5 Easy Ways to Manage Your Workload

Have you ever had multiple projects that were due? Wish there were more hours in a day? Too much to do and you just want to let your forehead meet the desk?

A heavy workload is part of being a business professional, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose your sanity over it. Spend more time producing results with these 5 workload management tips:

1. Don’t be in meetings that don’t concern you.

Meetings are a necessity in business .That doesn’t necessarily mean that you jump into every meeting. Try to be selective. Prior to your RSVP ask yourself:

• What will your role be in the meeting?
• Are you presenting, taking notes, answering questions only you can answer? If your only role is to listen and stay updated, assign someone else to take notes and report back.
• Will you have action items following the meeting? If not, you may want to consider skipping it.

2. Don’t work on projects that are not in your field of expertise.

You’re not a superhero. No, seriously. It’s one thing to try to impress your boss by saying you’ll take care of anything they ask for, but this will end up causing more harm than good.

Here’s an example:

You’re an office manager and your superior wants to know if you can build a website for the company. You say “Sure, no problem” and then spend countless hours searching the web to learn how to build a website. Not only did you spend a ton of company time and money on something you’re not proficient at, but your lack of expertise will show in the end-product.

Instead of trying to take on these types of projects, try to delegate to someone best suited for the task. If you don’t have someone in your office who can help, suggest that your boss contract out for the work. In the long run, your company will be getting more for their dollars spent, and you’ll be able to focus on managing your own workload.

3. Pick up the phone!

Communication via email is both a blessing and a curse. Emailing allows you to communicate in higher quantities in a short period of time.

So what’s the downside?

When you find yourself emailing people on an issue, emails can go back and forth for before the issue is resolved. Think about the time spent via those emails!

If there is an opportunity to get a quick answer from someone by calling them. Then call them. So you can check another item off your list!

4. Know how and when to react to interruptions.

The pressure of responding to every call or email as it comes in can easily be relieved by….not responding to every call or email as it comes in. Interrupting your workflow will push other tasks back. Not so good.

Your battle against interruptions starts with prioritization. Know which projects deserve your immediate attention.

Emails are the same way. When an email notification pops up you want to rush to your inbox to address it. If you ever hope to complete your ToDo list, you’ll need to discipline yourself and let some emails wait.

5. Recognize when multitasking is failing you.

There is a definite “art” to multitasking, and some do this well. The real trick is knowing when multitasking is working against you. Shifting from 2, 4, even 10 tasks at once is only impressive if you’re getting results.

Spending too much time flipping between tasks (or trying to remember where you left off with those tasks?) You may want to re-structure your work habits to be more focused. Otherwise, you’re just starting 10 projects and completing zero.

Managing your workload is a fluid process. You will continue to change and improve your methods to best manage your tasks. By adjusting a few of practices, you’ll discover that you can complete projects at a more efficient rate, while giving yourself what you need the most...time!