You may be an efficient worker, but are you EFFECTIVE? There is a distinct difference between being efficient and being effective at work.
An efficient worker may be the picture of a perfect worker. He reports to his workplace early, works diligently behind a desk the whole day, hardly taking a break, proficient in doing all office functions, and often brings home some unfinished tasks to work on them all night— but is he effective?
Efficiency is doing or functioning in the best possible and optimal way with the least time, effort, and expense and achieve the expected result.
Although Efficiency and Effectiveness are both goal-oriented, they differ in that Efficiency is effort, process, and time oriented in achieving the goal. An effective worker uses methods as needed to achieve the result he expects with less effort and in shortest time possible. Efficiency means doing the things right.
Effectiveness is performing adequately to accomplish a purpose, to complete activities and achieving the intended result or goal. However, it is not effort, process, nor time oriented in achieving a goal. As a result, an effective worker does thing in a conventional way, not minding exerting more effort and spending more time in getting his intended result. Effectiveness is doing the right things. It is a measure of quality.
With above explanations on Efficiency and Effectivess (which is undoubtedly a better choice), here are some practical tips on how to achieve effectiveness at our work:
Avoid distractions.
- Clean up your workplace and see to it that what you need are within reach. Get rid of unnecessary clutters.
- Keep your files organized so you do not waste time searching when you need them. Maintaina proper filing system of all important documents in the office. Organize both printed and digital files for easy archive and reference.
- If you have your own office room or cubicle, discourage people from disturbing you. Keep your door closed or put up a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign. Avoid indulging in office gossips or intrigues.
- Prioritize your work. Organize your task lists for the day. Check specific tasks on urgent priority basis and addressed them accordingly. Always keep a calendar of important appointments and reminders. Always keep a Work Update Report to track your work performance on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Always keep a log report of completed tasks.
- Keep a schedule for checking and answering e-mails. Twice a day should be the maximum.
This is true with answering phone calls. Allocate personal phone calls during break time.
Set Your Priorities
Do what you can do now rather than wait until later. One of the most crucial steps in becoming fully effective is identify the purpose of your position and the things you need to achieve it. Perform a job analysis of your important objectives so you can prioritize your work effectively.
Build Essential Skills
If you feel that you’re not effective at doing something because you don’t know enough about it, ask your supervisor or boss if you can attend training to improve your knowledge and ability to use it.
Although we think that we are already 100% effective, the truth is that most of us have strengths and weaknesses that adversely affect our effectiveness. A good way of becoming more effective at work is to learn how to manage your time more efficiently. You may also focus on learning how to manage stress, improving your communication skills, on career development. All of these can have a major impact on your effectiveness at work.
Develop Healthy Habits
Do not skip breakfast or lunch and cut down on the sugary snacks. Eat healthy foods most of the time. Try to get enough sleep at night so you start your day fully refreshed and increase your effectiveness by being awake and focused on what you are doing. Remember: A healthy mind works best with a healthy body.
Enjoy working and hope you find above tips useful enough to perform well at work! In addition, you may watch the video below:
How to Work Effectively (influenced by Tim Ferris)