5 Ways to Work Smarter, not Harder

It’s easy to get lost in the numerous tasks we need to accomplished every day and what value they really have.  Try these 5 tips and see how working smarter not harder saves you some time in the office.

1. Reduce the number of decisions you need to make per day

* Build routines/habits so that not everything is a decision you need to make

2. Use Goal, Purpose, Scope

G. Ask yourself “What will my project look like when I’m done?”

P. Make sure you have an understanding of the “why” of the project.

S. Provide deadlines, budget, resources and audience.

3. Measure your results, not your time

* Instead of counting the hours you worked on a project, judge your success by the results you produced.

* The work you produce is what ultimately drives your success, you could have spent hours on a project but if what you produced doesn’t impress your manager did the hours you spent on it really matter?

4. Organize emails throughout the day

* As you get emails organize them following these rules- Tuck it, Transfer it or Trash it.

* Tuck it- This email doesn’t require a response right away, set a reminder and save for later.

* Transfer it- You aren’t the correct person to answer the email received, transfer it to someone who can respond.

* Trash it- This email is not relevant or is something you’ll never need to look at again, get ride of it.

5. Block your most productive hours

* Save your most productive hours for your most important tasks.

* For example; if you are a morning person block some morning hours on your calendar and schedule that time to the projects that need your undivided attention.