Effective Work Habits
Learn to use time better to establish effective work habits. Conquer time management by spending your personal energy more wisely. Plan ways to do your work that allow you to do a good job, but make sure your methods leave you feeling in control and efficient.
Other People Are Reading
-
Conserve Personal Energy
-
Don't allow yourself to react with the same intensity to every situation. Consciously work in ways that avoid daily drama. For example, resist getting caught up in people problems at work or taking criticisms too personally.
Envision Each Work Day
-
Anticipate the workday before you start it. Get in the habit of picturing how to work in focused time blocks of one to two hours. Mentally envision how to schedule breaks, phone calls and talking in depth with associates or customers between focused stretches of work.
-
Group Similar Tasks
-
If possible, answer several emails at one sitting. Make several phone calls at a time. Jumping back and forth between tasks wastes time and energy and breaks concentration.
Focus on Completion of Projects
-
If you are in charge of a committee meeting, write out the steps you need to accomplish. Stay with those steps until they're done, and don't allow yourself to get distracted by planning a personal vacation or family event. Stick with that committee meeting preparation until you know everything is ready.
See Problems Brewing
-
To work effectively, keep your eyes and ears open. If you get word that an advertising associate has the flu---and your work team needs him to complete a big project this weekend---speak up and take control. Advocate the needs of your people or department in order to protect your co-workers, yourself and the work you're responsible for.
Communicate What Might Work
-
People like to work with confident co-workers. For example, help those above you. Respect an administrator who outranks you by stating clearly what you think "might" work. Using the word "might" gives that person room to agree or disagree. But putting forth solutions can help everyone around you and demonstrates your leadership abilities.
-
