Tag Archive for: Get Promoted

How to Have a Productive Mindset and Be Efficient

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No matter what day it is, we all seem to have an infinite list of things to do in both our work and our personal lives. With multiple spinning plates that leave us with divided attention, it can be quite a challenge to focus and to decide what to prioritize. When it comes to our careers, it is imperative to be efficient with our time so that we are consistently getting our projects done and producing quality work. Here are 7 suggestions you can use to develop a productive mindset and set the foundation for productive days in the workplace.

1. Know What Motivates You

It is nearly impossible to meet a deadline or achieve a goal if you are unmotivated. While not every project or assignment will be your favorite, it is still possible to stay motivated while doing them. In this case, it is mostly a matter of mindset.  Ask yourself, “What is driving me to succeed?” It could be:

  • Building your portfolio
  • Working towards a promotion
  • The impact you’re having
  • Feeling accomplished when you cross something off of your list

Some days you will inevitably be more motivated than others. Maybe when it comes to certain projects, the motivation will be to get it done so that you can move on and hone in on an assignment or daily undertaking that you do enjoy. The takeaway is: you just have to find something to be motivated by.

2. Focus on One Thing at a Time

When you multitask, you will notice that you get fewer things done throughout the day and that the things you do get done are not as top tier as they would be if you did one task at a time. Single tasking results in higher quality work and is less stressful. If your mind is in too many places at once, what tends to happen is that you will get a portion of several things done, but not actually complete anything. This will leave you wondering where all of your time went. Avoid spreading yourself too thin by focusing on one task before moving on to the next.

3. Choose the Three Most Important Things

If you are a person who wears multiple hats within your organization or have a position that is multifaceted, starting your day knowing what the three most crucial things to get done are is going to be a game changer. It can be easy to get into the routine of doing the same thing every day, like beginning by responding to all of your emails or checking the company social media platforms. However, nothing feels better than knowing that you are only halfway through your day and have already completed the three most crucial tasks. If you get into the habit of starting your day with the most important things, you will know that you are on track to complete projects on time.

4. Just Do Something

There will be days where there is nothing particularly pressing to work on or that you are working on all things of equal importance. Don’t waste a block of time obsessing about how to be most efficient or what order you’re going to do things in. Choose something and roll with it. This way you won’t lose any time and you’ll notice that you’ve built momentum and one thing will lead to another. There is limited time in your work day, don’t waste it by overthinking what you “should” be doing.

5. Know Your Work Style

Everyone is going to have a different style of working in which they thrive. Some people do better focusing on one project in large blocks of time; others have to switch what they are doing every so often. There is no “right” way per say, the only right way is to do it in the way that is most effective for you. In general, we as humans can only be productive for short bursts of time; so every hour or so, take a few minutes to stand up, stretch, get water, or just take your eyes off of what you’re doing for a few minutes.

6. Be ok with Schedule and Plan Changes

Meetings are going to get canceled, people are going to call-in, unexpected issues are going to come up. As frustrating as this can be, it is inevitable no matter where your work or what field you’re in. You likely have a multitude of projects you’re working on at once, if something gets cancelled, use that extra time to either plan or get ahead on another assignment. This can actually end up really working in your favor if you use that extra time wisely.

7. Set a Stop Time

It can be really tempting to want to power through a project and then before you know it, it’s 7 pm and you are still in the office or on-site. It actually takes discipline to be able to put something away for the day and leave the rest for another time. If you make a habit of not stopping until something is thoroughly complete, you will eventually lead yourself to burn out. Whether it’s a time in the day or a certain point in the project, commit to being done at some point so you can recover and start again the next day with enough motivation and energy.

 

If you are in search of a new job, we at Award Staffing are here to help. Check out all of our newest listings on our career page.

Learn the Truth About Standing Out to Your Boss

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It can never hurt to stand out to your boss. Not only will you be seen as a valuable employee who can’t be let go; but you also will be more likely to be considered for promotions and other benefits that are associated with hard-working employees. Here are the five ways you can stand out to your boss:

Be Early and Stay Late-

Facetime is essential when you’re trying to stand out to your boss. The best way to do this is to be early and stay late. Even if you show up ten minutes before your boss and leave ten minutes after, they will have the expectation that you’re extremely dedicated to your work and will notice that.

Ask If They Need Help Before You Leave-

It’s one thing to arrive early and stay late, but you could step up your game by asking if s/he needs help before you leave. Even if your boss doesn’t need help, they will appreciate the extra effort and will remember you when they’re thinking about promotions in the future.

Ask Follow-Up Questions-

By asking follow-up questions, you’re showing that you’re interested in your job in a level that transcends the primary duties. You’re also showing your boss that you’re willing to go above and beyond regarding understanding how you can most effectively help your company.

Express Your Interest in Your Duties-

Take an interest in what you’re doing. Whether that means you go to networking events to meet other people who can help you or you take a college-level course to further your understanding, you should always be learning. Your boss will notice if you pick up any new skills as a result of your interest in your job and self-growth.

Teach Others New Skills-

If you want to stand out, teach your fellow employees new skills. The way in which you can genuinely gauge whether or not you understand something is by assessing whether or not you can teach it to others. Plus, your boss will like that your colleagues have new skills as a result of your efforts.

If you are already a person who does all the above steps to standout at work but seemingly go unnoticed, give Award Staffing a call. We have offices located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota to help you with searching for a new job opportunity today! Want to learn more career tips and tricks – check our When Work Works blog.