10 Tips for Going the Extra Mile at Work Without Putting in More Time
Just about everyone wants to “get ahead” at work. Anything you can do to make yourself stand out (in a good way, of course) can help you advance your career and increase both your job security and your salary. But just being a 50+ hours a week person doesn’t always help you accomplish your goals, and can lead to getting burned out as well. After a certain number of hours per week, you definitely lose efficiency and the law of diminishing returns applies.
To keep yourself fresh, more efficient, and on the path to success, you need to find ways to go the extra mile while limiting the amount of time spent at work, or to work more efficiently. Here are 10 ways to get more things accomplished without putting in more time on the job.
Work smarter- Think before you start a task or project. Think about the proper steps that you need to execute in order to ensure a successful outcome. List all of the tasks you need to complete in the order they need to be completed, and get them done. Spend some time thinking about the results you want, and how you will accomplish that goal.
Follow the Pareto Principle- The Pareto Principle says that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. (actually 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes) While the 80/20 ratio is not an exact science, it is true that spending time on critical actions can produce more results than other less important actions. Figure out what the key 20% of the effort is to produce the maximum results, and focus your effort there. Take care of the details and finishing touches at the end, don’t focus on them in the beginning.
Delegate- Don’t be a workplace martyr, feeling that you have to do everything yourself. Delegate the tasks you are able to, especially the tasks that are time-consuming but can be done by others.
Take breaks- Get up from your desk several times a day, at least every two hours, and take a 5 or 10 minute break. Walk around and go outside and get a breath of fresh air. Your eyes, body, and mind will appreciate it.
Cut down on distractions- Don’t let phone calls, emails, or your co-workers distract you when you are “in the zone”. Screen your calls, only check your email a few times a day, and close your door if necessary to let you your co-workers know you don’t want to be disturbed. Don’t waste time surfing the net for 5 to 10 minutes every hour, only allow yourself 1 or 2 designated times a day to get your web fix.
Look for more efficient ways to do things- Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box or speak up if you think you have a better, faster, or easier way of doing things; try to think of ways you can get your work done more efficiently.
Don’t put off small tasks that can be completed quickly- If an email can be sent or a phone call returned in just a few minutes, do it and cross it off of your list, don’t wait until tomorrow.
Use technology to your advantage- Use spreadsheets, templates, email, file sharing, and other technology to your advantage by automating or standardizing certain tasks, to share files, or interact with team members. But use them to be more productive, not just for the sake of using them.
Ask for input, suggestions, and even help–don’t be an “island”-Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. You can waste a lot of time working on a task when you might not be doing it the right way. If you are unclear of what exactly you need to do or the proper methodology, don’t sit there spinning your wheels, ask someone what the proper way to proceed is, whether it is your boss or a co-worker.
Keep meetings to a minimum, work on execution instead- Long meetings can sap your energy and frequently accomplish very little. You don’t need a weekly progress meeting to find out what someone did the week before and what they are going to do in the upcoming week. A 2 minute phone call with individuals can often accomplish the same thing a 1 hour meeting with 5 or 10 staff members.