) and least valuable activities (LVAs).

Collaborate and Assist: Focus on helping each other remove LVAs from your schedules and improve
personal and business systems.

Commit and Follow Up: Make commitments to each other about the actions you will take and
schedule a follow-up meeting in 30 days to review and refine your plan.
Managing your time

Avoid Multitasking: Multitasking, or "switchtasking," leads to loss of attention, time, and quality, and
increases stress levels.

Truth of Time: Recognize that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, and wise choices about how
to spend that time are crucial.

Underspend Time: Focus on doing less to achieve more, making conscious decisions about where to
spend your time to avoid overspending it.
Eliminating external distractions

Turn Off Notifications: Schedule specific times to check voicemail and email instead of letting
notifications interrupt your focus.

Manage Quick Questions: Use one-to-one meetings to handle quick questions efficiently rather than
allowing constant interruptions.

Handle Noise: Use silence or music to block out distracting noises, depending on your preference.

Use Text and Instant Messaging Wisely: Reserve these for single messages and use phone calls for
back-and-forth conversations to avoid prolonged interruptions.

Schedule Less in Interruption-Driven Jobs: Leave space in your schedule to handle necessary
interruptions without multitasking.
Eliminating internal distractions" video:

Refresh Addiction: Combat the urge to constantly check messages by setting a specific schedule for
checking emails and notifications.

Idea Interruptions: Capture spontaneous ideas in a designated gathering point, like a notepad or a
single email, to avoid constant interruptions.

Decision Overload: Allocate specific times for processing decisions to avoid making decisions
throughout the day, which can disrupt your workflow.

Screen Addiction: Turn off or step away from screens when they are not needed to maintain focus on
important tasks.

Impatience: Use waiting times to relax and refocus rather than switching to another task, which can
help maintain overall productivity.
"Maintaining a long-term focus on your career"

Choose a Destination: Write a short statement of where you want your career to be in 10 years and
keep it visible to remind yourself of your focus.

Quarterly Self-Review: Every three months, review your progress towards your career goals and
complete the most valuable activity (MVA) worksheet to track improvements.

Daily Work Tracker: Use a daily work tracker periodically to ensure you are spending most of your
time on your MVAs.

Collaborate with Coworkers: Meet with your manager and coworkers every 6 to 12 months to
discuss focusing on MVAs and supporting each other.
CHELSEA KROST
1. Work Smarter, Not Harder
"The power of mindset":

Mindset Matters: Developing a productive and positive mindset is crucial for maximizing your day
and achieving more with greater personal satisfaction.

Identify Negative Triggers: Recognize what triggers your automatic negative thoughts, whether it's
social media, emails, or other stressors.

Challenge Negative Thoughts: Identify whose voice is in your head and challenge whether these
thoughts are based on facts or fears.

Rewire Your Thinking: You have the power to reset your mindset and replace negative thoughts with
more helpful thinking patterns.
"Achieve phone-life balance":

Use an Old-School Alarm Clock: Avoid reaching for your phone first thing in the morning by using a
traditional alarm clock.

Manage Notifications: Turn off unnecessary notifications to reduce distractions and stress.

Utilize Do Not Disturb: Schedule "Do Not Disturb" times to block out noise and be more productive.

Optimize Voicemail: Direct callers to your website or use a calendar autoresponder to manage calls
more efficiently.

Streamline Home Screen: Keep minimal apps on your home screen to reduce the impulse to check
your phone.
"Time management skills: Block scheduling":

Plan Your Day in Advance: Block scheduling involves planning every hour of your day in advance and
dedicating specific time blocks for certain tasks.

Focus on One Task at a Time: This method encourages focusing on one task at a time, which can
increase productivity by up to 40% compared to multitasking.

Customize Your Schedule: Identify your available work hours, define recurring and variable tasks, and
create dedicated time blocks for emails and important work.

Use Calendar Apps: Utilize calendar apps like Google Calendar to organize your time blocks, set
reminders, and color-code your schedule.
2. Productivity Tools: Tackle Your do list and email Overload
"Conquer your daily to-do list":



VIP Method: Use the VIP method to prioritize tasks.
 V (Very Important Tasks): Focus on 2-3 tasks that are crucial and keeping you up at night.
 I (Important Tasks): After completing very important tasks, move on to 2-3 important but
less urgent tasks.
 P (Prioritize Last): Handle smaller, less critical tasks last, and consider delegating them if
possible.
Break Down Tasks: Make large tasks more manageable by breaking them into smaller, specific
actions.
Schedule Tasks: To make your to-do list effective, schedule tasks in your calendar for better structure
and accountability.
"Five tips for dealing with email overload":

Time Block Your Email: Schedule 30 to 60-minute blocks at the beginning and end of your day to
handle emails, reducing the frequency of checking your inbox.

Use Email Templates: Create pre-written email templates for common responses to save time and
increase productivity.

Automate Scheduling: Use tools like Calendly to automate scheduling and reduce back-and-forth
emails.

Optimize Your Email Signature: Treat your email signature like a business card by including links to
your calendar, website, and social media.

Sync Email with Calendar: Integrate your email with your calendar to streamline sending and
receiving invites.
These tips can help you manage your emails more efficiently and increase your overall productivity.
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Video
How to organize and prioritize your inbox: Label and folder system

Label and Folder System: Use a system to label and prioritize emails into folders such as VIP (urgent),
24H (respond within 24 hours), PL (prioritize later), Optional, Info-tainment, and Trash.

Immediate Action: Upon opening an email, label and prioritize it immediately to streamline your
workflow.

Additional Organization: Consider color-coding and adding more folders like business admin,
personal life, and individual client folders for further organization.
Productivity tools for working smarter, not harder

Google Drive: Enhances organization, productivity, scheduling, communication, and storage with
apps like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar.

TSheets: A time tracker app that helps manage and prioritize time by tracking when team members
clock in and out, creating schedules, and running payroll reports.

Calendly: Simplifies scheduling by allowing others to book meetings with you directly, syncing with
your calendar.

Jotform: Facilitates collecting information from leads or clients through custom intake forms, which
can be combined with Calendly for streamlined scheduling.

Mailchimp: Makes email marketing manageable with easy-to-create campaigns and audience
organization.

Linktree: Optimizes social media traffic by directing users to a single page with important links.
"Work smarter, not harder, with automation and outsourcing":

Evaluate Automation Tools: Identify and implement automation tools like Zapier to streamline tasks
and enhance productivity.

Integrate Apps: Use tools that connect various apps (e.g., Google Drive, Calendly, JotForm) to create
seamless workflows.

Outsource Strategically: Utilize platforms like Fiverr to find freelancers for specific tasks, allowing you
to focus on more important work.
Automating social media

Hootsuite: This tool allows you to source, schedule, and measure social media results on a single
platform, connecting with over 35 popular networks.

Scheduling: You can schedule posts in advance, keeping your social media active even when you're
not there, and publish content at peak times.

Content Curation and Promotion: Easily create and upload content, promote top-performing posts,
and monitor trending topics.

Customer Service and Collaboration: Hootsuite supports team collaboration and social listening,
helping track customer inquiries and industry conversations.
Delegate like a boss

Clear Communication: Ensure peace of mind and success by communicating your needs, vision, and
timeline clearly. Use shared documents for detailed guidelines.

Manage Expectations: Don't assume understanding; ask follow-up questions to ensure clarity and
agreement on tasks.

Inspire Commitment: Motivate your team by explaining why tasks matter and fostering a
collaborative environment.

Avoid Micromanagement: Schedule check-ins to ensure accountability and provide constructive
feedback without over-managing.

Use Technology: Tools like Todoist and Trello can help manage tasks and increase productivity.

Leverage Interns: Interns can be valuable for creative tasks and can become future employees or
freelancers.
"Simplify, streamline, and skyrocket your social media strategy":

Consistency and Discoverability: Ensure your social media handles align with your brand and are
easy to find. Consistent posting and clear messaging are crucial.

Content Preparation: Create a bulk content library with 30 days of evergreen content to maintain
consistency. Include both long-form (articles, reports) and short-form (quotes, tips) content.

Analytics and Scheduling: Use tools like Hootsuite to track social media analytics and schedule posts
in advance.

80-20 Rule: Spend 80% of your time engaging with your community and sharing valuable content,
and 20% promoting your products and services.
Five steps to define your content marketing framework

Define Your Objective: Clearly identify the purpose, passion, and goals behind your content.
Consider brand awareness, sales, video views, and customer retention.

Know Your Audience: Understand your niche, audience segments, and craft content that resonates
with their interests and needs.

Craft Your Brand Story: Develop a unique brand story that sets you apart from competitors and
connects with your audience.

Establish a Content Creation Process: Decide who will create the content and set up a sustainable
and scalable process, such as dedicating one day per month for bulk content creation.

Measure and Refine: Use tools like Hootsuite to track content performance and refine your strategy
based on engagement metrics over a 3-6 month period.
Define your signature traffic builder

What is it?: A signature traffic builder is a unique way to attract attention and visitors to your brand.
Think of it as your special method to stand out and get noticed.

Examples: It could be a blog, podcast, Twitter chat, Facebook live series, email newsletter, or
webinar. Choose one method that fits your brand and stick with it.

Why is it important?:
1. Consistency: It helps you create regular and purposeful content, which is key for building a
strong brand.
2. Networking: You can collaborate with industry experts and expand your reach.
3. Lead Generation: Consistent and unique content can attract more visitors and potential
customers.
4. Revenue: Your traffic builder can even become a source of income, like how the instructor
used a Twitter chat to gain followers and attract sponsors.
"Simplify, streamline, and skyrocket your social media strategy":

Consistency and Discoverability: Ensure your social media handles align with your brand and are
easy to find. Consistent posting and clear messaging are crucial.

Content Preparation: Create a bulk content library with 30 days of evergreen content to maintain
consistency. Include both long-form (articles, reports) and short-form (quotes, tips) content.

Analytics and Scheduling: Use tools like Hootsuite to track social media analytics and schedule posts
in advance.

80-20 Rule: Spend 80% of your time engaging with your community and sharing valuable content,
and 20% promoting your products and services.
These strategies can help you effectively manage and grow your social media presence.
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Video
Five steps to define your content marketing framework
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Five steps to define your content marketing
framework":

Define Your Objective: Clearly identify the purpose, passion, and goals behind your content.
Consider brand awareness, sales, video views, and customer retention.

Know Your Audience: Understand your niche, audience segments, and craft content that resonates
with their interests and needs.

Craft Your Brand Story: Develop a unique brand story that sets you apart from competitors and
connects with your audience.

Establish a Content Creation Process: Decide who will create the content and set up a sustainable
and scalable process, such as dedicating one day per month for bulk content creation.

Measure and Refine: Use tools like Hootsuite to track content performance and refine your strategy
based on engagement metrics over a 3-6 month period.
These steps can help you build a strong content marketing framework that drives engagement and achieves
your goals.
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Video
Define your signature traffic builder
Mary Joy Modumo:Can you simplify this?
Learning AI:Sure, let's simplify the concept of a "signature traffic builder":

What is it?: A signature traffic builder is a unique way to attract attention and visitors to your brand.
Think of it as your special method to stand out and get noticed.

Examples: It could be a blog, podcast, Twitter chat, Facebook live series, email newsletter, or
webinar. Choose one method that fits your brand and stick with it.

Why is it important?:
1. Consistency: It helps you create regular and purposeful content, which is key for building a
strong brand.
2. Networking: You can collaborate with industry experts and expand your reach.
3. Lead Generation: Consistent and unique content can attract more visitors and potential
customers.
4. Revenue: Your traffic builder can even become a source of income, like how the instructor
used a Twitter chat to gain followers and attract sponsors.
"Repurpose your way to the top: Content marketing":

Repurpose Content: Transform long-form content (like webinars) into shorter segments, tutorials,
and teasers to reach different audiences across multiple channels.

Utilize Past Content: Combine older blog posts into guides or lead magnets to attract email
subscribers and provide value.

Creative Formats: Use surveys, questionnaires, or polls to create visually appealing infographics,
which can be more engaging for certain audiences.
These strategies help you maximize the reach and impact of your content while saving time.
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Six LinkedIn practices for brand growth
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Six LinkedIn practices for brand growth":

Optimize Your Profile: Use relevant keywords in your profile to improve visibility and search ranking.

Share Industry Insights: Post articles and insights about industry trends to establish authority and
engage your network.

Leverage Video Content: Use videos to tell your brand story and share valuable content, as videos
tend to perform well on LinkedIn.

Focus on Quality Connections: Build meaningful connections with like-minded professionals to
enhance engagement.

Join Industry Groups: Participate in LinkedIn groups related to your industry to stay informed and
engage with potential clients.

Add Personality: Make your LinkedIn presence relatable by sharing content in a personal and
engaging manner.
These practices can help you grow your brand and increase engagement on LinkedIn.
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Mary Joy Modumo:How does this apply to me?
Learning AI:Here’s how the "Six LinkedIn practices for brand growth" can apply to you:

Optimize Your Profile: Use keywords related to teaching, instructional design, and educational
technology to improve your visibility.

Share Industry Insights: Post articles and insights about educational trends, teaching strategies, and
technology in education to engage with fellow educators and establish your authority.

Leverage Video Content: Share videos of your teaching methods, classroom activities, or educational
webinars to showcase your expertise.

Focus on Quality Connections: Connect with other educators, instructional designers, and
professionals in the education sector to build a meaningful network.

Join Industry Groups: Participate in LinkedIn groups related to education, instructional design, and
technology to stay informed and engage with potential collaborators.

Add Personality: Share your experiences and insights in a relatable manner to make your profile
engaging and authentic.
These practices can help you enhance your professional presence on LinkedIn and support your career
growth.
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Video
You are your only limit
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "You are your only limit":

Evaluate Structure and Tools: Regularly assess your business structure, workflows, and tools to
ensure they meet your evolving needs.

Work Smarter: Focus on working smarter, not harder, to save time and energy for personal growth,
health, and relationships.

Commit to Learning: Invest time and resources in learning and setting up effective tools and
frameworks, which will pay off in the long run.
Nano Tips to Increase Productivity and Focus with Lilian Daniels
Work Smarter and get Rewarded

Boost Productivity: Learn how to work smarter by prioritizing tasks, blocking out time, and building
lasting habits.

Sharpen Focus: Discover techniques to improve your focus, manage distractions, and enhance your
sense of self-awareness.

Optimize Wellness: Gain insights on mind and body hacks, effective breaking, and energy
management to maintain productivity and focus.
"Productivity: Prioritize and conquer daily tasks":

Create a To-Do List the Night Before: Write down 1-3 important tasks you want to accomplish the
next day.

Review and Adjust the List in the Morning: Check the list in the morning to confirm its relevance and
make any necessary adjustments.

Schedule Tasks on Your Calendar: Allocate specific times for each task on your calendar to ensure
they get done.
These steps can help you stay organized and boost your productivity.
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Productivity: Blocking out time to master your day
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Productivity: Blocking out time to master your day":

Start Small with New Tasks: When beginning something new, start with small time blocks (e.g., 5-20
minutes) to build momentum and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Structure Known Tasks: For tasks you already know, allocate specific time blocks throughout the
week to organize and prioritize them.

Review and Adjust: After a week or two, review your time blocks to see what works, what can be
improved, and make adjustments to enhance productivity.
These strategies can help you manage your day more effectively and stay on track with your goals.
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Productivity: Mind and body productivity hacks
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Productivity: Mind and body productivity hacks":

Get Enough Rest: Ensure you get high-quality sleep, whether it's through naps or adjusting your
bedtime.

Stay Hydrated: Make drinking water convenient by using a large glass and keeping water easily
accessible in a form you prefer.

Stretch Regularly: Incorporate stretching into your routine to keep your joints flexible and reduce
fatigue.
These habits can help enhance your productivity by maintaining your physical and mental well-being.
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Video
Productivity: Work smarter, break smarter
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Productivity: Work smarter, break smarter":

Give Your Senses a Break: Focus on one activity at a time, like just walking without listening to music
or a podcast.

Engage in Non-Screen Activities: Activities like doodling, reading a book, or stretching can help give
your eyes a break from screen time.

Schedule Breaks: Plan and schedule breaks throughout your day, even if it's just for a few minutes, to
rest and recharge.
These strategies can help you maintain productivity and stay refreshed throughout your day.
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Focus: Sharpen your focus and sense awareness
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Focus: Sharpen your focus and sense awareness":

Five Senses Exercise: Use your senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) to bring yourself into the
current moment.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety: This exercise helps in reducing stress and anxiety by focusing on the
present.

Enhance Awareness: Observing your surroundings through your senses enhances your sense of
awareness and mindfulness.
These techniques can help you stay focused and present, especially during stressful or anxious moments.
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Focus: Overcome distractions, capture, and conquer
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Focus: Overcome distractions, capture, and
conquer":

Capture Distractions: Write down any random ideas or thoughts that come up while you're focused
on a task to maintain your focus.

Review Later: Set aside time, either daily or weekly, to review these captured distractions and
determine their relevance.

Leverage Distractions: By capturing and reviewing distractions, you can find value in them without
losing focus on your current task.
These strategies can help you manage distractions effectively while staying focused on your work.
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Focus: Simple focus by counting breaths
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Focus: Simple focus by counting breaths":

Anchor Your Mind: Counting your breaths helps anchor your mind and increase focus.

Ward Off Distractions: This practice can help ward off distractions by bringing your focus to your
breathing.

Simple Practice: Set a timer for 30 seconds to one minute, close your eyes, and count your breaths
without any pressure on how you breathe.
This technique can be especially useful when you need to improve focus and reduce distractions.
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Focus: Fuel your focus with energy management
Mary Joy Modumo:Key takeaways for this video
Learning AI:Here are the key takeaways from the video "Focus: Fuel your focus with energy management":

Track Energy Levels: Identify patterns in your energy levels and moods to understand what affects
your focus.

Identify Boosters and Drainers: Note activities or situations that boost or drain your energy.

Three Key Areas: Focus on hydration, task clarity, and optimism to manage your energy and maintain
focus.