Maximising productivity is paramount to success. Whether you're striving for a promotion, looking for a new role or aiming to enhance job satisfaction, optimising your work performance is key.
An extensive study into happiness and productivity has found that workers are 13% more productive when happy. The research was conducted in the contact centres of British telecoms firm BT over a six month period by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford) George Ward (MIT) and Clement Bellet (Erasmus University Rotterdam).
‘We found that when workers are happier, they work faster by making more calls per hour worked and, importantly, convert more calls to sales,’ said Professor De Neve.
The authors state that while the link between happiness and productivity has often been discussed, their study provides the first causal field evidence for this relationship. ‘There has never been such strong evidence,’ said Professor De Neve.
So what steps can you take to improve your work performance?
Understanding Work Performance
Work performance encompasses your ability to effectively execute tasks and achieve goals in the workplace. It's a critical aspect of professional success, influencing factors such as career advancement and job satisfaction.
Employers often assess performance based on metrics such as speed, quality, compliance, customer success and efficiency, which vary depending on the nature of the job.
Ways to Enhance Work Performance
Limit Distractions
Minimise interruptions by scheduling focused work sessions and eliminating distractions. These can include -
Turning off phone notifications and email alerts.
Social media as according to statistics by Zippia, we spend, on average, 12% of our working hours being unproductive on social media.
Avoiding office gossip / chatty co-workers by giving the impression that you are too busy to talk e.g., wear headphones, avoid eye contact with co-workers
Schedule in intentional breaks , work for an hour and then pause for a while BE MINDFUL when you work, work; when you rest, rest.
Set Milestones
Break down complex tasks into manageable milestones to maintain momentum and track progress effectively. Regaining sight of what’s important to you can help you stay motivated, and perform at your very best.
Prioritise Important Tasks
Allocate time and energy to high-priority tasks to ensure timely completion and maintain momentum throughout the day.
The “frog” as popularised by Brian Tracy in his bestselling anti-procrastination guide "Eating the Frog" represents the task you’re least looking forward to doing. By doing it first thing in the morning, you can take satisfaction in the knowledge that it is the worst thing you’ll do that day. This will also have the added bonus of momentum going forward throughout your day with an early sense of achievement.
Maintain a Clear Workspace
Create a clutter-free work environment to enhance focus and mental clarity, promoting productivity and creativity e.g., adopting a clean-desk policy, implementing adequate storage at home / work, and once a week having a scheduled declutter - always nice to start first thing Monday with a clean slate !
Communicate Effectively
Foster open and transparent communication to facilitate collaboration and teamwork, clarifying roles and responsibilities to optimise performance. An environment in which you are all working together and feel valued will have a huge positive impact on your performance, happiness in role and feeling of achievement.
Take Regular Breaks to prioritise mental health and well-being
Incorporate short breaks into your workday to recharge and prevent burnout, promoting sustained focus and productivity. or example, a short walk for 10-15 minutes can help blood sugar, gives you energy, increases blood flow to your brain, aids creativity, lifts your mood, improves cognitive performance, increases immunity and improves your sleep.
Avoid Multitasking
Focus on one task at a time to maximise concentration and efficiency, avoiding the pitfalls of task-switching.
Delegate Responsibly
Delegate tasks when appropriate to leverage team resources effectively and alleviate workload burdens.
Pursue Self-Improvement
Continuously develop and expand your skill set through learning and personal growth initiatives, enhancing adaptability and innovation.
Maintain Work-Life Balance
Establish boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout and nurture holistic well-being.
By implementing these expert tips, you can elevate your work performance and achieve greater success in your professional life and ultimately your personal life.. Whether aiming for career advancement or personal fulfillment, maximising productivity is within reach with the right strategies and mindset. Embrace continuous improvement and prioritise well-being to unlock your full potential in the workplace.
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