Many employees are searching for ways to increase productivity on the job. With more companies downsizing and reducing the size of the work force, employees often feel pressure to accomplish more in less time. A 2009 CNNMoney.com article reports that workers who have survived job cuts often face greater workloads and more stress. You are more likely to handle increased expectations if you use techniques to become more productive at work.
Step 1
Keep your life in balance. Working long hours without breaks may lead to burnout. Ensure that you get enough sleep, find time to exercise and eat healthy foods. Maintain positive relationships and pursue activities you enjoy in your free time.
Step 2
Set long-term and short-term goals related to your job. Write down what you hope to achieve during the following year, quarter or month. Break down long-term goals into manageable tasks, and incorporate them into daily or weekly goals. Make goals realistic and attainable.
Step 3
Analyze current work processes to identify inefficiencies. Look closely at your work methods and find areas with which you have difficulty. Try to use tools or different techniques to complete work faster. Compare your procedures with those of others who do the same type of work. Look for time-saving methods others use that you could incorporate.
Step 4
Manage time effectively. Make the most of your time at work by arriving promptly and not abusing your breaks or lunch hour. Avoid co-workers who waste time gossiping and telling jokes. Focus all your attention on completing difficult tasks, and save multitasking for jobs that do not require a lot of thought or concentration.
Step 5
Stay organized. You will be more productive if you can quickly find things, such as project data, files and reports. Use a system that works for you to categorize items to make them easy to locate later. Take advantage of automatic email archiving features, and delete messages you no longer need. Keep your schedule up to date to help you plan and avoid double commitments.
Step 6
Delegate some of your nonvital tasks to other employees so you can focus on the primary functions of your job. If you find yourself tied up for a good portion of your day in tedious activities that are secondary to your main job focus, find others who have time to pick up extra work. If you are not in a position to hand off work to others, talk to your boss.
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