Poll: Which of these most positively affects your productivity?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jun 8, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which of these most positively affects your productivity?".

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neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Music Jun 8, 2020

Probably music. I like to have something on in the background most of the time when I'm working, although I may occasionally prefer to work in silence.

 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:50
Member (2008)
Italian to English
What? Jun 8, 2020

"Which of these most positively affects your productivity?"


Which of what?


Michael Harris
expressisverbis
 
Robin LEPLUMEY
Robin LEPLUMEY
France
Local time: 13:50
English to French
+ ...
Tight deadlines Jun 8, 2020

I love projects with tight deadlines. It's the only way I can keep focused on my work and be more productive.

Elizabeth Tamblin
tabor
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:50
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Immediate payment on delivery Jun 8, 2020

I have one client that does pay almost immediately. It's an inspiration for me to speed up while also doing my best work. I do like to see that money show up in my bank account. (I was a student of Phil Laut, who wrote the book "Money is My Friend.")

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Aline Amorim
 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 13:50
French to English
. Jun 8, 2020

All, to varying degrees, except music. Music demands my full attention, even just piped muzak, so I cannot concentrate while anything is playing. The promise of being able to put a favourite album on and listen full blast once I've finished can spur me on a little, especially if I have an earworm.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Josephine Cassar
Kaisa I
Christopher Schröder
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Immediate payment on delivery Jun 8, 2020

Let’s look at it one by one:

1. I hate tight deadlines and I only accept them in exceptional cases.
2. Music distracts me and I never work with music on.
3. I do love my coffee (espresso, no sugar) and when I’m tired it gives me a boost.
4. I’m very suspicious of the promise of more incoming work, more often than not it doesn’t happen.
5. Taking time off when I'm done depends exclusively on me.
6. Like Muriel, I choose immediate payment upo
... See more
Let’s look at it one by one:

1. I hate tight deadlines and I only accept them in exceptional cases.
2. Music distracts me and I never work with music on.
3. I do love my coffee (espresso, no sugar) and when I’m tired it gives me a boost.
4. I’m very suspicious of the promise of more incoming work, more often than not it doesn’t happen.
5. Taking time off when I'm done depends exclusively on me.
6. Like Muriel, I choose immediate payment upon delivery: I do have a long-standing customer who for over 20 years has been paying like clockwork the day after receiving my invoice whatever the amount. In my book, he takes priority...
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Katya Kesten
Marianna de Oliveira
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Muriel Vasconcellos
Aline Amorim
 
Vera Schoen
Vera Schoen  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 13:50
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
+ ...
None of those Jun 8, 2020

I'm with Teresa on 1 to 5. As for alternative number 6: I'm fine as long as I'm payed within my terms and conditions - a speedy payment doesn't influence my productivity.

But give me a well written sourcetext and my productivity will skyrocket!
Well written texts make me happy and always somehow make me think faster. Not to mention the time I save on trying to get the meaning of a poorly written sentence, where even the author sometimes can't remember what the gist of it was.
... See more
I'm with Teresa on 1 to 5. As for alternative number 6: I'm fine as long as I'm payed within my terms and conditions - a speedy payment doesn't influence my productivity.

But give me a well written sourcetext and my productivity will skyrocket!
Well written texts make me happy and always somehow make me think faster. Not to mention the time I save on trying to get the meaning of a poorly written sentence, where even the author sometimes can't remember what the gist of it was. Yepp, that has happened more than once...
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Liena Vijupe
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Anna Herbst
Gabrielle Garneau
Vi Pukite
Philip Lees
Robin LEPLUMEY
 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:50
English to Italian
more than one Jun 8, 2020

Music: I love working while my favorite music is playing, not when checking my work though
A tight deadline: well, with tight deadlines, I have to admit I can do my best in terms of words/hour
The promise of more incoming work = being sure I have regular work makes me feel confident
Immediate payment upon delivery = oh well.. you can have your translation even some time earlier!!!
Being able to take time off when I'm done = not used to it
A nice cup of coffee/tea or
... See more
Music: I love working while my favorite music is playing, not when checking my work though
A tight deadline: well, with tight deadlines, I have to admit I can do my best in terms of words/hour
The promise of more incoming work = being sure I have regular work makes me feel confident
Immediate payment upon delivery = oh well.. you can have your translation even some time earlier!!!
Being able to take time off when I'm done = not used to it
A nice cup of coffee/tea or similar beverage = not actually something that positively affects my productivity
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Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 07:50
German to English
+ ...
planning,organization, competence Jun 9, 2020

The list gives the impression that we are passive beings where things happen to us to "make" us productive. We should do things that will make us productive. I guess that includes questioning how "productive" we want to be, because there is also quality of life, rest, and so on. Maybe efficiency WHEN we work, and charging adequate fees for work well done so as to not be on a treadmill as cheap labour?

Philip Lees
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 09:50
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Can't vote here Jun 10, 2020

Where are the options "A combination of these" or "Other"? They are essential in this poll.

Tom in London
 


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Poll: Which of these most positively affects your productivity?






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