4 Tips for Becoming More Productive in the Workplace

In a previous blog post, we discussed the ultimate bottom line in terms of your current job and your career. That ultimate bottom line is results, specifically your ability (or inability) to achieve them.

There are many ways to achieve results, and one way to do so is to focus on being more productive. When you're productive, you are actively completing tasks and solving problems. And both of those things lend themselves to achieving the results that you're seeking.

But how can you accomplish this? How can you be more productive on the job and in the workplace so that you achieve results and achieve them more consistently?

We're glad you asked! Below are four tips for becoming more productive in the workplace:

#1 - Be proactive, NOT reactive.

You can spend all day "putting our fires" and not really get any of your actual work done. Think about how you are going to proactively finish your tasks and projects. Create a plan for success, and then execute your plan. Avoid distractions and focus on getting done what needs to get done.

#2 - Create (sensible) a to-do list.

Part of planning your day can include a to-do list. However, be sensible about it. Don't spend an inordinate amount of time creating the list when you could be using that time to complete the items that you're putting on the list. It may seem like common sense, but it's actually quite easy for list making to get out of hand in the quest for more productivity.

#3 - Set deadlines for yourself.

You may not be a "deadline person," and that's understandable. But there's a good chance that your boss is a "deadline person" whether he or she wants to be or not. Completing tasks and projects is just one part of the equation. How quickly you complete them is another part. (And how well you complete them is yet a third.)

#4 - Take regular breaks.

You might think that you'll be less productive if you take breaks, but giving your brain and body regular breaks can help to keep you sharp when you need it the most. If you're working with machinery, staying sharp is critical for more reasons than one. When possible, strike a balance between working consistently hard toward your goals and taking a break to ensure that you work with maximum efficiency and focus.

If you are currently seeking a new job, Time Staffing's team of qualified staffing specialists offers assistance to job seekers in the light industrial and clerical fields. We prep candidates thoroughly by answering their questions and addressing their concerns.

Earlier this year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry's average of 45%.