By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Editor
At each company you work for there is a different set of rules to follow, and a new culture to adapt to. In some environments being casual is still a mark of productivity. In other companies business professional is the expected way to dress, and the suit matches the strict atmosphere. You get a feel for what’s acceptable and what isn’t pretty quickly. It is important to know what productivity looks like to your peers and manager, but you can’t base your personal definition around a gaggle of opinions. With the frequency in which we switch jobs it’s important to define productivity for yourself, instead of relying on others.
Being productive for some means meeting all their deadlines. For others it could mean tackling their task list for the day. What about those that always seem way too lax in their position, or the ones that overwork themselves? The lazy employee may think productive means getting one thing done that day; whether it’s large or small. For the overworked employee they can accomplish 100 things in a day but still feel unproductive. Keep in mind that you should not be comparing yourself to others. Create a separate class for yourself and work within that bubble. Unless you’re in sales you shouldn’t be looking to the left and right to compare yourself to the competition.
Take things day by day. Base your definition around 70% of how you currently work, and 30% on how you want to work. Throwing in the motivation factor is what I believe makes it “productive”. If you’ve had negative work reviews in the past then balance those numbers out a bit. Having something to strive for is what gives you a feeling of accomplishment. When you don’t have the goal in mind it’s a lot like walking on a treadmill. You know you’re moving, but you can’t see the finish line.
Focus on personal gain to get some perspective on things you want to see accomplished. If you’re unsure of how they align with company goals then have a sit down meeting with your boss to discuss. We all need to build on our work ethic, and this is just one of many ways to do that.
Comments are closed.