Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/59614
MASTER CLASS how to work smarter Smarter How to Work (Not Harder) Expert tips for maximising your time in the office and leaving at the end of the day with a smile on your dial DIVIDE AND CONQUER TUCK, TRANSFER OR TRASH EASE YOUR BURDEN MINIMISE MULTI-TASKING IT'S OK TO SAY 'NO' THE 15 MIN. BURST AN ORGANISED WORKSPACE THE 3 D'S BLOCK OUT Try this: Next Sunday night, or first thing Monday morning, plan your week. Use a planner to plan out, day-by-day, exactly what meetings, appointments and tasks need to be fulfilled through the week. Finish off by making a list of goals you'd like to achieve. Having things written down makes them more likely to be achieved. In an ideal world you'd go through your inbox once or twice a day, as emails so often distract us from the task at hand. If they don't require immediate action, tuck emails away in a folder to deal with at an allocated time, transfer them to someone else to complete or trash them. Learning to delegate tasks and share the load is imperative to becoming a successful leader. Women often feel like they can take on the world, and we can but it always pays to have a sidekick. Enlisting others with different strengths and abilities to your own can create a successful outcome in less time. It has long been a skill celebrated by women, but multi-tasking has been found to harm the development of your memory. Focusing on one clear task at a time creates a balanced mind and reduces the risk of error. Considering what's best for you, as selfish as it may appear, is essential for an effective you. Ask yourself, 'Can this be done without me?' If it can, kindly decline the offer and you may even suggest an alternative person to fill the role. If you find yourself procrastinating throughout your day try the 15 minute burst plan. Eliminate all distractions, set a timer and get stuck into whatever you've been putting off for 15 solid minutes. You'll be amazed at what you can get done, and completing the task won't seem so overwhelming. Working in an organised environment, free from clutter can do wonders for your concentration. Set aside five minutes at the start of each day to organise yourself by filing papers, stocking up on stationery supplies and clearing your desk of anything that doesn't belong. When it comes to the dreaded paperchain that seems to perpetually float around our desks, remember the 3 D's. Label two trays on your desk: Do It and Delegate It. Whenever a new form or file is handed to you simply add to one of the piles. And if it fits in neither you can happily execute the third D – Dump It. Block out a portion of your day to be unavailable except in an emergency. Use this time to tackle your most demanding tasks and don't be afraid to tell people you're busy. www.hermagazine.co.nz | 43