Work smarter not harder

Britons work the longest hours in Europe and the United Kingdom's long hours culture has been well documented. According to the TUC in 2006 British workers put in 23bn of unpaid overtime. Suzanne Cameron, Senior Commercial Consultant of Carlton Resource Solutions suggests that employees should look at ways of working smarter rather than harder in order to reduce the amount of extra time they spend at work.

UK workers spend more time at work that those in any other European country.

Employees in Scotland work an average of six hours and 30 minutes extra per week, comments Suzanne.

It may be that some employees feel that they are expected to work long hours in order to show their commitment to their job. However by working smarter employees should be able to ensure that they complete their work without having to work longer hours.

For some, leaving work before their boss is a no-no but this should not be the case. Suzanne says, So long as you have completed all the work that has to be done for the day then there is no reason why you should not leave work on time.

Suzanne has these tips for working smarter not harder.

Switch off your email/switch on your voicemail
Researchers at the University of California have found that on average workers only manage to complete 3 sustained minutes of work before being diverted.
Common interruptions include emails and phone calls.

Although an invaluable communication tool, email can be extremely intrusive especially if a message flashes up on screen every time a new email enters your inbox.

Suzanne suggests, If you are trying to finish a piece of work email can be an annoying interruption. When working to a deadline you should consider switching off your email alert or closing your email system altogether; this should allow you the time and space necessary to finish your work.

If this doesn't seem feasible then alter the frequency with which new emails are delivered to your inbox - as a minimum this should reduce the amount of email related disturbances that occur.

Suzanne adds, The same principle applies to your phone; either activate your voicemail or let your colleagues know that you will not be contactable for a certain period of time whilst you finish an important item of work.

Organisation is key
You can't expect to be at your most efficient if you don't know what you have to do. Create a list of all outstanding tasks and then prioritise them, says Suzanne. There is something very satisfying about completing a task and then crossing it off your to do list.

Drop-in sessions
Many people find their work day interrupted when colleagues stop at their desk for a chat. Suzanne says, Not having a spare chair at your desk will discourage impromptu meetings from taking place. If there is a need for a meeting then arrange a mutually convenient time and book a meeting room; this will help to ensure that the meeting stays on track and does not digress into a chat.

Useful information
Suzanne recommends keeping your diary and contacts up to date. Taking the time to manage your diary and your list of contacts will pay off in the long run.
You will always know where you are meant to be and when and should also be able to easily find the phone number or email address you require.

Working smarter is about making sure that you make the most effective use of your time. By making a few simple changes most people can make a difference to their own working day, concludes Suzanne.

Established in Aberdeen in 1981, Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) has grown and developed to cover all geographic regions through its operational hubs in Aberdeen and London. Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines, in both public sector and other corporate environments. Carlton recruits for permanent, contract or temporary placements. For more information call 01224 650500 or visit: