Identify your key skills and step into your role as the efficiency multiplier, says Abigail Barnes
Even though the things we’ve known and our ways of working may have changed, one thing remains the same: we all still have the same 24 hours.
Prior to the pandemic, productivity and time management were hot topics. As we begin to step into a new way of living and working, professionals and organisations have never been more keen to find solutions to the age-old problem of how to improve productivity without working more hours.
That’s where you come in! Your key skills and abilities, (expertise that you are constantly updating by being a student for life) are exactly what’s needed to ensure that this transition period is as smooth as it can be.
Your teams and executives need you to become their efficiency multiplier, to help make sure they are doing the right things with their time!
Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right thing
Peter Drucker
Multiplier assessment
In order to step into your role as the efficiency multiplier, take some time to identify your key skills – not because you will need to justify them to anyone any time soon, but because this information will help you avoid feelings of low self-worth, imposter syndrome, and wondering how you fit into the next chapter for your business or organisation.
Below are the questions I recommend you ask yourself. Whether you know the answers off the top of your head, or it takes you a while, give yourself the gift of time to reflect. Then write down your answers in a notebook and keep it close to hand, review your list daily and remind yourself of your value.
Questions to consider:
- What are the top 10 skills and abilities I bring to my role?
- How do I save my team and executives time each day?
- How much time do I save them each day?
- Which of my skills and abilities could help my team and executives be more effective today?
- Do I have enough time to do this every day? If not, what needs to change?
- What kind of routines, systems and strategies do I need to implement to operate at my most efficient and productive?
- What support do I need both inside and outside of work?
- Am I making time to recharge my energy throughout the day?
Recharging your energy
How are you currently spending your 24-hour day? We share the 888 Formula with audiences around the world to help them immediately identify where they are most out of balance in their lives (perhaps you have heard me share it at an event before).
It breaks down 24 hours into the following three pillars:
- Rest – 8 hours
- Activities – 8 hours
- Work – 8 hours
Pillar 1
Science suggests that the human body needs around 7-9 hours to rest and repair each night (the average person needs 7 hours and 30 minutes).
Pillars 2 and 3
Society has been operating an 8-hour workday for many years now. The time that is left, pillar 2 (the jam in the sandwich) is the time you have for all the activities that are creating your life.
Use The 888 Formula Framework to create the formula that works best for your life, roles and responsibilities. In previous articles I’ve shared the 8-minute secret with you; use that throughout the day to recharge your energy.
Stay in the driver’s seat
No one really knows what will happen next or how things will work out as the world begins to unlock again. Whether or not remote working is sustainable, more flexibility will be required, and job roles will need to be reviewed and revised to accommodate the requirements of the new way of working.
There is one thing I know for sure: by investing time in auditing your skills, you will put yourself in the driver’s seat of your career and life.
