Written by: Miriam Freeman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It seems as though our level of productivity is a direct indicator of how successful we are in life. Productivity extends beyond the workplace, office, or organization and impacts all aspects of our lives. Despite many people's belief, productivity is not only beneficial to employers and corporations, it is of utmost importance to your personal life and career as well.
I'm not denying that organizations and corporations benefit from their personnel carrying out their jobs in the most efficient way possible, rather I want to share a different perspective:
Productivity is not just for your boss or your company, there are many reasons it can be beneficial to you as an individual once you build habits that can save you time and energy at work.
Higher productivity can offer you:
1. Visibility: Productivity increases your visibility since it gives you the option to work on multiple projects. This means that more people will be aware of your skills and potential. You will be recognized for your contributions and could be involved in important decision-making. When you are visible at work, your employer or management will consider you first when a learning or career development opportunity arises. Being visible will also help you build natural connections across your company, which will lead to greater growth opportunities.
2. Security: You may establish yourself as a go-to person who is indispensable and highly regarded in any situation. Companies and managers like to maintain a team of employees who can perform their tasks WELL. If you have sufficient time, you can be thorough in your deliverables and that gives the right image and reputation. If there is downsizing, who do you think will be let go first? Although many factors are considered, however in most cases, managers tend to keep those employees who can perform their duties the best and are also well adjusted to the team's culture.
3. Tranquility: Being highly productive does not mean that you must take on loads of extra work. Instead, it indicates that you can accomplish the same objectives faster. This time saving allows you to plan and arrange your deliverables to meet deadlines and prevent the hurry and stress of last-minute time constraints. You'll feel at peace when you know you're on the right track and have the fortitude to go over challenges that will happen along the road.
4. Credibility: Credibility is one of the outcomes of being productive. Being believed in or regarded as someone whose deliverables are accurate and free of mistakes is a sign of having credibility. Trust, respect, and plausibility are the three pillars of personal credibility. Your everyday actions and words make an impression on people around you. Your reputation depends on various factors in addition to your reliability. The second crucial element of credibility is the perception of your competence or others' trust in your knowledge, talents, and capacity to carry out your duties effectively. Your productivity increases your credibility by giving you the time to evaluate your deliverables from different angles and verify the accuracy of your work before submission.
5. Transferability: One of the many mistakes of job-changers is that they quit their jobs first and then seek a proper plan. If you are planning to change the direction of your career path, the best time to start is when you are in your current role, whatever that role may be. It takes time to develop transferable skills, especially if your future role is a lot different from your current job. When you are productive, you will have the option to get engaged in tasks that will help you gain exposure or expertise in the skills needed for your next role.
6. Versatility: Every job out there needs a set of skills to be successful. Most teams are made up of "Some, Most & A Few": Some team members are the top performers who are great in a few areas and pretty darn good in the rest. Then most employees are good in one or two areas and alright in a few other skills, then a few who are just there.
Those "Some" high achievers are highly competitive ambitious employees who spend time and energy sharpening their already good skills and career assets. They create and cultivate their networks and seek any opportunity possible.
Higher productivity gives you the chance to be one of those. It allows you to update your knowledge, learn new or improve your skills. This will enable you to excel in many facets of your current position and can be your passport to future advancements.
7. Sociability & approachability: Being productive offers you more time to read news or articles about your company and its competitors. It helps you start conversations or bring a new twist to the subject during meetings or networking events, even when you are chatting with your coworkers and bosses. This helps you build stronger interpersonal connections and be remembered as a knowledgeable person.
8. Popularity: The most likable employees are also the most productive. Start creating the changes you wish to see in your team or workflow when you have spare time. Did you wish you had something that could help your job? Such as documentation on the software you are using, a step-by-step guide on some of the tasks you are doing, a quick training video, or maybe a better template or form. So, why not take on the lead and initiate those changes and improvements? Once accomplished, it will be a feather in your cap and valuable few lines on your resume.
9. Spirituality: When you have the extra bandwidth, you can devote some time to a good cause; many businesses encourage charity work or volunteerism however, many employees are just too busy to attend or use this opportunity. When you have time, volunteer work will help you to help others, build a better community, increase team engagement and elevate the spirit of teamwork that will create a better culture among the team that you will be spending most of your time.
The key to greater productivity and performance is integrating your passion and skills with your work, this ensures your engagement with the tasks you are handling. This passion and drive for productivity increases your performance and offers you greater career significance and security. This combination allows you to differentiate yourself from the competition for your next position. Those who learn the power of productivity will make it the center of their career and extend these qualities and benefits beyond the workplace into their personal lives.
Miriam Freeman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Miriam is a Career-Mindset Strategist and a certified coach. With more than two decades of professional experience in critical and leadership roles in some of Canada’s largest corporations and has been a committee member of the board of directors for a leading organization in Toronto. Continual learning and personal development have always been core principles in her life and work. After graduating with an MBA, she pursued additional studies in Law, taxation, Positive Psychology, and Tiny Habits.
She has worked, lived, and studied in different countries, and learned to adapt to different cultures of the East and the West. Her life experiences in addition to her positive attitude helped her expand her appreciation for mindfulness, honesty, and focus on heart and mind at the same time.
Miriam helps her clients pivot their mindset, create winning habits, change their trajectory and build the career they desire while enjoying a meaningful life.
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