The Management Series:

1. The Management Series: Improving Effectiveness

2. Objectives • After completing this training, participants will be able to: • Understand what it means to be effective • List different ways to become more effective • Define three concepts that contribute to being effective

3. What does it mean to be effective? • Being effective means producing the intended or expected result. An effective person adequately accomplishes his/her purpose. • It is very important to be effective while on the job. Why come to work each day if you accomplish nothing while you’re there?

5. Tips for becoming more effective: • Get ready the night before. • Use a to-do list. • Get rid of your clutter. • Know yourself. • Eliminate unnecessary interruptions. • Divide your workload. • Take a breather. • Set deadlines. • Get something done!

6. Get Ready the Night Before • In order to be effective in your daily actions, you should plan your next day before it actually begins. At night, decide what it is you need to get done the next day. This will help you organize your thoughts. • You’ll start your day more prepared and less rushed.

7. Use a to-do list • Once you arrive to work, prioritize what you need to get done that day. Decide what must be done first and start with that. Begin to work your way down the list. • It may help to switch between tasks to keep yourself alert and interested.

8. Get Rid of Your Clutter • Organization is key. The quicker you can locate something, the faster you can get it done! Don’t clutter your work space with unneeded items. Clutter is only a distraction!

9. Know Yourself • Only you know the times of day that work best for you. Some people are early birds and do their best work in the morning. Others start pumping out great work in the afternoon or even at night. • Use the times of day when you are most alert and attentive to work on harder tasks.

10. Eliminate Unnecessary Interruptions • Ignore the spam emails, the coupons from the mail, and the online games! Focus on what it is you want to accomplish. Getting rid of distractions will help you to not only get more work done, but to also get work done right! • A “Do Not Disturb” sign is a great way to let you coworkers know you are focused on getting your job done. Save the chit-chat for your break!

11. Divide your workload • Sometimes we think we can load ourselves with so much and still manage to get everything done. • If you have too much work, don’t be afraid to ask for a little help! • Once you take the “I have to do it all myself” responsibility off your shoulders, you’ll be able to get more done while feeling less exhausted.

12. Take a Breather • Stand up. Look out the window. Take a deep breath and relax. A quick break will give your brain a moment to catch up and keep you more attentive.

13. Set Deadlines • Let’s say you have a project to complete and its due in one hour. You will work on it for the entire next hour, taking your time until it’s completed. • Now let’s say you have the same project to do, but it’s due in 30 minutes. You’ll work hard and fast to get the same project done on time. Urgency is key in being effective. • Giving yourself a deadline will make you prioritize and hustle. • However, make the deadline achievable. You want to create challenges that excite and challenge you, not deadlines that stress working inadequately or with error.

14. Get Something Done! • Right when you get into work, complete a quick but high-priority task. This will set the stage for the rest of your day. • If you start productively, you’ll feel more energized. This will help you move on to your next project with ease.

15. Motivation-“the desire to do” You must be driven. You must feel the need to see the results of your behavior. If you WANT to be effective, you must have desire to do so! Goal-Setting- “planning to achieve an objective” What do you need to accomplish? Write it down! Work on it. Finish it. Effectiveness starts with an OBJECTIVE and ends with a result! How do we enhance effectiveness? Urgency-“requiring speedy action and attention” Put a little pep in your step. The faster and more attentively you work, the more you can accomplish in a day.

16. Enhancing Effectiveness • By being motivated, by setting goals, and by having a sense of urgency, you have what it takes to be effective. • Applying these principles will allow you to achieve your desired results.

17. Evaluate Your Outcome • Ensure your effectiveness by evaluating yourself. Being more effective means producing even better results. So you tried something new. Did it work? Why or why not? WERE THE RESULTS INTENTIONAL? Were the results the best you could have hoped for? Take a step back and assess your methods. • If you feel you’ve completed your work faster and more effectively, do it again! If not, find out the cause to your inefficiency and fix it.

18. Review Being effective is defined as producing the desired / intended result. In order to be effective, apply these helpful tips: • Get ready the night before • Use a to-do list • Get rid of your clutter • Know yourself • Eliminate unnecessary distractions • Divide your workload • Take a breather • Get something done! To maximize your effectiveness, motivate yourself to get your work done, set goals for yourself to accomplish, and go through your day with a sense of urgency. Don’t forget to evaluate yourself and your work. It’s important to understand how you created effective results.