There is interesting research that suggests that employees should not work more, but rather more efficiently. The work that is done in a normal 40-hour week would also be able to be done in a 30-hour week. Efficient working does not depend on working hours, but on how the available time is used and what conditions the employee is offered.
- Why can't you work more efficiently?
- Increase work productivity in the office: keep an eye on the most important things
- Work more productively in the office: take breaks
- Conclusion: Work more efficiently in the office through structuring, breaks and the right furnishings
Why can't you work more efficiently?
Admittedly, some people will feel offended by this question. But it is a fact that most employees want to work more efficiently, but do not achieve it. They work longer and try to increase work productivity. You work more and more overtime and still don't get the desired result. The reason is that you cannot work more productively by working longer hours. Rather, it is important to make better use of the time available. There is a difference between “efficiency” and “effectiveness”. The former means the path to a result. How exactly is the result achieved? Effectiveness, on the other hand, ignores the means and time to achieve the result and means whether the set goal has been achieved. Anyone who achieves a certain goal works effectively, but that doesn't mean they are efficient.
It is also possible that the office equipment prevents you from working efficiently. The following problems can disrupt work efficiency:
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none optimal desk height
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messier Desk
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no structuring of processes and projects/lack of storage options
It has been proven that many employees spend far too much time searching: records and documents are not clearly assigned to individual processes, correspondence is “buried” on the table, folders have no place in suitable office cupboards. In order to be able to work more productively, it is important to remember when setting up your office that, on the one hand, ergonomics must be taken into account and, on the other hand, that the necessary shelves and cupboards must be available.
Increase work productivity in the office: keep an eye on the most important things
In order to work efficiently, it is worth taking a critical look at the entire working environment. If you want to work productively, you need peace and quiet. Even though some creative minds come up with the greatest ideas and results when listening to loud music, this is not the rule. Who work more concentrated can have a lasting impact on work productivity in the office. However, acoustics are also important. Especially in open-plan offices, employees often disturb each other. At least partition walls are installed here, which enable the individual workstations to be separated visually and at least partially acoustically.
A to-do list that is sorted according to the importance of the individual tasks is helpful. This not only increases work efficiency, but also Motivation at work. Anyone who sees how many tasks have already been completed is significantly more motivated. However, it is important that even large projects are split into small subtasks. This is the only way work progress can have a motivating effect and allow employees to work productively. It is important to always keep an eye on the most important things, because if you want to work more efficiently, you cannot allow yourself to be distracted by unessential things. Concentration and motivation allow you to work efficiently in the office.
Work more productively in the office: take breaks
It sounds paradoxical, but if you want to work more efficiently, you have to take breaks more often. During breaks, the mind recovers after having to concentrate on working for a longer period of time. By talking to colleagues, you can find new suggestions and ideas that can increase work productivity. In order to work more efficiently, there must be an appropriate relationship between periods of concentration and recovery. Disturbing influences can also be mitigated during these breaks. If it is particularly hot in summer, working efficiently is often not possible. Concentration and motivation decrease and effectiveness noticeably decreases.
A break with colleagues is just the thing! On the bench in the shade, your overheated heads can recover and you can get back to work more rested. Important to work more efficiently: The Office chair must not be a companion for the whole day! Even if it is comfortable and ergonomic, if you want to work more efficiently, you will always leave the chair. Exercising during breaks allows the mind to switch off better than if the free time during the breakfast or lunch break is spent in front of the computer. In order to work efficiently in the office, it is important to turn your back on it every now and then.
Conclusion: Work more efficiently in the office through structuring, breaks and the right furnishings
It is important to entrepreneurs and superiors that efficient work becomes a matter of course. But they have to do a lot for it! Suitable Office furniture for setting up the office and creating sufficient storage space are the first steps to being able to work more efficiently in the office. In addition, the temperature, acoustics, ventilation and appearance must be right. An employee who feels comfortable is more motivated and can work more efficiently. In addition, everyone can do something themselves to be able to work more efficiently: Structuring your own work as well as taking breaks and eliminating time-killers are the most important prerequisites for being able to work efficiently.