4 Ways To Be More Productive as An Employee

We overcomplicate things at work when we talk about being productive. In a bid to outdo colleagues, reach a career landmark or be the manager’s favorite we tend to make things more difficult than they need to be.

Extra hours at work, more internet research and better relationship with your team lead are some of the stress we put ourselves through.

Getting more done at work is a mix of time management and good results. Let’s just say being efficient at great work.

Create Clear Expectations

When was the last time you had a goal as an employee?

I am not talking about the long term dreams of becoming a manager in three years or becoming a C-suite executive at age 40.

I mean setting realistic expectations for yourself, with a timeline. Creating expectations help you manage your time better, cut frivolities, and focus on the important tasks per time.

If your goal is to improve your product management skill, create tasks that will help you achieve it. It could be subscribing to a newsletter that you will read for five minutes every week, or have a session with a colleague.

It is easier to reach your work goals when your expectations are well defined.

Procrastination Steals More Than Time

One of the first quotes I learned about procrastination is that it steals time.

Let me put this in a better perspective, that time stolen by procrastination could rob you of productive work, promotion, and your career goals.

You have to stop pushing work forward, or telling yourself that you still have enough time. When you procrastinate, you get very little time to do good work for the team, as you are in a rush to meet deadlines.

Cut all the excuses. Stay away from distractions, and all the time wasters.

Just sit in front of your desk, and get good work done now.

Acquire More Knowledge

When was the last time you took a course relating to your job function?
When last did you seek a fellow designer or photographer to help sharpen your skills?

Learning new skills, or updating your knowledge archive will save you more time in doing awesome work.

Improved photography skills will help you achieve better camera angles, and get superior image quality for your clients. With improved skills, you learn better ways to excel as an employee.

Get on The Same Team With The Productive Guys

My work rate as a designer improved immediately when I moved in with my new flat mates. These guys are always out to get a quality job done, with efficiency. When you join a team at work, that their only goal is to be productive, you don’t want to be left out.

Being on the same team with great guys should improve your penchant for great work.

The designer who has a knack for clean editorials, the chef who makes the tastiest meals, and the tax guru who is trusted with auditing for the top payers.

Take a seat beside these guys, and watch your productivity at work soar.