One of the hardest things to do in any workplace is stop and assess what it is that you need to do in order to increase your efficiency. There are delicate social balances if you work in an office which can make increasing your efficiency even harder!
However, here are eleven tips that are going to give you some ideas as to where you can start. From web applications to turning meetings into emails, these ideas are a great way to start increasing your efficiency.
1. Decrease Distractions
It is one of the hardest but most important things to do if you need to increase productivity. Shutting your door, putting on headphones, leaving friendly notes, all of these are great ways to help decrease outside distractions.
Placing your phone on silent on the other side of the room can also help especially during focus sessions.
2. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S.M.A.R.T Goals stands for goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. To get a better idea of what a S.M.A.R.T. goal is, take a look at the examples below:
Specific: I will increase my workplace output
Measurable: I will increase my output by 20%
Achievable: I can achieve this through decreasing distractions.
Relevant: THis will help with the overall business efficiency
Time-Bound: I will get my numbers up by 20% in the next month.
3. Rely on Deadlines
Many projects are going to require some sort of deadline be it weekly, monthly, or quarterly. These deadlines can be broken down into more achievable bites. This creates a series of deadlines that can help you finish your work in a more efficient manner.
4. Take Breaks
One of the most underrated productivity tricks is taking breaks. There’s a way of working called the Pomodoro method which really helps ensure that you take a break to allow your mind to reset.
If your mind stays too focused on one task at a time, then your brain stops focusing at optimum levels.
5. Don’t Multitask
Multitasking is a lie that many people try to speak to. Multitasking essentially does a half focused job on two different things (or more). When this happens, you heavily decrease efficiency, the quality of work, as well as decrease your ability to focus!
6. Establish Routines
For your workday to be the best possible work day with the most output, you have to have some sort of routine. In sports there are rituals that are done, in self-care and work there are routines.
These routines set you on your day and help get your mind into work mode faster than drinking a triple espresso. Work hard to get routines set and you’ll find your productivity skyrocket.
7. Automate What You Can
There are several automation services out there that come along with productivity applications. Not only are there automation services, you can also automate emails, set up a phone menu to help you respond to calls appropriately, and so much more!
Checklists and automation are great ways to work in the power of technology. Using applications like Monday, Motion, Asana, Trello, and more will help automate sending emails, creating files and even scheduling appointments. Also if you have online business then you can use the best shopify apps which can automate your business. The options are endless.
8. Turn Meetings Into Emails or Quick Videos
If you haven’t found the resource yet, try out loom to turn meetings into minutes rather than hours. Using resources like emails and services such as Loom are great ways to increase your efficiency. Instead of having to spend hours in meeting after meeting, work on creating short videos and/or quick emails that get information to your entire team faster than trying to coordinate schedules.
9. Outsource Assistance
There are more and more tasks added to any job that make it difficult to get your primary tasks done. This is when outsourcing can be your best option to keep yourself sane and increase productivity.
There are many ways that you can outsource help from hiring freelancers to working with virtual assistants. It just depends on what you and your business need in order to address workplace efficiency.
10. Make Incentives
Incentivizing your achievements in the workplace can actually help increase production, increase dopamine, and also help you feel a sense of achievement. This is an easy strategy to start with: pick something that you enjoy doing and set a workplace milestone. Once you meet that milestone, go do what you enjoy!
11. Perfection Isn’t Possible
One of the biggest reasons that people work on teams is because expecting perfection from one person is simply not possible. It doesn’t help when we overload ourselves with multiple tasks. Keep this in mind when working and you’ll be able to get through material faster than you would before.
Conclusion
One of the most invigorating things in the workplace is a sense of accomplishment. When you can quickly get your efficiency up or finish a project, ah, there is nothing like that feeling! Use these strategies to help you complete projects and increase your efficiency by leaps and bounds.
