 |
|
Transforming Your Work Style
Your unique work style affects all aspects of your workday, from the way your
coworkers interact with you to the way you've organized your workspace. Once
you've identified your personal work style and figured out where it could use a
little polishing, you're ready to move on and discover the solutions.
Mapping Your Goals
Gather all the worksheets, flow charts and lists you created in
What's Your Work Style? Take a moment to review them and highlight the
tasks, flows, storage approaches and presentation approaches that meet your
approval. Next to each, identify whether you think it contributes to your
professional image, your workspace, or both. Do the same for the tasks, etc.
that you would like to improve.
Now divide a blank piece of paper into four quadrants and label the quadrants
as follows: 1. In the top left quadrant, list the positive image
characteristics you've identified. 2. In the bottom left quadrant, list the
positive workspace characteristics you've identified. 3. In the top right
quadrant, list the things about your image that you want to change, based on
your worksheets, lists, and flowcharts. 4. In the bottom right quadrant, list
the things you want to change about your workspace, based on your worksheets,
lists, and flowcharts.
For example, Janet, an account executive, came up with this map when she
decided to transform her work style:
-
In the top left quadrant, Janet wrote that she is always on time, is neat and
orderly, and a team player.
-
In the bottom left quadrant, Janet said that her workspace is comfortable,
nicely decorated, and clean.
-
In the top right quadrant, Janet listed the things she wants to change about
her image-she wants to be more organized and efficient. She wants to be able to
find files right away so she can respond to situations more quickly instead of
spending so much time hunting information down.
-
In the bottom right quadrant, Janet wrote these things about her future
workspace: In addition to being neat and comfortable, it will be more user-
friendly. Her file drawers will be better organized and color-coded.
Now you have a complete picture of where your image and workspace are today,
and you have a map of where you'd like to go. And remember, you don't have to
make this journey in a single day. You can follow the map and improve your work
style in comfortable stages.
Four Rules for a Good Work Style
1. Rule One: Maintain a Positive Work Environment To project an air of
efficiency, keep your workspace orderly. Get rid of any clutter and make sure
the equipment and materials you use most are within easy reach. There are many
tools you can use to help you keep your workspace neat and clean-file holders,
card files, appointment books, bulletin boards, etc.
2. Rule Two: Correct Workflow Problems To develop an optimal workflow process,
it's important to define which specific tasks you can streamline and simplify.
In looking at your workflow chart
(from What's Your Work Style?), you may notice that some cycles are
unnecessary. For example, when a letter arrives in your in-box, you look at it,
and then return it to your inbox. Two days later, you pick it up again, look at
it, and place it on your desk. The next day you pick up the letter on your
desk, read it and file it. In this flow, you've picked up the letter three
times before you actually do something with it.
3. Rule Three: Manage Your Information Information is only valuable if you can
actually access it when you need it. Here are some good solutions for managing
your information:
4. Rule Four: Manage Your Presentations Good presentations depend on planning,
and you cannot formulate a good plan without knowing your topic, your audience,
and your objective. In any presentation, you will be successful if you are
prepared, present your case in a crisp, comprehensible manner, and have
professional presentation materials such as the
View-Tab® Presentation Binder or
SmartImage® Frosted Front Report Cover. Professional-looking
portfolios and folders such as the
SmartImage® Two Pocket Portfolio and the
SmartImage® Custom Window Portfolio also make a good impression.
Setting the Course for Your Future
Improving your work style doesn't just make a difference in your day-to-day
work life. You can use your work style to move your career forward. As you've
evaluated and improved your work style, you've created a great infrastructure
to support other important skills that are valuable no matter what kind of job
you want to land. Good organization, efficient workflows, effective information
management and good presentation styles all come into play in the following
critical job skills:
-
Problem Solving
-
Communication
-
Independence and Collaboration
-
The Ability to Learn
|
|
|
|
|
|
