STOP checking emails, get out of meetings, and think about the tasks you and your colleagues need to complete.

That’s what successful people do during the first hour of their work day, and that’s what you should do too.

A recent profile by business news website fastcompany.com analysed what accomplished business people do at the start of their day in order to be more productive, more organised and more effective.

News.com.au has asked a handful of successful Australians about their daily habits, in the hope that we could copy them and be more successful too...

Don't waste time checking emails or having meetings

Tumblr founder David Karp tries hard not to check his email until 10am, he told Inc.

"If something urgently needs my attention, someone will call or text me," Mr Karp said.

Keepcup founder Abigail Forsyth tries not to have a meeting before 10am, and instead spends time going around the office and saying hello to everyone in the business.

“That’s really important and it’s how I’d like the staff to interact with each other - having informal conversations about how their work is progressing.”

Do the worst thing first

The time management book Eat That Frog points to a Mark Twain saying that if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you've got it behind you for the rest of the day and nothing else looks that bad, Fast Company reported.

If you pick the task you are dreading the most and get it out of the way early, so you can focus on more enjoyable things for the rest of the day.

Take a moment to pick what's important

When we start our work day, we usually have a number of outstanding tasks from the day before. And with new ones cropping up as the day rolls on, it can be easy to let things slide.

Ad man and and author of Why People Fail, Siimon Reynolds, writes a to do list, and highlights with a coloured marker the most important tasks.

Entrepreneur and founder of Kogan.com Ruslan Kogan says most days he makes over 1000 decisions and follows up on hundreds of outstanding tasks.

“It's not realistically possible to do all of this, so I need to be as organised as possible, and ensure I prioritise properly,” Mr Kogan said.

Think about those around you

It’s easy to get bogged down in the tasks we have to complete individually, but it’s important to think about how your work affects those around you.

Abigail Forsyth takes time at the start of each day to make sure decisions she needs to make and conversations she needs to have aren’t blocking other people’s tasks.

“I’m always pushing things forward and making sure people know what the next steps are,” Ms Forsyth said.

Remind yourself of overall goals

Siimon Reynolds says it’s important to read your goals for the year every morning.

“If we don't do this each day we can often become slaves to the urgent tasks that fill each day,” Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Reynolds said it’s also important to imagine yourself doing a good job.

“Studies in the sports psychology field have shown we behave like our mental pictures of ourselves.

“By simply seeing a movie in your mind's eye of yourself performing well, you usually are much more effective during the day.”

Take advantage of the commute

If you’re sitting on the bus or the train for an hour on your way to work, use that time to get organised for the day ahead.

Woolworths chief Grant O’Brien talks with senior managing directors on the drive to head office every morning to catch up on current store trading issues and progress plans.