I often find that I work slower than people next to me or don’t understand every aspect of my projects and feel behind
How do you guys address feeling behind and catch up on both speed and efficiency on the job?
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some strategies to address feeling behind and to catch up on both speed and efficiency on the job:
Frontload Your Projects: By starting with a burst and trying to get as much done at the beginning as possible, you can increase your understanding and credibility. This can also help you to work more efficiently as the project progresses.
Plan, Coordinate, and Communicate: Good reviews often come from how well you communicate with your deal team and coordinate work. Being responsive, creative, efficient, and communicative can make you stand out rather than just working long hours.
Stay Organized: Keeping your tasks and priorities well-organized can help you work more efficiently. This might involve maintaining a routine, like checking your email at set intervals while working on a task, to avoid constant interruptions.
Prioritize Tasks: If something takes only 5-10 minutes, do it immediately. This can prevent tasks from piling up and feeling overwhelming.
Take Care of Your Health: Don't neglect your physical health. Taking breaks and ensuring you get enough rest can improve your overall efficiency and focus.
Seek Feedback: If you're unsure about aspects of your projects, don't hesitate to ask for clarification or feedback. This can help you understand your projects better and work more effectively.
Learn to Distinguish Real Deadlines: Understanding which deadlines are flexible and which are not can help you manage your time better and avoid unnecessary stress.
Use Technology to Your Advantage: Make sure you're set up to receive notifications and can respond to urgent matters promptly, even when you're away from your desk.
Remember, it's important to communicate effectively and manage your time well. If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's also okay to raise your hand and ask for help. Efficiency isn't just about speed; it's about working smart and maintaining a sustainable pace.
Sources: Ways of Underperformance - and how to avoid them (Part 1), The Work Always Gets Done, Honestly it is feeling hopeless, How can we do better?, The Work Always Gets Done
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Could you elaborate a little more on what specifically you’re falling behind on?
Some general tips that help me out:
1.) take really good notes (during calls, team meeting etc.) might seem excessive if no one else does but I can’t tell u how many times I’ve been lost and looked back on notes and it connected the dots for me
2.) ask questions upfront, if you get assigned something and still don’t fully understand what to do, ask those clarifying questions before you go spin ur wheels for 30 minutes on it.
3.) try to get into a routine for certain workflow items. (i.e having a good self check system for comments before shooting them off)
4.) lean on group members for advice on how to overcome whatever ur slow on
Cheers
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