Reports suggest the
pressure is on and an increasing workload has left 72 per cent of UK employees
having to put in around ten hours extra a week without being compensated,
according to recent research from Travelodge.
Whilst working hard is
always good, long working hours is not always a good thing and does not necessarily
mean an increase in productivity. In fact, long working hours can be
counterproductive and have a negative impact on businesses, such as reduced
productivity and poor performance.
The key to success is to
work smartly. As employers and leaders we need to ensure that we put the right support
in place in terms of training, tools and systems to help our employees work smartly.
This does not simply
mean providing access to the right IT systems/technology and support functions
but there other factors that impact on our effectiveness, such as time
management.
Timothy Ferris, author
of The 4 Hour Workweek, really put the concept of working smartly to the test when he
went from working 80 hours per week to just 4 hours. He says, "By
working only when you are most effective, life is both more productive and more
enjoyable. It's the perfect example of having your cake and eating it,
too."
Whilst Ferris has some
critics what he really does emphasise is the need to work when you are at your
optimum and to focus on the tasks that are going to add most value.
By helping our employees
to
prioritise tasks effectively,
focusing on what will add most value to the business and giving them the skills
to manage excess pressure/challenges when they arise we really have the
opportunity to improve the effectiveness of our people.
This is not only good
for our business, in terms of productivity etc, but it will also improve the
wellbeing of our employees and this means improved employee engagement, a nicer
working environment and so much more.
To find out how you can help you employees develop mind
management practices to improve effectiveness in the workplace click here and sign up to my free 30
minute webinar.
