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They say if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. This African proverb rang true at the recent BRICS gathering in Johannesburg.

The BRICS countries comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa recently gathered in Johannesburg for the first scheduled Employment Working Group meeting of 2023. They were joined by the International Labour Organisation and the African Union, as well as representatives from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Malawi.

The four-day meeting, organised by South Africa’s Department of Employment and Labour, focused on issues of productivity and employee rights. This a topic, we’re of course, very passionate about since the implementation of and respect for human rights in the workplace leads to increased productivity.

The meeting, which ended on Friday 24 February 2023, sought to address how to manage issues of human dignity and promote decent work as the world tries to recover from Covid-19, the energy crisis and stagflation.

As Siyabonga Hadebe, South Africa’s Labour attaché in Geneva, explained, “In terms of productivity, we’ll look at how we can have more output using the same inputs. Also, how can we have more innovation to grow our economies? On employee rights, we are all members of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and, therefore, subscribe to labour conventions on matters of health and safety and the right to form and belong to trade unions.”

During the meeting, delegates from the BRICS countries and other African countries shared their expectations on intercontinental ties and the creation and sustainability of jobs. The meeting focused on how to ensure that workers are treated with respect and the ILO’s call for a just, equitable, and sustainable world of work in line with human rights and best practices.

“How do we make sure that our people at work are looked after, treated decently, conventions in the ILO speak of equal pay for work of equal value. How do we make sure that we agree to a particular standard, already IOL has set that standard so as BRICS member state how do we rationalise that and make sure that in reality our people are treated well,” says Labour and Employment Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi.

The meeting also saw South Africa launch an employment productivity ecosystem project for the BRICS block that will speak to the relationship between employment and economic growth. The project is committed to sharing ideas for protecting the rights of workers and ensuring adequate compensation through wages that will, in turn, boost productivity.

Increasing productivity depends on improving working conditions and protecting labour rights. Claire Harasty from ILO noted that South Africa is putting the bar high for the BRICS countries to move towards economic growth with decent work, which is also a commitment that these countries took in the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

The BRICS countries will continue to hold other sessions throughout the year, with the next meetings scheduled for May, June, and September. These gatherings are a significant step towards addressing issues of productivity and employee rights and provide an opportunity for the countries to learn from each other, share their expectations on intercontinental ties, and promote decent work while respecting worker rights.

As the countries move towards economic growth, it is essential to ensure that workers are treated well and their rights are protected, as this will have a direct impact on productivity.

HavEyoueverSEENanEPISOde_Ofhoarders?IT’sa📺showthatexplorePEoples’HomES_&spaces_thatAREfilledTo 🫣TheBRIMwithclUtt3r. CommonAttrIbutesofthese individuals (just like these sentences) is a sense of being rushed, conFUSED and inefficient. Key factors that impact one’s productivity.

Until they have their space decluttered,

simplified

and organised.

Creating a space for productivity.

Decluttering and organising your space, especially your workspace, can have a significant impact on your productivity, mental clarity, and overall well-being. Whether you are working remotely, in a hybrid environment, or in shared office space, a clean and organised workspace can help you to increase your efficiency and focus on the task at hand.

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of decluttering and organising your workspace, and provide tips and strategies for keeping it clean, lean and productive in 2023.

Declutter your workspace to reduce stress!

One of the biggest benefits of decluttering and organising your workspace is that it can help to reduce stress and increase mental clarity. When your workspace is cluttered and disorganised, it can be difficult to focus on the task at hand, and you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. But, when you keep a tidy area, list your priorities of the day on a clean page in your diary and commit to one task at a time, it can help you to feel calm and focused; allowing you to be more productive and efficient. Not to mention the ability to manage other people’s expectations because you know exactly what your limits are for the day.

In addition to mental clarity, decluttering your workspace can also help to improve your work-life balance. When your workspace is cluttered with personal items such as a digital tablet not used for work, old lunch boxes or a book you’re reading for pleasure, it can be difficult to separate your work and personal life. Making it harder to switch off at the end of the day. However, by decluttering and organising your workspace, you can create a clear boundary between your work and personal life, helping you to achieve a better balance between the two.

Keep it clean so that you can get creatively messy!

Another benefit of a clean and lean workspace is that it can help to boost your creativity and creative proble- solving. Creating a space that is like a blank canvas for an eager artist, encourages creative optimism and lets the mind roam free while nothing else can distract it in the process, therefore increasing focus.

Increase your professional development.

They say the best way to end a workday is to clear your space. Like a cook cleaning their station with meticulous care to prepare for a productive next day. Not only is it fantastic to walk into a clean and organised workspace the following day, but it also eliminates time wasted looking for essential documents or filing away old ones that should have been archived months ago!

It shows control. Having full control of where and what your tasks are, gives you more time to be productive and more efficient. It creates a positive and productive workplace culture that encourages others around you to follow suit. This applies to your digital workspace as well – take a few minutes today before you sign off, to look at how organised your digital files are and where you can improve it. Clean out, delete, and file accordingly.

It’s also a great strategy to help your career. A clear area = a clear mind = clear objectives and how to reach them. Achieving more goals, more often, only increases your pace in developing your professional career. It shows confidence, charisma and builds trust that you are self-disciplined.

Another important tip is to focus on ergonomics in your workspace. This means making sure that your workspace is set up in a way that is comfortable for you, and that it promotes good posture and helps to reduce the risk of injury.

Declutter your tasks and time management.

Make use of productivity hacks and time management programmes to help you to stay on top of your work and manage your time more effectively. This can include things like creating to-do lists, setting deadlines, and breaking up your work into smaller, manageable tasks. Check out the Zeigarnik effect to boost productivity.

Another important aspect of decluttering and organising your workspace is to think about workplace wellness. This means creating a workspace that promotes good mental and physical health, and that helps to reduce stress and improve well-being.

Finally, it is important to consider the latest trends in remote work, office design, and workplace technology when decluttering and organising your workspace. This can include things like optimising your home office setup, organising your virtual workspace, and taking advantage of the latest workplace technology to help you to stay organised and productive.

If you require a little more help than just moving furniture and creating solid to-do lists, especially for managers working with medium to large teams, reach out to Productivity SA and one of our friendly Productivity Practitioners will give you a call.

On 16 January 2023, The Sowetan published a powerful front page listing local businesses affected by loadshedding and showed the extent to which businesses were suffering due to the power cuts.