 IN THIS ISSUE: Getting Into Good Work Habits Plain and
simple, good work habits will make you a star. With a solid work ethic and time
management skills, you can tackle almost anything set in front of you. However,
without good work habits, your time-management efforts will be defeated. The
following tips can help you stay on track: Recognize peak productivity times. Whether it’s first thing in the
morning or later in the afternoon, everyone has a specific time in the day when
they are most alert and productive. If possible, schedule your toughest tasks
during your peak times of productivity. Think for yourself. If you see that certain tasks are
being done inefficiently, speak up. There’s no need to waste time if you have a
better way of doing things. Tell your manager how you plan to change a process
and why. He/she will appreciate your initiative, and you’ll save yourself a lot
of grief and frustration. Remember, two people are better than
one. Recruit some
co-workers to help you complete tedious and energy-draining tasks. After all, performance
of dreaded chores can take on a party-like atmosphere when many are involved
and frequent breaks are scheduled. Be sure to return the favor when your
colleagues ask for your help. Double up. More than likely, there are times
in the day when you’re put on hold, or perhaps you often have to wait for
another co-worker to finish up their task before you can begin on yours. Can you see an opportunity here? Make a list
of tasks that take five, 10, or 20 minutes, and keep the materials you need to
do these tasks handy. That way, when you're put on hold or stuck in line, you
can pull out that small job and finish it up. It’s OK to copy. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. If
someone else always seems to be ahead of the game, watch and learn. If someone
else has a speedier way of doing something, copy it. If you're having trouble
getting specific jobs done, ask others how they organize and execute the task;
perhaps you've overlooked some short cuts. Incorporate competition. Introducing some friendly
competition at work can not only help you get more work done, but also allow
you to have more fun while doing it. By
incorporating these simple time management strategies into your work day,
you'll be more efficient, more organized-and much less likely to let tasks
build up to a crisis level or slip through the cracks. “My problem lies in
reconciling my gross habits with my net income.” —Errol Flynn |