Working Smarter, Not Harder
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” ~ Stephen Covey
When Tony walked into the gym, I noticed he had all his tools on a tool belt. He was ready to work. When he got to the wooden door, he repaired the unscrewed hinge. In minutes the door was working properly, he went to his next job.
When Henry got to his work area he looked around and kept walking. He said something about needing a drill, so he left to get one. 30 minutes later he came back to the project. He tried the drill a few times and said the battery needed to be charged, so he carried it back to storeroom and put it on the charger. An hour into the project and no real results had been accomplished.
“Work smarter, not harder” is a timeless principle that captures the heart of efficiency and productivity in the workplace. In today’s dynamic business environment, the ability to achieve more with less effort is a hallmark of success. Here are 5 strategies that embody this principle and foster a culture of optimal performance within an organization.
-Prioritize your standards in the organization. Are you a 5-star, 1- star organization or somewhere in between?
-Communicate these standards clearly and never stop talking about your standards of expectations.
-Define the process identifying with your team leaders the processes the team needs to follow. Don’t leave any guess work on how you want your teams to attack their work.
-Plan by having equipment, tools, and supplies organized to minimize wasted time, motion, and delays. Can you eliminate wasted motion and repetitive busy work?
-Train and empower teams to problem solve as they engage with the work.
“Don’t confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but doesn’t make any progress.” ~ Alfred A. Montapert
Henry should have had his battery charging the night before and loaded his fresh battery before arriving at his first job location. He was not mentally or physically prepared for a day at work, so much of his work ability was lost. He was not intentionally thinking of being efficient or productive. Tony showed up ready and focused on his work. He positively represented the organization and added credibility to his own name.
Keep working smarter.
Jeff
