Find Efficiencies in Everything
Finding efficiencies is the name of the game in many different fields of work but especially important when working as an assistant. In today’s “high speed” and “always on” working culture, being able to complete your tasks in as few steps as possible clears the way for you to do more work while being less stressful.
To help put this in perspective, let’s take a look at the definition of efficiency:
ef-fi-cien-cy [i-fish-uhn-see]
-noun, plural -cies.
- the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance. 2. accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort: The assembly line increased industry’s efficiency.
The words that stick out to me in that definition are “ability to accomplish a job with minimum expenditure of time and effort”. As you can see in the picture we chose for this blog post, that can be as simple as having all of the right programs open and ready for use on your computer desktop throughout the day.
Other examples include using an online system to make reservations instead of calling and being put on hold OR going to the register in the back of the drug store at the pharmacy counter when there is a line up front OR only walking to the other side of the office to drop stuff off after you have multiple things TO drop off.
My first job was working as a waitress and during my stint serving drinks and food, another more experienced server gave me some great advice: Take as few steps as possible to complete the maximum number of requests from your customers. That advice still holds true for me today as I assist the CEO of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund; he might not be able to put his finger on exactly what he appreciates about my multi-tasking, namely my efficiency, but he appreciates it nonetheless and your boss will too.
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Rather interesting. Has few times re-read for this purpose to remember. Thanks for interesting article. Waiting for trackback
Thanks Derek… glad you liked it.
Interesting. In today’s economy, finding a job is not an easy task but is not impossible either. Searching for a job requires a thoughtful, carefully executed approach and tenacity. It is essential to be organized, proactive, motivated and of course efficient as you said.
I have just bookmarked your blog. I would definitely like to visit your blog again. Thanks again.
Great resource. Thanks!
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My company have a guy come in every couple of weeks, as a planning strategist, to oversee our plans going forward. Really seems to work, our boss is always on top of his game. We do have to complete daily time sheets, but it gives a sense of achievement when you look at all the work you’ve done that day.