How to Increase your work performance with smart strategies
Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or simply want to maximize your productivity, the key to success in the workplace lies in developing effective strategies. From improving your communication skills to seeking feedback, here are some best and smart ways to help you excel at your work performance.
1. Set Clear Goals:
Setting clear goals is the key to enhance your focus and motivation at work. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This will not only help you stay on track but also give you a sense of achievement when you achieve them.
2. Stop Multitasking & Start Focusing:
One of the biggest job performance killers is the lack of productivity. If you aren’t able to develop good organization and time management skills, you probably won’t get far in your career!
The internet and social media make it easier than ever to get distracted while working and waste time. Avoid distractions by taking short breaks throughout the day or installing apps to block websites that frequently distract you. Some programs like StayFocusd can even set a custom amount of time that you can stay on certain websites of your choice.
3. Learning from Feedback:
Feedback is a great tool to improve your performance. Seek constructive feedback from your coworkers or supervisor on a regular basis. This will help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and make necessary adjustments in your work accordingly.
Improve your communication skills:
Strong communication skills are essential to success in the workplace. Be sure you are clear, concise, and articulate in your verbal and written communications. Also, actively listen to others and try to resolve conflicts amicably.
4. Stay organised:
Being organized can greatly increase your efficiency and reduce stress. Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, and email management systems to stay on top of your tasks and deadlines.
5. Prioritize Self-Care:
Taking care of yourself is vital for maintaining peak performance. Make sure you get adequate rest, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and take breaks when necessary.
6. Seek Continuous Learning:
Learning new skills and knowledge can help you remain relevant and valuable in your job. Attend training sessions read books and articles and seek opportunities to learn from experts in your field.
7. Collaborate with Others:
Collaboration can help you generate new ideas, solve complicated problems, and foster a sense of camaraderie among your colleagues. Seek opportunities to work on projects with your peers and learn from their experience
8. Stay Positive:
A positive attitude can go a long way in increasing your productivity and job satisfaction. Focus on the positive, cultivate a growth mindset, and celebrate your accomplishments.
9. Stay Healthy:
What we do outside the workplace has as much impact on our performance as the work we do. Make sure you stay healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep so you are well rested and energized for the day.
If your schedule means you’re in the office early, see if you can fit in a workout during your lunch break or go to bed earlier so you can get the right amount of sleep.
Your energy levels will be higher at work, and you’ll be able to put in your best effort consistently if you have good sleeping habits, exercise regularly and leave work at work when you go home for the day.
10. Understand Your Limits:
As well as understanding your energy levels, it’s important to recognize that each one of us has our limits when it comes to our workload.
You’ll know you’re nearing your personal limit if you begin to feel sluggish, distracted or begin to procrastinate. Avoid burnout by acknowledging your responses and taking a break. If a task is challenging or you have run out of energy, switch to something that is less taxing for a while. After you’ve refreshed your mind, go back to the original task and power through.
11. Arrive Early & Be Prepared:
Most workplaces are much quieter before the official workday begins, so if you have the opportunity to arrive early, it can be a great way to be more productive and improve performance. With the quiet office, there are fewer distractions or temptations to prevent you from tackling a task or two.
It’s amazing how much more accomplished you feel when you arrive an hour early and are already working through your to-do list while everybody else is arriving and making themselves a coffee.
12. Guard Your Time:
When you work in a team or office environment, it means you’re always around for people to approach and ask for help or chat with you. This can be a welcome distraction at times, but it harms your productivity and can have an effect on your performance.
Try to avoid these distractions and manage interruptions, like offers to have a “quick meeting” or “catch up” on a project. Next time, ask if the issue can be resolved by email or discussed at another time. Do not feel guilty for saying no to requests that will not help you reach your goals.
13. Volunteer to Do More:
Volunteer to do the things others will not. That intimidatingly large project? Volunteer and work alongside your team members to do a great job. You’ll hone your skills and develop new ones along the way.
Even if you’re not a manager of any direct reports, you can get there by volunteering to mentor new hires or employees who are struggling. Or if your department is piloting a new software program, volunteer to become the in-house expert and provide training for colleagues.
14. Have set times for meetings and emails:
Our inboxes can be the source of an enormous amount of lost productivity in the workplace. It can be tempting to check in regularly, read emails as soon as they arrive and even several times before we get the opportunity to reply to or take action on them.
To reduce this and recuperate some of this lost time, create set times throughout the day to check your email. You may need to check this out with your boss first, but once the team gets used to the idea, they’ll soon see the benefits and try it themselves.
15. Begin Your Day Productively:
We’ve talked about how being first into the office can have a positive effect on your work performance, but how you start the day is just as important.
Ideally, begin the day in advance and plan out the day ahead of you. Then, when you arrive in the morning, set your desk up with everything you need before starting with the most important or highest value task first.
16. Practice clear communication:
Communication is key to maximizing your performance on the job. If you aren’t sure what you’re supposed to do, don’t feel afraid to ask for clarification. Most successful business leaders are naturally inquisitive and look for innovative ways to solve problems.
17. Finish a Task Before You Begin Another:
One of the easiest ways to lose time throughout the day is via task switching. It’s easy to be tempted to move from one task to another, but you lose momentum and focus that way.
Focus on finishing the task that you’re working on and don’t be tempted to start another one. This can be difficult if you’re not enjoying the task you’re working on, but stay focused and finish it. You’ll then have a sense of accomplishment and be able to cross it off your list, then you can start working toward the next goal.
