Efficient Work Methods

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Efficient Work Practices

Efficient work methods or efficient work practices consist of the following, more or less in the sequence given below:

1. Effectiveness and Efficiency

A good number of people, at times, feel confused between the exact difference between the two terms "effectiveness" and "efficiency".
Everyone wants to achieve success (and thus happiness) by accomplishing one's goals in a short period of time with minimum resources and therefore, he must know exactly what effectiveness means and what efficiency means.
One must do both- effectiveness as well as efficiency. Yet, effectiveness comes first, always.
In everyday language, thus, efficiency is doing things right whereas effectiveness is doing right things.
Effectiveness is answer to "what" and efficiency is answer to "how well".
"Effectiveness" is all about finding the right destination and right direction and right path to reach the chosen destination. "Efficiency" is reaching the destination on this chosen path with the usage of optimized resources. For example, how soon will I cross mile stones after mile stones and how fast will I reach the destination and so how fast can I walk?
If you do efficiency first, you may start walking fast on any path, in any direction, in the over zealousness of walking faster (efficiency) but with this higher speed of walking, you may end up proceeding in wrong direction, on wrong path and away from the desired destination, faster. What's the use? It's waste of resources though you have been efficient in walking.

Read more about "Effectiveness and Efficiency" at: http://effectiveness-efficiency.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

2. Human Software (HSoftware)

As per “The Shyam Bhatawdekar Model of Effectiveness: HSoftware”, human effectiveness depends on following four factors:

Values
Knowledge base (rational intelligence IQ, emotional intelligence EQ and spiritual intelligence SQ- nothing to do with established religions or gods)
Paradigms (mindsets or thinking patterns)
Will power to do

These entire four factors are so very highly integrated or intertwined or interdependent with each other that one has to look at all of them together simultaneously. And at times, even improving one factor does not necessarily and always provide the right impact of improving the other though one depends on the other.

Read more about "Human Software- Hsoftware" at: (Management in Life, Profession and Family: The Shyam Bhatawdekar Effectiveness Model: HSoftware) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/management-in-life-profession-family/6txz9nck6g3/3 or (The Shyam Bhatawdekar Effectiveness Model: HSoftware) http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/ or (Human Software- HSoftware) http://human-software-hsoftware.blogspot.com/

You may also refer: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

3. Paradigm and Paradigm Shift

Basic assumptions made about reality are paradigms. They are consciously or subconsciously held by an individual or group of people or an organization. And to them, these assumptions literally become the reality.
The assumptions which now start looking like reality get fixed or set in the mind of the person who holds them. That is why paradigm is also known as "mindset".
Once, you have a paradigm or a mindset that you start believing as reality or truth, you are likely to become rigid on it and ordinarily will not like to change or shift from that paradigm. You stop realizing that the paradigm you are holding is really your assumption about what the reality might be. The fact is- you are not necessarily aware of the reality. All you know is that the reality might be exactly opposite of your paradigm and you would not even know that. This phenomenon could be dangerous.
Paradigms can make or mar your personal, professional, family and social life. If they are correct, you come out as a winner, effective and successful. But if they are wrong, they can take you in an entirely opposite direction to turn you into a loser, ineffective and failure.
Carrying right paradigms in the head is the answer, removing wrong paradigms is the answer, shifting away from wrong paradigms to the right paradigms is the answer.

You may also refer: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

4. Goal Setting (Target Setting)

Purposes of goals are: to focus your attention, to give you a time frame to work and in which to plan, to help motivate yourself and others and to ensure everybody is clear about what is happening
Goal or target setting is done on short term, medium term and long term basis. In the context of personal goals, one can even think of setting up life time goals.
When setting goals you should follow this sequence: see it, say it, write it down, do it.
Goals Should Be SMART: specific (S), measurable (M), agreed (A), realistic (R) and timed(T)

Read more about "Goal Setting or Target Setting)" at: http://goal-target-setting.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

5. Daily Management

Daily plan is the set of tasks and activities to be executed during the day as per a decided sequence on a time line.
Daily plan should be derived from the goals or targets set.
Day’s plan thus arrived at is then the basis for executing the daily tasks and activities.
These daily tasks/activities are slotted during the day’s available time based on the principles of fourth generation time management i.e. when to do which activity? Each activity thus decided must therefore be executed in accordance with the daily plan.
In doing so, continuous improvements will have to be effected to ensure that higher performance is achieved within the existing resources and with high productivity.

Read more on "Daily Management" at: http://daily-management.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

6. Time Management

Availability of time should never be a constraint if one can learn and practice "Time Management".
It's all about prioritizing your tasks.
Task prioritization should be done based on first, the importance of the task and then, on it's urgency. If important tasks are identified and done in time, they never will become urgent.
people who practice Time Management are normally relaxed, effective and efficient.

Read more on "Time Management" at: http://time-life-management.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

7. Problem Solving

Problem solving is an integral part of day to day working. Problems may keep coming and you need to know how to solve them efficiently. You must therefore develop the problem solving skill.

Process of problem solving consists of:

Process of Problem Solving

Recognize the problem.
Take ownership of the problem.
Analyze the problem and set goal.
Conceptualize the situation, identify causes and generate solutions.
Evaluate solutions, implement and monitor.
Review the outcome.

Read more about "Problem Solving" at: http://problem-solving-skill.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

8. 5S Housekeeping

If you really wish to be efficient by being organized, neat and tidy, start following "5S Housekeeping".

5S comprises 5 simple steps:

Seiri: Sorting out. Remove unnecessary items as appropriate.
Seiton: Systematic arrangement. Prefix a place for everything and put everything in place.
Seiso: Spic and span. Cleaning not for beautification alone but with a sense of purpose.
Seiketsu: Serene atmosphere/sanitizing. Environmental cleanliness.Standardization. Develop standards/evaluation criteria.
Shitsuke: Self discipline/training. Create awareness of all 4Ss and train to implement.

Read more about "5S Housekeeping" at: http://5s-housekeeping.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

9. First Time Right

When you cannot do the work, right the first time, you may have to carry out rework to achieve the acceptable quality work.
Rework means: literally doing it all over again and that may cost almost twice as much of the cost of first time right product. Worse, it can never match the quality of first time right one.

Read more about "First Time Right or Cost of Quality" at: http://cost-of-quality.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

10. Cost and Waste Control

Make sure that while carrying out your day to day activities or tasks, the cost of doing them must be continuously minimized. Also you must exercise a strict control on the wastage of any kind.

Read more on "Cost and Waste Control" at: http://cost-management-control.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

For More Guidance, Assistance, Training and Consultation

Contact: prodcons@prodcons.com

Also refer: (Prodcons Group) http://prodcons-group.blogspot.com/, (Training Programs by Prodcons Group) http://training-development-function.blogspot.com/, (Productivity Consultants) http://productivity-consultants.blogspot.com/

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