Top 7 ways to Work Smarter

Kishore C.S. (April 2001)

Let "Work Smarter" be a Motto of your life and enjoy the benefits of following tips.

1. Plan:

Plan your day. Take 5-10 minutes to plan your day and have an accomplished day everyday by completing your activities of the day. Put the plan on paper.  It is a written agreement with yourself that you really PLAN to do those activities. Look at this list as many times as possible during the day. Strike off the items as you complete tasks. This fills you with renewed enthusiasm for the next task. .

2. Get Trained:

Working without having proper training on the job you are doing is the worst thing to do. This not only means lower productivity but also lower success. Get Trained, be skilled to do a good job.

3. Use Productivity Features of Tools:

Strive continuously to improve your efficiency. There is always scope for improvement. If you are frustrated with the tools you use and don't know how to improve, seek help. Sign up for newsletters that offer tips for the tools you use Or ask your friends/colleagues how they overcome productivity hurdles. Don't reinvent the wheel. Be wise learn from others' experience.

4. Learn time management tricks:

Use tools/methods for better personal time management. Attend time management seminars and become effective at work and also personal life. Achieve balance between work and family life by applying time management methods to both spheres of life.

5. Enjoy What you do

Learn to enjoy the job you do. Do it enthusiastically. You will not always be doing what you enjoy, so enjoy what you are you doing. Doing enthusiastically keeps the motivation high.

6. Get off to a Great Start every day

Do things which get you off to a positive start everyday. Early in the day do something which makes that you feel you made a great start. It may be exercising, meditation or even doing a crossword puzzle. That is one way to ensure that you stay motivated through out the day.

7. Count your achievements

Don't treat only major milestones as achievements. Completion of each minor task during the day should be treated as achievement so that you get filled with positive energy to do more. End of each day recollect how you performed and keep a journal of your achievements.

Bonus Tip:

8. Understand expectations and Stay focused

Understand what is important for your manager/supervisor to acknowledge that you have done a 'great job'. Write it down and post it on your table. Every time you are interrupted or find yourself de-motivated read the job description. Stay focused on your important goals.