To succeed in your career, you need to proactively turn your daily office struggles into opportunities. Here's how.

1. DAILY OFFICE
STRUGGLES
and how to overcome them
10

2. To conquer your day,
you need to proactively
turn your daily struggles
into opportunities.

3. 1
TASKLISTAPHOBIA
When you have a mini panic attack just
before you open your task list.

4. 1
TASKLISTAPHOBIA
When you have a mini panic attack just
before you open your task list.
Task lists have a way of growing rapidly if
you leave them alone for too long. Which
is why you must give them your full
attention - right now!

5. USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1

6. 1. Write down every single thing that’s
occupying your thoughts.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1

7. 1. Write down every single thing that’s
occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1

8. 1. Write down every single thing that’s
occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.
3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1

9. 1. Write down every single thing that’s
occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.
3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.
4. Everything else? Either delegate it or
put it on your task list.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
FIX IT
1

10. 1. Write down every single thing that’s
occupying your thoughts.
2. Remove everything you can’t action.
3. Anything you can action in 2 minutes,
do it now.
4. Everything else? Either delegate it or
put it on your task list.
USE DAVID ALLEN’S MIND SWEEP TECHNIQUE
Now your mind is free to do what matters.
FIX IT
1

11. The greatest weapon
against stress is our
ability to choose one
thought over another.
- William James

12. 2
STEVE NOJOBS
SYNDROME
When you have no work to do.

13. 2
STEVE NOJOBS
SYNDROME
When you have no work to do.
Having nothing to do at work can be just as
frightening as Tasklistaphobia, but it’s also
the perfect opportunity to take initiative, and
impress your boss.

14. FIX IT
Identify what needs
to be done, but isn’t
being taken on by
anybody. Then do it.
2

15. FIX IT
Find a poor process
and improve it.
Identify what needs
to be done, but isn’t
being taken on by
anybody. Then do it.
2

16. FIX IT
Find a poor process
and improve it.
Handwrite notes
to your team and
thank them for being
exceptional.
Identify what needs
to be done, but isn’t
being taken on by
anybody. Then do it.
2

17. Genius is
initiative on fire.
- Holbrook Jackson

18. 3
JUST...ONE...MORE...
LIKE SYNDROME
When you get stuck in the time
sink that is social media.

19. 3
JUST...ONE...MORE...
LIKE SYNDROME
When you get stuck in the time
sink that is social media.
Social media addiction is a serious affliction
for many - especially when it conflicts with
your productivity. You like one cat picture and
suddenly three hours have passed.

20. 3
FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable
auto-log-in.

21. 3
FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable
auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and
password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:

22. 3
FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable
auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and
password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:
“Do I really need to check my Facebook right now?”

23. 3
FIX IT
Log out of every social media site you use, and disable
auto-log-in.
This will force you to enter your username and
password every time you want to log in, and give you
that moment to ask yourself:
“Do I really need to check my Facebook right now?”
Odds are, you don’t.

24. If you want to make an
easy job seem mighty
hard, just keep putting
off doing it.
- Olin Miller

25. When your days at work are spent walking
from one meeting to the next.
4
MEETING FATIGUE

26. When your days at work are spent walking
from one meeting to the next.
It’s estimated that 25-50% of
meeting time is wasted.
Partaking in marathon meetings has not only
been proven to contribute to exhaustion, but
is also one of the reasons you start to feel
overwhelmed by your workload.
4
MEETING FATIGUE

27. USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
4

28. Never have a meeting where two pizzas
aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
4

29. Never have a meeting where two pizzas
aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
The more people you have in a meeting,
the less productive it will be.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
4

30. Never have a meeting where two pizzas
aren’t enough to feed the entire group.
The more people you have in a meeting,
the less productive it will be.
Why? Because if there’s a large group,
you’re more likely to agree with each
other, rather than voice your own ideas.
USE JEFF BEZO’S TWO PIZZA RULE
FIX IT
4

31. Less meetings.
More doing.
- Jason Goldberg

32. 5
When you’re constantly recovering from
distractions and don’t get to do any real work.
DISTRACTION
SICKNESS

33. 5
When you’re constantly recovering from
distractions and don’t get to do any real work.
Did you know?
DISTRACTION
SICKNESS
The average worker spends at least 2 hours of
their day recovering from distractions. That’s a lot
of time you could be doing something productive.

34. FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.

35. FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME

36. FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME
Try the 40/20 rule where you spend 40 minutes doing work,
and 20 minutes indulging in distractions.

37. FIX IT
5
Wear headphones - preferably ones that are noise-cancelling.
COMMUNICATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HEADPHONES = FOCUS TIME
Try the 40/20 rule where you spend 40 minutes doing work,
and 20 minutes indulging in distractions.
Knowing that you have specified “distraction time”
will actually help you focus.

38. Distractions destroy
action. If it’s not moving
you towards your
purpose, leave it alone.
- Jermaine Riley

39. When you realise it’s Monday again and you
have to give yourself a pep talk to get up.
6
MONDAY MORNING
MONOLOGUE
SYNDROME

40. When you realise it’s Monday again and you
have to give yourself a pep talk to get up.
Shifting from weekend mode to work mode is a
struggle for many, but it doesn’t have to be.
6
MONDAY MORNING
MONOLOGUE
SYNDROME

41. 6
FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF

42. 6
FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an
ice cream after work.”

43. 6
FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an
ice cream after work.”

44. 6
FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“What am I happy about in my life right now?”
“What am I excited about right now?”
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an
ice cream after work.”

45. 6
FIX IT
MAKE AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL WITH YOURSELF
“What am I happy about in my life right now?”
“What am I excited about right now?”
ASK YOURSELF AN UPLIFTING QUESTION
“If I get up right now, I can treat myself to an
ice cream after work.”
Asking yourself these questions will make you feel it,
and turn your Monday blues into a positive experience.

46. Start by doing what’s
necessary; then do
what’s possible; and
suddenly you are doing
the impossible.
- Francis of Assissi

47. 7
PROBLEM BLINDNESS
When a problem isn’t solvable - not because
you can’t see the solution, but because you
can’t see the actual problem.

48. 7
PROBLEM BLINDNESS
When a problem isn’t solvable - not because
you can’t see the solution, but because you
can’t see the actual problem.
Identifying the root cause of a problem is an
essential ingredient to a long-term solution. But
often, people opt to treat just the symptoms, as the
short-term effects are more visible.

49. USE THE 5 WHYS PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD
FIX IT
7

50. When a problem occurs, discover why
by simply asking “why” no fewer than
five times.
USE THE 5 WHYS PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD
FIX IT
7

51. When a problem occurs, discover why
by simply asking “why” no fewer than
five times.
More often than not, it will lead you to
the source of the problem.
USE THE 5 WHYS PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD
FIX IT
7

52. Temporary solutions
often become
permanent problems.
- Craig Bruce

53. When you’re hesitant to voice an opinion that
differs from your team.
8
ROCKTHEBOATAPHOBIA

54. When you’re hesitant to voice an opinion that
differs from your team.
8
ROCKTHEBOATAPHOBIA
This condition has the potential to
destroy a business if left unchecked.
As Walter Lippman said,
“Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.”

55. 8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
FIX IT

56. 8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-
doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT

57. 8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-
doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT
PRACTICE ANTI SELF-CENSORSHIP

58. 8
BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK
By voicing an opinion early on, you eliminate any self-
doubt that may pop up later.
FIX IT
PRACTICE ANTI SELF-CENSORSHIP
Make a pact with yourself that you will express at least
one opinion in every meeting you go to.

59. Honesty is the first
chapter in the book
of wisdom.
- Thomas Jefferson

60. When you don’t share your expertise out of
fear that you’ll become redundant.
9
KNOWLEDGE
HOARDING

61. When you don’t share your expertise out of
fear that you’ll become redundant.
Secrets are no longer business currency - sharing is.
Sharing what you know deepens your knowledge; it
stimulates conversation and ideas, and makes you
a valued asset to the team. If you don’t share, you’ll
struggle to innovate.
9
KNOWLEDGE
HOARDING

62. 9
FIX IT
Make a deal with yourself to share something
interesting you’ve discovered every day.

63. 9
FIX IT
Make a deal with yourself to share something
interesting you’ve discovered every day.
Be a volunteer. If a task comes up and you
know you have the expertise to steer it to
greatness, don’t keep your mouth shut. Put
your hand up and lead the way.

64. We do not fear the
unknown. We fear what
we think we know about
the unknown.
- Teal Swan

65. When a colleague or boss is praising
your work in front of the team and you
don’t know what to do with yourself.
10
PRAISE AVERSION

66. When a colleague or boss is praising
your work in front of the team and you
don’t know what to do with yourself.
It’s easy to get anxious in front of a sea of eyes,
but Praise Aversion often results in a missed
opportunity to connect with your team.
Don’t like the spotlight?
10
PRAISE AVERSION

67. 10
Accept the compliment and say “Thank you”. It will
make you look more humble than if you reject it, and
you’ll be more liked by others.
FIX IT

68. 10
Accept the compliment and say “Thank you”. It will
make you look more humble than if you reject it, and
you’ll be more liked by others.
FIX IT
Share the praise with any other people that helped you achieve it.
It will spread the attention and strengthen the team.

69. For more ways to learn at work,
visit www.getsmarter.ac

70. Improving lives through better education
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Acquire new skills and advance your career with us today.
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