How to Unleash Your Full Potential at Work

Is it me or is it them?

Maintaining control in today’s hectic workplace is a challenge- everything is lean, mean and competitive. With the onset of technology, most of us were not prepared to manage our time or information. We had no idea how overwhelmed we would be with the amount of information we receive on a daily basis. How do you feel less trapped and more in charge? There are a lot of competing demands on our time. How do we become effective at work? Managing our time well, dealing with stress, taking steps to develop our career, networking, becoming self-aware and managing our emotions are some areas that may help us maximise our effectiveness at work.

Let us explore how you can unleash your full potential at work:

One of the most-talked about ways to become effective at work is to learn to manage your time well. As a new manager, you may be tempted to plunge into every assignment. A lot of experienced managers do the same. Do you know how you spend your time everyday? Start by analyzing how much time you devote to doing tasks like meetings, sorting through emails and answering phone calls. You may discover that you are spending time on tasks that do not bring you closer to the goals you are aiming for. Prioritizing your tasks is the next step you need to take to help you identify which tasks require your expertise most and add value to your day. Start important tasks early in the work day so that you can give them your full concentration with minimal distractions.

 Stress can add anticipation and excitement in your life, but it can also leave you tied up in knots. Your goal is not to eliminate it but to learn to manage it to optimal levels. Stress may stem from various reasons such s excessive overwork, unclear expectations or a toxic work environment. What can you do when you feel stressed out? If you are in the office, take a walk around the block or at least step away from your desk and briefly get away from the stack of paperwork or unread emails. Do not listen to negative thoughts. Try to develop a positive outlook. Rather than tell yourself “I screwed up on that email”, say “I will learn from my mistakes”. Don’t let stress take control of your situation- you take control of it.

 It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine that we forget about our career and aspirational needs. Today, change is occurring so rapidly that training has become a lifelong endeavour so you do not suffer from professional obsolescence. Staying on top of changes in your field and picking up new skills informally can help you do your job better. More importantly, other than the technical skills or knowledge you need for your job scope, learn soft skills such as negotiating, creative thinking and problem-solving techniques that will refine your relationships at work and make you more effective at work.

In addition, the importance of interpersonal communication should not be undermined. If you are to advance beyond your current position, you need to perfect the skill of networking. Networks may be internal or external. At work, it’s not about what you know, but who you know that makes a difference. Make it a point to meet people face to face and strike up conversations with them. You might meet someone who could give you valuable information and guidance to advance or grow in your job.

We face stressful situations at work and we can feel a wide range of emotions from being worried, frustrated, upset and angry. These emotions could leave us feeling drained, causing us to lose our focus and productivity.  No matter what the situation is, you’re always free to choose how to react to it. Being emotionally intelligent is not only about managing your own emotions, but being aware of other’s feelings and in turn, the personalities, strengths and emotions of others. Research has found that people with higher EQ have a greater ability to self-regulate, and higher levels of motivation – which can in turn reduces their tendency to procrastinate, leads to improved self-confidence, and enables them to focus on achieving long-term goals.

We can all be personally effective in different ways as we have different goals and priorities. Start by thinking about your goals and what you want to achieve at work. What are the skills you need to acquire in order to meet those goals? You may not possess all of the skills at once, but working on having personal effectiveness in some areas of your job will make you feel in control of your life.