When thinking about efficiency in an office environment, you need to think not only about how you operate as an individual, but also how the facilities and equipment is being used. The more efficient and office as a whole, the better the company will perform. Business owners will save money in various ways, that they can then choose to invest back into the business and the staff. Here are some things to consider.
Do you start each day determining which of your tasks are an urgent priority? By writing up a priority list and breaking larger tasks into smaller ones, you will be able to keep on top of all the important stuff and ensure nothing falls behind. Try not to multi-task; simply work your way through your list and tick things off one at a time. You also need to make sure you are taking regular breaks, however, otherwise you could start to suffer with things like eye strain, from staring at a screen too long, or repetitive strain injury from typing too much. This will prevent you from being the most productive version of yourself and lead to poor quality work.
Try and eliminate distractions where possible and learn to say no to colleagues or clients when you’re too busy to take on any more work. Don’t be afraid to admit when you’re struggling and ask for help. Find ways to overcome challenges such as procrastination and boredom.
As mentioned above, you also need to think about how you are using the equipment and facilities available to you in the office. For instance, do you remember to switch off the overhead lights when you’re the last one out the office? Do you shut down your computer properly or just leave it in stand-by mode? Forgetting to do these things is a waste of money for your employer, who could be investing that in your training and development instead, or maybe even a payrise or bonus.
Think about how you are using the printer. Do you use smaller font to save paper and ink? Do you print unnecessarily when you could just email a document to someone instead? Again, changing your print habits will save your employer money on office supplies, but it will also be beneficial to the environment. Perhaps consider researching some green printing tips for further advice.