How good it is for managers to feel the satisfaction of a day’s work well done! Each accomplishment appears as a link in a dynamic value chain. But being efficient at work remains a daily challenge.

Efficiency refers to the way in which a company converts its resources, such as time, people and money, into activities that are useful to the business. In this way, efficiency makes it possible to predict whether decisions of one type or another will result in financial gains or losses. In management, the break-even point is a preferred evaluation tool for considering an organization’s efficiency and studying its performance. Efficiency can also be measured in terms of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period.

In the world of work, efficiency means accomplishing tasks, projects and objectives with the fewest possible resources. But beware: putting in long hours of hard work doesn’t go hand in hand with efficiency – quite the contrary. The aim is to make better use of human resources. To achieve efficiency and effectiveness at the same time, it’s important to take a step-by-step approach:

Step 1. Organizing tasks

To organize the list of tasks to be carried out, certain criteria need to be defined, such as the level of difficulty of the production or the deadlines. Productivity tools are available to map workflows and deadlines for each task.

Step 2. Optimizing attention

To optimize your attention and thus gain in productivity, it’s essential to perform a single task at a time. Neuroscientists have proven that the human brain is not designed to multitask.

Step 3. Avoid procrastination

Putting things off is not a productive habit. To avoid piling up work, it’s crucial to do it as you go, starting with the tasks that inspire you least.

Step 4. Determining objectives

It’s a good idea to determine the objectives you want to achieve in the light of your team’s work rhythm. In this way, every project can be completed on time and with complete transparency.

Step 5. Taking breaks

To be productive and efficient, it’s essential to know how to take ten-minute breaks. In this short space of time, you recharge the energy you need to boost your productivity.

Step 6. Building an efficient team

“Alone, we go faster. It is important to implement a collaborative approach based on :

• Knowledge;
• Learning ;
• Sharing ;
• Improving knowledge ;
• Setting up sharing tools.