Knowing how to work smarter but not harder is one of the ways that not only improves one’s productivity, but also boosts job security, satisfaction and reminds you of the great asset you are to the company. At times working smarter means focusing on building up your strengths and doing away with a few weaknesses that really pull you down. Some people think in order to accomplish some tasks; they must work continuously and at times have sleepless nights or even postpone some programs, which isn’t advisable as it leads to exhaustion and stress. Working smarter and not harder involves better managing of your time, knowing what needs to get done and when, and utilising tools that will keep you on track. Experts say that working smarter saves energy as it allows you to accomplish challenging tasks with greater energy and produce better results. In addition, it increases productivity since it encourages you to streamline processes and combine tasks, saving on labour and costs. It also improves motivation; this is because it fosters feelings of positivity about your job, colleagues and yourself. For Jeanne Abatesi, a communications specialist, communication is key as far as working smarter is concerned. It is necessary to communicate effectively with your colleagues as it will avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings while working on a project. She notes that working as a team reduces the time that a task could have been accomplished by one person and successful communication helps you to better understand people and situations. It helps to overcome diversities, build trust and respect, and create conditions for sharing creative ideas and solving problems. Abatesi highlights that multitasking isn’t always a smart way to work. Instead, individuals are simply shifting their attention from one task to another which affects concentration. She adds that while multitasking, you’re paying attention to one or two things at once and also switching between them more often. According to research, multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully. In addition to slowing you down, multitasking is known to lower your IQ. Abatesi also notes that there are many methods of doing things at the office that would otherwise slow the whole work process, for example, instead of sending an email especially when the response is needed urgently, giving that person a phone call saves a lot of time and also, you can as well walk to their office and have a chat. “Working smart requires taking a break in between work, this is because it improves focus and concentration and provides the opportunity for an employee’s mental improvement,” she says. For her, many people fail to take a break due to a heavy workload, need to meet a deadline, and pressure to sort a client urgently, among other reasons. According to scientists, breaks work better if you can determine when the break is taken. This leads to better insights and fewer impasses than when a break is compulsorily prescribed. Abatesi is of the view that smart working involves doing something you enjoy doing. In most cases, if you enjoy what you do, you will do it to the best of your expectations and the results are likely to be more productive than when you’re doing a task or profession you lack passion for.
