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The art of working smart.

Article Excerpt
Being more productive doesn't mean working yourself to death. More often, it means substituting brains for brawn, organizing your efforts and practicing some old-fashioned discipline. Some tips to get you on the right track.

SET GOALS AND ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REACHING THEM. Goals are necessary for achievement because they channel your energies. Make sure yours are specific, realistic but challenging, and measurable. They should be compatible with each other and not mutually exclusive. Give each one a deadline. Putting your goals in writing can be helpful, but don't fall into the trap of believing that because they exist on paper that they are cast in concrete; keep them flexible and subject to change. When you establish your goals, set them on a long-term, intermediate, and daily basis. After setting them, rank them in order of importance and tackle the most important first.

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KEEP ACCOUNTS OF YOUR TIME. People who wouldn't dream of not maintaining meticulous accounts of where their money goes often have no idea of how they spend their time. Don't be one of them. Most time use is habit and we don't know what happens to it unless we keep track of it. Keeping a time log for a week or so periodically can help you uncover waste, keep you sensitive to the whole problem of time management.

KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO. Achievement isn't always the result of doing more. Frequently, it's the result of doing less ... better. A great effectiveness killer is the inability to say no. When you find it necessary to decline a job, do it promptly to avoid raising unrealistic expectations. Don't think you have to offer an explanation for every turndown, either.

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