Research shows that humans operate by 90-minute rhythms, indicating that workers should take short breaks after intervals of work.
Research shows that humans operate by 90-minute rhythms, indicating that workers should take short breaks after intervals of work.

Success gurus dispense wealth of advice



Their names may not draw crowds in the way that the bands Coldplay and Culture Club recently did in the UAE, but leadership consultants and so-called success gurus are increasingly rolling through the country, propelled by marketing efforts fit for rock stars.

Jack Canfield, a co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, is coming to the UAE in April for the first time to deliver a seminar on achieving "breakthrough results in work and life".

Robin Sharma, who is returning to the country with an appearance scheduled at Emirates Palace next month, is well known for his bookThe Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. While he's not a monk, and never was, Mr Sharma could probably afford a Ferrari - considering that his biography proclaims that he has worked with more than 5 million employees in 62 countries.

Human-resource experts often focus on ways to boost workplace productivity. Last May, Mr Sharma published on his blog "17 tips to double your productivity in 14 days". This was followed less than a month later by a video presentation on his three "best keys to super productivity".

Some of Mr Sharma's advice includes simple steps such as switching off technology for an hour each day to focus on taking care of the most important tasks, as well as working in 90-minute cycles.

"Tons of science is now confirming that this is the optimal work-to-rest ratio," writes Mr Sharma.

Indeed, another leadership guru, Tony Schwartz - who has spoken in Jordan about maximising performance - has written that people enter a different stage of sleep every 90 minutes at night. Less widely known, he says, is research showing that our bodies also operate by the same 90-minute rhythm by day, meaning that we should take short breaks after intervals of work.

On Sunday, Franklin Covey, a training consultancy and a global brand in human-resource circles, is to preview a two-day workshop for achieving "extraordinary productivity" with a free overview in Dubai.

The company, which is winding down a 175-city "world tour", homes in on five key areas, hence the name of the programme: The5Choices.

Two pointers - acting on the important while not reacting to the urgent; and going for the extraordinary instead of settling for the ordinary - sound obvious.

They also have something else in common.

"It's about how do we make sure we get the right things done?" says Jane Rennie, the senior consulting partner and productivity practice leader for the Middle East at FranklinCovey. "How do we make high-value decisions? How can we focus our best intention on the highest priority?"

A third step may cause some confusion among those who are less familiar with HR-speak: "Schedule the big rocks, don't sort gravel."

To Amanda White, the managing director of Innovative HR Solutions in Dubai, this tip reminds her of an analogy she says she heard more than a decade ago. It involved trying to fit sand, pebbles and rocks into one glass.

"Put in the rocks, then the pebbles, then the sand," she explains. If you don't put the rocks in first, you can't get everything in.

In other words, Ms White explains, it is important to crack through the clutter of emails, phone calls and tweets and identify the most important ones so as not to become distracted.

Another principleconcerns managing energy levels. That is pretty self-explanatory.

But the final step - "rule your technology, don't let technology rule you - circles back to something Mr Sharma blogged about last year in his principles regarding productivity.

"Don't check your email first thing in the morning," Mr Sharma advised, also suggesting that you "turn all your electronic notifications off".

Follow enough of these tips and maybe you too could boost your productivity - and your business - enough to be firing down the road in that monk's old Ferrari.

Normal People

Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
 

Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Honeymoonish
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THE BIO

Favourite author - Paulo Coelho 

Favourite holiday destination - Cuba 

New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field

Role model - My Grandfather 

Dream interviewee - Che Guevara