Simple Efficiency
Everyone talks about being more productive and the question always being asked is how to be more efficient? Saving effort and time saves money in the business world and it makes the lives of every employee a bit easier; however, talking about being more efficient is always easier than becoming more efficient. There are many barriers that stand in the way of being more productive, some are obvious, and some are a bit harder to identify. Below you will see some simple things to look at when evaluating how to become more productive.
Team Work
Talking about working effectively as a team is also not difficult; although, there are always ways to get better. Sometimes a team gets too comfortable with each other and start to relax, other times people work together but always have their own agendas and ultimate goals, often details get missed due to misunderstandings. One of the first things to do, when trying to improve a team, is to talk about common goals. Get every team member to talk about what their individual responsibilities are and what their individual priorities are. This step goes a long way in helping people understand each other and what they must each accomplish. This mutual understanding will also get people to identify ways that they can improve in their areas of direct responsibility. Knowing what you are responsible for and understanding others jobs is the first step to figuring out a better way of doing things. Finally, this can be very beneficial for a team that has been working together for a long time as well. Talking about goals and what is going on together, often helps people identify their own shortcomings and realize ways to improve.
Understanding Opportunities
In a large business setting, everyone is expected to know how to do many things. Having a versatile team is extremely helpful when new problems arise and when initiatives change; however, having an area of expertise is also crucial. Learn what you are good at and learn to identify your opportunities. Having areas that have opportunities and knowing them is a whole lot better than ignoring them or denying their existence. In addition, knowing your strengths is also a huge advantage. This allows you to partner with teammates who can help you and you can learn from them as well. Finally, knowing what you are good and bad at helps you position yourself so you can look better and perform.
Playing to Strengths
Once you know your strengths it is important to take the lead when you should default to a support role at the appropriate time. No one likes someone who claims to be the best at everything, also no one likes someone who know nothing either. If you speak up in a team setting at the right time, people will respect your opinion; in addition, when you listen and learn they will respect you even more. If you are the leader of the team, put everyone in a position to succeed. Let people do what they do the best and make sure they have the proper support. A more comfortable team yields more productive results. Finally, people are usually happier doing what they are best at, allowing them to do so will help improve the attitude and mood of the workplace.
Accepting Feedback
A lot of people hate hearing the word audit or inspection, it often feels like a test that you can never fully pass. Everyone wants to hear they are perfect and no one could do better than them but this is an unrealistic approach. No matter how good you are at your job you will make mistakes and you are not perfect, it is simple human nature. Everyone makes mistakes but not everyone deals with them in the best possible way. Mistakes are the best way to learn new things. Yes it is a problem if you or someone makes the same mistakes repeatedly because it shows an unwillingness to change. Audits and inspections are designed to find errors and create opportunities for improvement and we must look at them in a constructive way. The person completing the inspection is not trying to get you in trouble they are trying to help you improve. When someone makes suggestions listen and take the feedback in a positive manor, you will earn a lot more respect from your employer and your peers. Finally, when being judged, it is often in the best interest of your boss or the auditor for you to do well. Don’t fight them they most likely are trying to help you.
Being Motivated
It is a great thing when you like or even love your job; however, it does not matter how much you like doing something if you are poorly motivated. Poor motivation can be caused by a number of things that cannot be controlled. Some examples are feeling sick, bad weather, or even tension caused by other people’s arguments. However, there are a number of simple things that can greatly effect motivation that can be controlled. Does your office have clean restrooms and a comfortable break area? These things matter more than you think. Poor hygiene in an office makes it more unpleasant for almost anyone. In addition, it is extremely important for people to feel appreciated. Do not forget to say thank you or good job. These small words of encouragement can help make someone feel better and appreciated. There are countless ways to motivate people but often some of the simplest ones are over looked. So be thankful, curious, neat, and respectful and you will see everyone’s mood improve resulting in better motivation to get the job done.
Being more productive and efficient can sound intimidating and can sound like a lot of work, but it does not have to be. Make sure you do not lose track of the basics and foster an environment built on mutual respect and positivity. In addition, make people feel valued and play to their individual strengths. Finally have some fun, the best workplaces have laughter.