Do you find yourself putting in long hours at work or your business only to feel at the end of the day that you haven't accomplished anything? Would you like to become more efficient and achieve more with less effort?
The answer is easy! You may have some poor work habits that you can easily change. First, however, you have to find them. One effective way to spot your black holes is to keep a time log for a few days. See where your time and effort is really going. Is answering e-mails sucking hours away each day? Do personal interruptions take you off track? Are you doing more for others than for yourself? Some common self-defeating patterns that rob you of efficiency might be: fear, lack of concentration, procrastination, poor time management, indecisiveness, perfectionism. Do any of these sound familiar?
After you've observed your work habits and drawn some conclusions, take a proactive stand to correct your inefficient habits. Here are some keys to becoming more efficient with less effort.
* PLAN: plan your day in your PDA calendar or in Outlook and stick to it
* PRIORITIZE: learn how to choose the tasks that are most important and urgent first
* PURPOSE: be clear on your purpose, your mission and your goals
* FOCUS: don't let anything distract you from your task at hand until it's done
* ORGANIZE: stay organized, clutter free, papers filed
* DELEGATE: find others to do less vital tasks, so you can do what you do best
* CELEBRATE: take time to appreciate what you've accomplished, before moving on
If you find yourself stuck and either can't identify the habits that are holding you back or you're having difficulty changing, consider working with a business coach. Their support can turn your life around and help you to achieve maximum results with minimum effort. Find out more by contacting Cheryl@PrimeLeaders.com.
