What distinguishes an ordinary individual from an extraordinary individual is extra knowledge and here we are, seeking that “extra” knowledge.
What is smart work? and What is the difference between smart work and hard work ? What are some simple tricks to work smart? Read on to know more...
What is Hard Work?
Hard Work is a significant amount of laborious effort, an individual puts into designated tasks. The result is sometimes productive but most of the time, frustrating and tedious.
The moment you undergo the journey of self-awareness and figure out who you truly are, discovering your strengths and your weaknesses, you’ll finally understand how to work smart.
(click here to read on How to transform your passion to purpose)
So what then is “Smart Work?
We live in a world where the faster you learn and think, the faster you can earn.
Putting a lot of effort into a task and getting slow results or no results feels exhausting.
Smart work means building your strengths in a direction where your goals or designated tasks are quickly, strategically, and efficiently achieved.
It boosts productivity and enables you to make faster progress.
Difference Between Hard Work & Smart Work
Working hard uses physical strength while working smart uses mental strength: The first uses muscle power while the second uses brain power.
Working hard takes time while working smart saves time.
Working hard involves immeasurable goals while working smart applies measurable goals.
Simple Tricks to Work Smarter
1. Create Routines and Task Deadlines
Save time and energy by creating routines. Break down tasks into bits in an organized manner and by doing this, you are creating and maintaining enough consistency to develop productive habits, making good use of your time. This will help you manage both your work and personal life by having a clear understanding of what you can achieve in a day.
Accompany this with deadlines and you'll quickly notice the advantages of allowing yourself to spend sufficient time to finish tasks without compromising their quality. You'll become more productive, experience less stress, and complete your tasks and projects efficiently.
2. Collaborate Effectively
Working with collaborators or team members is one major trick to work smarter. Sharing ideas with team members will help you maintain focus on tasks.
You might be wondering, How do I collaborate with these team members or collaborators effectively??
Here are some tips on how to collaborate effectively:
Get Everyone on the same page: Don't hesitate to over communicate, particularly with a remote team. Avoid the error of making assumptions that could unintentionally delay your project. Keep in mind that tone, facial expressions, and gestures don't convey well in chats or emails, so it's important to be clear in your instructions. Maintain transparency because it helps everyone feel included as part of the team. If an issue arises, address it right away so the entire team can collaborate to find a solution.
Take Advantage of Channels: Creating suitable, context-specific channels strategically helps keep different projects organized and fosters effective collaboration. In fact, 85% of employees with access to collaborative management tools are more likely to view themselves as happy at work.
Read more: 5 tips for effective collaboration at work
3. Measure Your Results Not Your Time
Keep an ongoing list of everything you accomplish during the day. This can help you feel motivated and accomplished. This list makes it easy to celebrate your accomplishments and better anticipate how long similar tasks may take in the future.
4. Say "No" More Often
Recognizing your priorities and the most effective ways to accomplish them helps you set boundaries and maintain focus. No matter how much you try to please people, they’ll never care about how you feel, or listen to you whenever you want to share your perception or ideas. Establish a distraction-free environment, so you can remain in your most productive state and concentrate on important tasks.
Read more: The Power of "No"
5. Continuous Learning
Invest time each week to acquire new knowledge, it pays off. The topic should directly relate to your work. Whether it's through a course, reading, or any preferred method, the key is to establish a habit that supports your goal of working more intelligently.
6. Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Engage in regular exercise, maintain a balanced diet, and ensure that you have adequate rest that will enhance both your energy levels and outlook, providing essential elements for a fruitful workday. While some may view prioritizing a healthy lifestyle as time-consuming, it's similar to taking breaks – investing in the well-being of your mind and body ultimately yields long-term benefits for performance.
How To Develop Smart Work Skills
Be A Critical Thinker: Critical thinking entails the capacity to scrutinize information, evaluate situations impartially, and make well-informed choices. It revolves around assessing evidence, recognizing trends, and employing logical reasoning.
Manage Your Time: This involves establishing objectives, timetables, and efficiently distributing time among various tasks. Craft a daily or weekly to-do lists and define clear priorities, differentiating between urgent and significant tasks.
Develop Effective Communication Skills: Practice transparent and concise communication. Engage in active listening, striving to comprehend the viewpoints of others.
Strategic Planning: Break down large goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Establish goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Be A Problem Solver: Participate in challenging problem-solving activities, both in simulated and real-world contexts. Obtain feedback on your problem-solving methods from mentors or colleagues.
Be Emotionally Intelligent: Practice managing your emotions in different situations and staying calm under pressure. Participate in situations that demand empathy and consider the emotional effects of decisions on yourself and others.
“Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends, there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing." - Thomas A. Edison
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