We are all running multiple tasks to catch up with today’s demanding business requirements.
We have to manage ever-increasing workload while having constraints on costs, most importantly the limitations on staffing, which increases the workload on the average employee.
A continuous excessive workload causes a decrease in employee wellbeing and engagement, which eventually leads to a decline in performance.
Unless we can not decrease the workload, there are a few things that will help us to overcome our duties and prevent burnout.
Multitasking is a burden
We think we are multitasking, but we switch between tasks when we try to achieve more than one task at a time. Each task needs focus and attention, and we can not distribute our attention to different tasks in a given time. Instead, we go on moving our attention between tasks. The solution is easy: handle one task at a time.
Even the most straightforward job description mentions 4 or 5 tasks that should be performed in a usual workday. Achieving success requires keeping the focus on each task at hand and allowing enough time for completion.
“To do two things at once is to do neither.”
Publilius Syrus
We will always have multiple tasks, but our approach should be one task at a time.
Time management is a necessary skill
We seek success in our work life, and most of us put hard work among the core principals. But we have limited time in a day. Using this time in a smart way increases effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Assigning the right amount of time are among the critical skills of today’s finance professionals.
Using time smarter requires being organised and disciplined. Thinking of the tasks at hand, apportioning the time to each of them, and progressing as planned is essential for managing time.
Plan your day ahead and try to keep up with it.
Prioritisation is a management tool
Getting results requires assigning the importance of the tasks according to their impact on your goals. Some tasks are more important than others to get the results. Remember the Pareto rule: 20% of the tasks achieve 80% of the results.
Prioritisation is also essential for good time management; effective management of the workload requires us to prioritise the tasks properly and approach consistently.
Outsourcing
Besides learning to deal with the excessive workload effectively, there can be ways to decrease the workload and improve performance.
Being able to reach people for getting help is a trait that positively contributes performance of individuals.
Getting help, using a colleague’s time is sometimes possible, but this has limitations also.
With limitations on staff, organisations can not employ all necessary knowledge and skillset inhouse. Some extraordinary tasks require external help. Outsourcing brings in resources, knowledge and skillset to deal with various technicalities of work.
Outsourcing helps to deal with the workload by implementing various approaches. This eventually improves the processes of an organisation and makes the gains permanent.
We all learn these skills in time and apply them to a level. Conscious planning and application of these techniques will improve performance significantly and contribute to successful performance.
A short version of this post was published at LinkedIn.