Most people would like to be more productive on the job. But, according to one workplace performance coach, becoming more efficient is a better goal.

"Being efficient is more important because it means you're productive at doing the right things -- the things that are most important to your boss, customers and the company's bottom line," says Cy Charney, president of Charney and Associates in Toronto, and author of The Portable Mentor. "Examine how you're spending your work time. If you're using less than 95 percent of it for activities that relate directly to your objectives, you may have a problem."

Mr. Charney offers the following suggestions for becoming more efficient and effective at your job.

Take every training course you can manage, because they all have something to offer. Make sure your boss is aware of your professional development activities and their worth to the company. "Focus on skills you might acquire or can improve upon that are unique in your company," says Mr. Charney. "Fluency in a foreign language or knowledge of advanced computer applications can be invaluable."

Be optimistic about change. "Change is inevitable in every industry and every company," says Mr. Charney. "Fighting change or being fearful of it is counterproductive for you and your company. It's much more useful to look at it as an opportunity and a challenge rather than a threat."

Set clear goals in consultation with your boss. Break down goals into individual objectives.

Concentrate on doing a job right, not quickly. Haste causes mistakes, making it necessary to do the job over. This can lead to poor service and lower productivity.

Analyze how you go about completing your recurring projects and tasks. After you've found the best way to do a job, document the process and share your findings.

Reconsider your recurring paperwork and reports. Ask yourself these questions: Is anybody reading them? Does anyone need the information they contain? "If you answered 'no' to either of these questions, there's a chance you're putting together a report no one needs," says Mr. Charney. "If this is the case, eliminate the task or find out what you could report on that would be beneficial."

Learn from your mistakes. "You'll make many, and that's OK, so long as you don't keep repeating them," says Mr. Charney. "Think about what you did wrong and what you can do differently the next time."

Soource: www.carefirst.staywellsolutionsonline.com