Know the Work Habits of Highly Effective Employees

The employees are the most valuable assets of any organization. It’s their credibility, efficiency, intellect, and effectiveness that can make or break the company. While effectiveness propels an employee’s career, it also improves the chances of organizational success. Effective workers are not only productive but also proactive in making important business decisions, which benefits the company in numerous ways.

But what makes an effective employee? What are their work habits, and how do they manage to stay ahead of the curve always? Let’s shed some light on that.

They can manage their time like no other
They know how to manage their time at work without falling prey to the distractions of smartphones, online messages, unimportant texts, social media, or emails. While an average employee takes about 2 hours every day to get rid of distractions and tends to check the email every 6-minute, an effective employee knows how to be mindful and keep all distractions at bay. The lesser the number of distractions, the greater chances they have in completing their assignments on time.

They set their goals beforehand
It’s said that 83% of people don’t set their goals, and only 3% of people have their goals written down on paper. The latter group has 13 times higher chances of success than the ones without any goals. Most of the effective employees fall in the latter group, who have their goals in mind. Written or not, it’s important to set SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals at every step of the way, and that’s exactly what effective employees do.

They break down tasks
Whenever they encounter a complex task, they break it down into simpler sub-tasks and write down the plans for each. If each segment involves multiple action steps, they carefully handle one step at a time and complete the entire project within the deadline. It may seem difficult, but it’s the easiest way to complete a massive project, which can bewilder an average employee.

They refrain from multitasking
The effective employees emphasize focused work over multitasking. They are also aware that multitasking puts a lot of stress on the brain and may even damage its cognitive control in the long run. It also lowers productivity by about 40%, a risk which these employees will never want to take. So they rarely multitask and focus on the work at hand more than anything else.

They take regular breaks
About 38% of US employees don’t feel like taking lunch breaks. Surprisingly, 22% of North American bosses think that the employees who regularly take lunch breaks are not hardworking. However, 90% of the workforce in North America reveals that after taking a lunch break, they feel more energized and motivated to get back to work. The effective employees understand this significance of taking breaks and never back down from it.

They are proactive in taking responsibility
Challenges impress them and help instill in them the confidence and zeal to overcome the same. They are always proactive in measuring their options, considering alternatives, and making the right decisions about important business processes. By constantly experimenting with different kinds of projects, they grow an instinct to anticipate risk areas and take necessary actions beforehand.

They value time
The effective employees are punctual and value others’ time, as well as theirs. They seldom procrastinate and believe in completing the work in advance to prevent the anxiety associated with close encounters. Hence, these professionals are preferred for leadership roles so that they can create a positive influence on the rest of the team.

They know the art of saying ‘NO’
Prioritizing is their key to the successful completion of projects, and effective employees know how to politely say ‘NO’ to distractions, disruptions, and disputes that interfere with their schedule. They also acknowledge urgencies and are always on their toes to adjust their schedule accordingly. In those rare occasions, resolving urgent situations becomes their priority.

They make the most of available resources
The effective employees know how to upgrade their skills with changing work scenarios and adapt to the new norm. To that end, they make use of all the available tools, technologies, and applications to help finish a task on time. These people display lower resistance to changes that may require them to push themselves further. And that applies in all aspects of the professional field, be it learning a new skill, adapting to new technology, using an advanced application, or even investing more time to get used to new company policies. They are always up for anything.

They are early-risers
Last but not least, most of the effective employees are seen to be starting their days earlier than others. They follow a healthy lifestyle, and a lot of them exercise regularly to keep their mind and body working in healthy condition. These people understand how interlinked the brain is with overall health and fitness, and they leave no stone to understand to enhance the same.

Wrapping it up
Anyone can improve effectiveness, if they follow these work habits that boost performance, productivity, as well as reduce work-related stress and anxiety. As many Americans feel overwhelmed by the increase in daily work hours, following a proper schedule is integral to achieving success without any baggage. So, just pull up your socks and work your way towards becoming an ‘effective employee’.