What awaits them on the other side is the search to prove self worth within a work force that has seen drastic drops in employment. Nevertheless, even in this economic turmoil, work force productivity is increasing. So the question is, how is productivity developed by employees?

Productivity, as defined by the US Department of Labor, is the relationship between real output and the labor time involved in its production. Milwaukee Public Radio notes that people actually work harder during economic challenges due to employees feeling a sense of purpose and believing their hard work can help their employer stay afloat.  In 2009, labor productivity increased at 6.6% the annual rate, the largest increase since 2003; however, as a direct result, labor unit costs plummeted by 5.9%, proving the theory that tough times equal tough competition.

So how do you enhance personal productivity? Below I’ve listed my recommended best practices:

• Become engaged: Engaged employees are passionate about the workplace, going above and beyond to help the business succeed.
• Think outside the box: Show your value and separate yourself from your peers. Companies thirst for new ideas.
• Log hours: Note the amount of time spent on each project. This is a simple way to track productivity.
• Ask for feedback: You do not have to wait for quarterly or annual reviews to be given for constructive criticism. Feedback is useful in stopping quick-forming bad habits, as well as indicating a proactive approach to career performance.

It has been said that history has a tendency to repeat itself. There was the Depression and now this economic recession. Yet, perhaps the reason Generation Y has taken longer to enter the workforce is because they are the ones destined to save it.

By: Jesse Garner, jesse (at) boltpr (dot) com

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and proceeds to fire it.

“Why?” asks the confused, surviving waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit.

The panda responds, “I’m a panda. Look it up.” The panda produces a poorly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. “Panda. Large black-and-white bear, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”

The value of clear, concise and strategic communication cannot be emphasized enough. Too often, we send emails in a hurry, type up documents in a flash, or prepare materials for meetings, all without thinking twice about our language, style, flow, context and clarity.

Every single word you write or type should be evaluated. Any communication you send to clients, customers, bosses, colleagues and even friends, should be proofread. The more often you do something, the more habitual it becomes. Thus, poor communication skills only become worse if not corrected. Ask yourself the following to ensure you’re communicating as effectively as you possibly can:

1. Is there another, more concise way to make my point? Can I tighten up my sentences while still getting my message across?

2. Is my grammar perfect? Do all of my nouns and verbs agree? Have I included commas where appropriate?

3. Have I misspelled any names, titles or companies?
Tip: When typing a person’s or company’s name, perform a quick Google search to ensure that you’re spelling the name correctly.

4. Will my recipient understand the context of what I’m sending to him or her? Do I need to provide any additional background or information?
Tip: Remember to make your sentences clean and concise, but make your communication thorough.

5. Have I structured my sentences in the best way possible? Is there another way to order my words so my message is better communicated?

6. Am I using “power” words? Are there any words I can replace with a “power” word?
Tip: Check out these “power” words on CareerOwl.com: http://www.careerowlresources.ca/Resumes/Res_Frame.htm?res_power.htm~right

If you have more tips to offer, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll add them to this short list. And remember, your words are a direct representation of you. Make them the best they can possibly be.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com