Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

by  on October 1, 2014 

Hard work is valued in many cultures, and it often takes hard work and thoughtfulness to make sure you are productive in the various roles you serve. In the workplace, productivity is required for those that desire to keep their jobs.  For those of you that might be struggling with productivity at work (or home), here are four questions to ask yourself:
1. How’s your physical and emotional health? Healthy people are more likely to enjoy their work and be more productive in their workplace. Adequate sleep, regular exercise, healthy diet, and positive emotions have all been linked to workplace productivity.

2. What’s your physical work environment like? Air quality of your office, enough lighting, comfortable temperature, access to outside views and external space, and quiet working conditions are all factors of the physical work environment that have been found to improve workplace productivity (Quintal & Linn, 2012).

3. What motivates you? Your motivation can impact your engagement with work-related activities. Motivation can be extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation may involve rewording yourself after finishing some work. Intrinsic motivation may include goal-setting, finding pleasure in work, and challenging yourself at work. So, do you want to… move to the top of the ladder? Make more money than your friends? Change the world? Think critically about what motivates you, and remember this when you find yourself wasting time.

4. Do you use technology wisely? New technologies help you to save time and can improve your workplace productivity. At the same time, research has shown that many people have been distracted by texting/cell phone use (50%), social media (38%), and personal emails (23%) at work (Fludd, 2014). It’s important to maximize advantages and minimizing disadvantages brought by new technologies.

Your own productivity can improve your overall quality of life…by being more productive at work, you may achieve life balance and subsequently, be less stressed and enjoy work…and life a little more.

References:
Bloxham, S., & Evans, C. (2013). Increasing productivity by improving staff health and wellbeing. Management Services, 57, 12-16.
Fludd, V. (2014). Workplace productivity drains. T+D, 68, 20.
Hawkes, A. (2013). 8 ways to… be digitally efficient. Financial Management, 42, 42-43.
Quintal, J., & Linn, B. (2012). Green buildings drive employee productivity. Keeping Good Companies, 64, 52-54.
Valencia, C. (2005) Motivation and productivity in the workplace. Myriad. Retrieved from https://www.westminstercollege.edu/myriad/?parent=2514&detail=4475&content=4798

*Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Popular posts from this blog

The Power of a Handshake

Image
The Power of a Handshake by   Lisa Brooks   on   August 13, 2013   What does your handshake say about you? Does it convey that you are confident and self-assured? Or, does it suggest that you are insecure, an emotional bully, or overconfident? Research shows that not only will you be judged by your handshake, you will be forming an impression about the other person when shaking hands. During my etiquette training at the Protocol School of Washington, I was taught to see the right hand as a sensor for discovering the type of person with whom I was dealing. Once you understand the subtle messages of a handshake and learn how to deliver the correct handshake, you will have a significant advantage in mastering your professional image. This article provides guidelines for delivering the correct handshake, as well as it will help you interpret (and avoid) some of the most common types of undesirable handshakes, such as the “dead fish,” the “fingertip holder,” the”glo...
Read more

The Art of Self-Disclosure

Image
The Art of Self-Disclosure by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013   How much information will  you  disclose in an interview or professional setting? It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” This does not mean you should have to feel insecure that everything you say might be stupid or offend someone. What it does mean, however, is that you should think before you speak. In doing this, you can avoid disclosing  too much  information about yourself. In fact,  what  or  how much  you disclose can influence how others’ perceive you and how much they trust you as a potential employee or colleague. For example, “too much disclosure” may cause an interviewer to think you have “issues” or cause them to question your ability to keep information about their company or clients confidential. Not enough disclosure, on the other hand, can make you appear “c...
Read more

Strategies for Communication and Organization When Struggling in Classes During the Pandemic

Image
Strategies for Communication and Organization When Struggling in Classes During the Pandemic By: Jill Bowers & Sabrina Roley It is always best to turn  the assignment in early or by the due date. Yet, we have been living in a pandemic. I am a graduate student and know that a lot of students struggle with online classes though that is their only option right now. Some of us work at least part-time while navigating a full course load and have family responsibilities. Some students are trying to home-school a few children and or struggling to access the Internet from home because everyone in their home is online at the same time. The struggle is real. But, we will get through it, and there are many things that we can do to take responsibility for our course work and life. Small changes can also influence how professors respond to us. Professors continuously hear about students needing or asking for extensions with assignments, yet some individuals take the wrong approach with thei...
Read more