Working smarter, not harder
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Did you know that an individual typically works overtime in a year equating to not being paid until 22 February? That’s nearly two months of ‘free’ work we give our employers because overtime is unpaid.
As project managers, we are generally quite a well organised bunch, and I didn’t think I’d learn a lot at a recent event I attended, entitled ‘working smarter, not harder’. The evening seminar for women technologists was held at Microsoft’s Victoria offices. But I did take away some interesting figures, including the gem above about unpaid overtime. Here are some other stats:
- 78% of women say they work for companies with flexible working policies, but better technology would make it easier to balance work and life
- 55% said their work/life balance was just in control, but they wanted more ‘life’
- 45% said their work/life balances were out of kilter, and actually way past the point of being in balance.
These figures came from a survey of the women in the room, which we completed before we arrived. Suzanne Doyle-Morris, the keynote speaker, also presented research findings from a 2007 study done by the University of Hertfordshire which shows people now walk 10% faster than 10 years ago. Maybe shoes have lower heels nowadays.
I did actually pick up some tips from her presentation, and also that of the other speakers, and I pass them on here:
- Know your strengths. Don’t be an all-rounder. It’s a waste of valuable time to do things when someone else can do them for you, better than you. Don’t be threatened by surrounding yourself with good people and having a great team.
- Set clear boundaries about the hours you work: it’s fine to work at the evenings and weekends if it gives you time in the week to do what you want. Be flexible, but take the time back. This also sets a good example to the team.
- Also set clear boundaries about how people contact you. If people can reach you by IM, mobile phone, desk phone, BlackBerry, home phone, email and so on it makes life much more stressful.
- Hide away and catch up. Book time in your diary to work at home or at a different office. You’ll still be available by phone but you’ll be more productive as people won’t be constantly passing by your desk and interrupting.
- Sort out your technology and ensure you drive it, not the other way round.
Even though I’m a generally organised person, it doesn’t hurt to have someone point out what you should be doing, as it acts as a memory refresh. As a result of listening to these speakers, I have gone through my diary and blocked out a couple of days a month where I can work from home - the place I can hide away. It was also worth attending for the fab womenintechnology.co.uk pen I got, which has become my favourite piece of writing equipment. Microsoft also gave us a bar of Microsoft-branded chocolate, which is currently lying half-eaten on my dining room table. I doubt it will stay there for long.
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