how to increase efficiency and effectiveness

7/28/2019 How to Increase Efficiency and Effectiveness

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HOW TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS

BY TUNDE ADENIYI

2012

The times we live in are very unusual times. The scope and rate at which

technology is advancing is breathtaking. At the same time, the human population

has witnessed and is witnessing an unprecedented population explosion. This

means many more mouths to feed, clothe, shelter, educate and provide Medicare

for. Consequently the scarce resources available will be fiercely contested for by

all and sundry. Probably in no other sphere of our lives as human beings will this

effect be more noticed than in the area of work and employment. Thus the

question is this: amidst the teeming mass of humanity how do I stand out from

the crowd? How do I get the edge or competitive advantage? What is my unique

selling point that separates me from the pack? How can I perform better, or get

better results? In short how do I become efficient and effective?

Efficiency has to do with quality, how well am I able to do my work? (Whether as

an employee or an entrepreneur) Effectiveness on the other hand has to do with

the (kind of) results produced. So it is of utmost importance to know how to be

more efficient and more effective. The following are seven steps which can enable

us become more efficient and more effective namely:

1. Be a self-starter2. Work with the final objective in mind3. Follow a logical approach4. Cooperation, not confrontation5. Communicate (effectively) with clarity6. Harness the potentials of others7. Improve yourself


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BE A SELF-STARTER

In the world of today, and similarly throughout human history it has been

discovered that opportunities do not always come to those that wait on the

sidelines. More often than not they are created by circumstances by those whoattack. By and large most people wait for perfect conditions (which may never

come). A wise man once said I will find a way or I will make one. Therefore

rather than wait for situations and circumstances to dictate the pace, initiate

action. One of the laws of science i.e. Isaac Newtons first law of motion states

that an object continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion unless compelled

by an external force to act otherwise. What this simply means is that an object (or

thing) will remain wherever it is unless an external force compels it to move.

Likewise an object (or thing) will continue to move unless compelled by anexternal force to stop. This tendency is s true of human beings. Unless most

people are forced to take action, they remain in their present state of inaction or

inactivity. Likewise unless people are forced to stop by adverse or painful

circumstances they usually hurtle on to their destruction. Both of these states can

easily be seen in the lives of numerous people. A certain individual (say case A)

due to poor upbringing exhibits indolent behaviour believing he can live off

inherited family wealth will receive the shock of his life when lack and penury

come knocking at the door. The pain of want, many a times forces him to rethink

his position and take steps to engage in more profitable activity. Another

individual (case B) on the other hand abuses himself with harmful drugs thus

ruining his physical constitution. Faced with the prospect of ruined health and

impending death he is usually compelled to seek external aid in order to quit the

dangerous habit. The truth is that the power of self-determination lies in our

hands. We can decide to choose by the grace and help of God to live a better life.

We can decide to take our destiny into our own hands because we have the

power of choice. So rather than allow the environment to control us we can

choose how we will respond to external stimuli. We should avoid being

reactionary but proactive.


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WORK WITH THE FINAL OBJECTIVE IN VIEW

Someone once said that the main thing is keeping the main thing the main

thing. We must undertake every endeavour with the final objective in view.

What exactly is it that we hope to achieve? We must aim at our aims so to speak.We must form, build and fortify the habit of propelling ourselves in the direction

of our chief cardinal target. Irrelevant activities must be cut off and distractions

(which are inevitable) must be managed and pruned. We must learn to lead

ourselves if we hope to produce tangible results. As long as we have our eyes on

the target we cannot stray. In line with the biblical injunction we must place our

hands on the plow of destiny and not look back.

FOLLOW A LOGICAL APPROACH

Once we have our overall objective in view, we must fashion out a roadmap to get

us there. How do I get from point A to point B? What steps do I need to take? In

what order do I take the steps that I must take to get to my goal. How do I

organize myself such that I clearly define my activities? The point here is one step

at a time. We must learn to follow a prescribed logical order in the

implementation of our projects, plans and activities. A methodical approach

keeps us focused, avoids dissipation of energy, helps us do the right things in the

right ways and at the right times.

COOPERATION NOT CONFRONTATION

To forge ahead in life we must learn to cooperate with others, as they are vital to

our success. No man whether living, dead or yet to be born has ever attained

success in isolation. Someone, somewhere, at some time, in so many ways stood

upon the shoulders of giants preceding him or her before they were able to attain

the present giant status. Indeed there is nothing new under the sun, thus

everyone of necessity must build on the foundation laid by others. Presently,

much more than ever before, we need the input of other individuals. Everyone

around you knows something you do not know. Everyone around you has

something you do not have. Everyone around you has skills you do not have,

knowledge you have not attained and experience you do not possess. Therefore a


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wise man would seek to involve others or work hand in hand with them to

achieve his goals. Conversely since everyone also lacks something and is looking

for something, it would not be farfetched to say everyone else needs you as badly

as you need them. Thus everyone stands to gain from mutual assistance and

coming together. Consequently, rather than following a confrontational approach

in which one party wins while the other loses or both parties lose, adopt a

cooperative approach in which both parties bring something to the table and take

away something for themselves.

COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY

Anyone can choose to become more efficient and effective. One of the vitalaspects of increased efficiency and effectiveness is communication. To

communicate means to make knownor to share opinions. We all must, by

virtue of the world we live in, relate with one another. In other words we must

interact at work, play, home, church or wherever. Communication which is done

with clarity helps to develop, maintain, secure and cement all such interaction.

We must know first in order to be known; we must be willing to share our

opinions with others and in turn listen to their opinions which they share with us.

If we get adequate accurate information from others we would be more likely to

draw equally accurate conclusions.

HARNESS THE POTENTIALS OF OTHERS

We must learn to value, seek and encourage the input of others. This is because in

line with biblical admonition two are better than one; while one can chase a

thousand, two can chase not two thousand as we would expect but ten thousand.

This reveals to us in a nutshell, a great secret: namely the output that results from

the combination of potentials of more than one or a single individual is greater

than the output that would result from the individual potentials of the various

individuals.

The potentials of others when brought to bear in combination with our potentials

produce a multiplier effect. In other words we can produce more in combination


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than in isolation. Indeed no man is an island; a tree alone cannot make up a

forest.

IMPROVE YOURSELF

We must learn to improve ourselves. We are either dynamic (moving) or static

(stationary), either living or dying, either progressing or retrogressing, either

going forward or moving backward, growing or stagnating. We as humans do not

live in a frozen state; therefore we cannot live in a vacuum. We are either

improving or degrading. Every sphere, every aspect of our lives craves

development and expression. Anything less than this leads to lack of fulfillment;

thus it is incumbent upon us to find every possible means and way of enhancing

our self-development. We must seek to improve ourselves by learning, which can

take several forms:

Learning new skills

Learning new ways

Learning new habits

Learning new behaviour

Learning new techniques

Learning new attitudes

Learning new methods

Learning new things

.

.

.

Not only must we learn, we must apply or implement what we have learnt. We

must integrate and inculcate it into the mainstream of our existence, because this


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is the only way it would become part and parcel of us. Every part of our lives:

mental/physical/social/spiritual needs rejuvenation and reinvigoration from time

to time.

We must continue to grow till we die

We must continue to develop till we die

We must continue to change till we die

We must continue to advance till we die

Indeed we must continue to improve till we die.

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