…And Not Be a Dick About It.

When it comes to the workplace, it doesn’t always take something like constant failure to create a less-than-desirable office experience. It’s often the difference between letting yourself coast and making the most. And there’s always that one guy who just seems to be able to hit all the right notes without even really trying, just like with the opposite sex. Some guys just seem to have it, and some don’t.

Or do they? Everybody has had a job where someone who clearly works less hours is apparently excelling more rapidly than anybody else around them. Surely they’re not bribing your superiors or practicing some sort of crazy, office sleight-of-hand. The secret, it turns out, lies in that old expression we’ve all heard: work smart, not hard.

The most successful workers understand that mere hours don’t beget success. Your relationship with your career has to go beyond the simple idea of clocking in until it’s time to clock out. Focusing on the following ideas (instead of simply showing up) will help you become the workplace ninja you always knew you were.

Quality over quantity.

Figure out what the most important things are at your job, and then be the best at those things. Hard work and dedication are great, but nobody ever got promoted just because they had the most hours on their timecard. When it comes down to it, any seasoned professional will tell you: success doesn’t come from hours, it comes from accomplishments. You don’t win the war by marching the most miles.

Set your sights right away.

Get to know exactly what your boss needs from you, and how he or she will be measuring your success. Adopt that as your personal yardstick, so that to you, doing a good job automatically involves giving your superiors exactly what they want.

This will also help you avoid the dreaded micromanagement. If you can micromanage yourself based on your boss’ criteria for success, you’ll never have to deal with an employer peeking over your shoulder. Instead, you’ll become a consistent asset, and will be relied upon accordingly.

Keep your eye on the back door.

…to a promotion, you creep. One of the first and most important things to understand when you find yourself in the position to do some serious climbing: exactly what what will get you bumped up. Focus on the things you’ll need to succeed at that next rung, and your work will become more valuable in fewer hours.

User your filter.

Say no to assignments that aren’t key. Nobody wants to be a dumping ground for lame tasks; your time is as valuable as you make it, and you’re better spent frying the most valuable fish available anyway.

Make yourself known.

Announce your schedule, obligations, trips, and such forth well ahead of time. Make sure anybody and everybody knows if and when you’re not going to be available so your personal life doesn’t wind up shooting you in the foot.

Get yourself a silent mentor.

This one is pure gold. While it won’t be the easiest thing to do, this can definitely be one of the most valuable practices when starting any competitive new job. The key is to look for the employee whose output and opinion are highly respected, but who doesn’t go nuts working overtime or putting in crazy hours. This person won’t be obvious about their work habits, but if you can single them out you may very well glean some clutch information that will help you succeed in your given place of work.

Control what you can.

You can’t always do exactly what you want, exactly when you want to do it. Not everything that happens at the workplace will be under your control, but finding the things that are under your control and exercising that power will definitely help you get the most out of your workday. Setting boundaries and adhering to them, even in little ways, can help drastically maximize your output. If you typically don’t do well in Monday morning meetings, don’t schedule them! Find small ways to take ownership of your workday without leaving anybody else hanging out to dry.

Be brave.

Pressure and responsibility are good things. Trust yourself to handle important work, and to do a great job at it. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be daunting, but doing so and coming out successfully on the other side shows both yourself and your superiors that your skills are worth rewarding. Take risks, be bold, and tackle tough work with aplomb.

While productivity might not be an exact science quite yet, there are always simple things you can do to make the workday a little more efficient. Building these habits leads to more valuable productivity (note: not simply more productivity, because that doesn’t necessarily mean anything), which leads to a more valuable personal life. You’ll become a workplace powerhouse before you know it.

Sources:

Lifehacker | Find Time for your Personal Life and Get a Handle on Your Out-Of-Control Work Schedule

Penelope Trunk | Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success