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Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours (2012)

by Robert C. Pozen(Favorite Author)

3.7 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0062188542 (ISBN13: 9780062188540)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

HarperBusiness

review 1: “Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours” by Robert C. Pozen contains practical advice for increasing personal productivity aimed at professionals in a more corporate setting. While I think everyone would probably pick up some tips to becoming more productive, those in the corporate setting will gain the most from this book, and some people will find chapters that don't relate to them as much.The first part of the book contains three chapters that focus on three big ideas: Set and Prioritize Your Goals, Focus on the Final Product, and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Common ideas, but Pozen does a good job of describing them and explaining why they are important to being productive. These ideas can be applied to just about anything by anyone.Part 2, Pro... moreductivity Every Day, has three chapters as well. Your Daily Routine, Traveling Lightly, and Efficient Meetings. All of these chapters have good practical advice on the topics, but some people won't find them as useful. The routine is more of the person in a more corporate setting, not a small business owner or someone who works from home. The same goes for traveling and meetings, these are more focused on how the corporate professional travels and attends meetings.The third part, Developing Personal Skills, provides advice on three topics that I think would help anyone be more productive and effective. Reading Effectively. Writing Effectively. Speaking Effectively. These are three very important skills and Pozen shares some practical advice on all three, especially for the corporate executive. Part 4, Managing Up and Down, has two chapters that will only be useful to those in some situations. Managing Your Team and Managing Your Boss. You obviously have to managing people, and have a boss to get the most of these chapters. If you do manage others, and have a boss to report to, these chapters provide some great suggestions for being more productive.The fifth and final part, Pursuing a Productive Life, concludes the book with these three chapters: Maximizing Your Career Options over a Lifetime, Embrace Change but Stay the Same, and Balancing Home and Work. I thought there was good advice on all three of these topics in the final chapters. I agree with the thought that the reason to be more productive is to enjoy a more rewarding life, and that focusing on results produced rather than hours worked is a better way.Pozen writes from experience, and those who wish to rise to an executive position will find a lot to help them in this book. Others will also find many practical tips on productivity, but may have to modify some or skip some depending on their specific work situation. The chapters end with summary key points and practical suggestions you can put to work immediately. Bottom line: If you want to be more productive, Extreme Productivity by Robert Pozen can help you get there.
review 2: A little disappointing. Didn't learn a single new thing and nothing that would help me boost my productivity output! The 3 main points: "don't sweat the small stuff" (um. not an original thought), "articulate goals," and "focus on the final product." I think I can make these fit librarianship but this type of book is definitely more for the business world & not the "people" business that I'm in.2 points I did like: All workers should take a 30 minute nap following lunch; the author, Robert C. Pozen, apparently does this every day in his office. Hmmm, I guess I need to get an office before I start taking naps in it! #2: OHIO .... only handle it once. I love that idea and work hard to follow the rule.Now I can say I read a nonfiction book for the month of January. Sticking to my New Year's Resolutions! less

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