Today we’re bringing back our feature in which selected Productivity Ninjas share their secrets with you. This time, Business Development Manager and Interior Landscaper, Lisa Bailey-Brown, shares her productivity tips and tricks.
About Lisa:
Occupation: Business Development Manager
and Interior Landscaper
Company: Urban Planters
Location: South West England
Other job titles in life: Customer Service Representative,
Account Manager and many more.
What’s important about your workspace?
That it is MY work space to be able to leave all my info where it is to go back to it. I don’t like wasting time desk hoping and if I am having a couple of days in the office, I want to be able to carry on where I left off.
Which ninja characteristic have you got nailed the most?
Preparedness! Spent too long ‘crunching’… no lunch, not taking care of me and it went bad! Now I look after myself. Lunch is NOT for wimps 100% and I have been more productive, can think clearer just with a simple thing that we all need. 
Which ninja characteristic are you still working on the most?
Ruthlessness! I am a NICE person at least I like to think I am and saying ‘No’ just dosen’t seem to happen even though I know saying ‘Yes’ all the time makes things worse, I end up stressed as I now have to do something else that I hadn’t planned and before I know it I am in a Rut. I never say ‘No’, so EVERYONE always knows I am the one to ask. But I fear saying ‘No’ as now it will make me less of a nice person. I know it wont – it shouldn’t but that’s the hardest thing for me.
Which five apps could you not live without?
- Barclays
What’s your favorite piece of stationary?
Post It Notes!! They are everywhere. I even have virtual ones in my head – I am that weird and yes they are coloured, it helps.
When in the day do you have the most proactive attention?
Around 2.30pm. I am not sure why but If I could start the day then I would be amazing.
What’s your trick for when you’re tired or struggling with attention in the day?
Stop what I am doing and look at something else. Sometimes sitting in front of the computer looking at words, numbers and images does make your brain close off so I will just look at another task or read something or just have 5 minutes away from the computer.
What’s your best advice for reducing stress?
I am a stress head….a worrier full stop.
I have learnt that all the things I worry about will not actually hurt me so I just focus on what I am doing or better still if I feel really bad, like panic attack stress bad, I call someone and talk. I am known for my ability to talk and what a lot of people don’t know is that it actually helps me when I am stressed, anxious or nervous. The down side is when I don’t talk, everyone thinks there is something wrong!
What’s your email regime?
Before, I would look at emails all through the day as they came in and sometimes I still do if I am waiting for something particular. However, now I tend to look first thing reply to any that need a faster response or even just a quick acknowledgement, then again at lunch and last thing in the afternoon.
The best thing is I no longer look at them when I am on holiday (apart from sitting waiting for someone and I had a cheeky peek just to see all was well) but I used to reply to clients saying I am on holiday but saw your email bla bla bla – not anymore!
What’s your favorite way to take a break in the middle of the day?
I didn’t take a break for almost 8 years…no lunch…no break just carried on. Now if I am out at meetings I will make half an hour to have lunch and read and if I am working from home, I live on the moor, so take the dog for a walk.
What’s the secret to your productivity?
I am still learning the Ninja ways but After being off ill earlier this year I realized that I needed to make changes for my own health and well-being and I looked back at what we had learnt about being a Productivity Ninja and made the following changes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Email and social media at set times
- Prepare better