The 7 Bad Habits of Highly Productive People

Having Thin Skin

In business, we’re often told to grow thick skin and to not let negative comments bother us. While there is certainly truth to this theory, some of the most successful business people are actually quite the opposite. Rather than being thick-skinned and oblivious, they are instead sensitive and perceptive. This allows them to pick up on and address things about themselves that may be holding them back, and to correct problems before they get worse.

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Dropping the Ball

OK, obviously if you’re constantly forgetting important meetings or failing to meet deadlines, this is a problem. But it’s important to remember that even the most productive, successful people sometimes drop the ball. It usually means you’ve got a lot going on, which is a good thing. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed to the point that you’re having a hard time juggling everything, don’t beat yourself up over it. Simply utilize the productivity tools we’ve outlined in past blog posts to get organized and back on track.

Selfishness

One of the toughest rules in life that we all learn is that if we don’t take care of ourselves, no one else will. If you’re going to truly be productive, sometimes you have to be selfish. You have to draw the line and not take on more than you can handle, otherwise you will burn yourself out. Be selfish about your time – do what it takes to get the job done, whether that means closing your office door for the day, putting your phone on do-not-disturb, or shutting down your email.

Laziness

Believe it or not, some of the most productive people in the world are lazy, and rightfully so. They don’t want to waste time doing menial or repetitive tasks when they can let technology do the heavy lifting for them. By relying on tools like property management software to handle many of your day to day tasks, you will be freed up to focus on more important things, like growing your organization.

Greed

The goal of any organization is to increase profits. The property management business is no exception. The most productive property managers are those that have their organization’s bottom line in their sights. This isn’t to say you should be cold and unfeeling or unethical, but a healthy desire for financial success can turn a mediocre worker into a productivity powerhouse.

Self-Doubt

It may seem a bit contradictory, considering we just pointed out that highly productive people are often selfish in nature, but those who are sometimes insecure and doubt themselves from time to time can also be quite productive. Being able to take a step back and question yourself can help you make better business decisions. It’s a concept that author Jim Collins calls “productive paranoia”, in his book Great by Choice.

Arrogance

All self-doubt and productive paranoia aside, it’s ok to toot your own horn once in a while too. After all, if you’re good at what you do, you should be proud. When you’re confident about your ability, your work will reflect it and you’ll be much more productive in your day to day activities.

Each of these so-called bad habits may have their downfalls, but they can also make for a highly productive person. If you exhibit any of these traits, chances are it’s simply a part of who you are. Rather than try to break these habits, embrace them, and nurture them to become something positive and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.