During the course of an interview, every hiring manager I interviewed with has asked me a form of the same question, “How do you stay organized?” Simplistic as it seems, this vital question has a vastly deeper meaning and greater significance than it appears. It’s also an easy question to dismiss with a flippant answer. When this question is posed to you, give it more thought and be detailed in your answer. Its relevance in today’s world may surprise you.
Everyone has their own organizational methods. I still swear by a paper calendar because I appreciate the visuals, medium, and ability to forecast days out with easy reference. However, my colleagues have embraced the digital format entirely because of its minimalistic appeal and synchronization with operating systems and apps.
Whatever your method, the most important thing is that you actually have one and that it is efficient, documented, and facilitates a few essential qualities: project or task completion, time management, and follow-up. The last thing a manager wants to do is micro-manage your to-do list or ensure that you follow up on meeting action items or communications to cross-functional teams or customers. In the world of MedTech, where you are dealing with patient care and FDA compliance, communication and adherence to proper protocol is critical. If you find your own system is not serving you well, consider these strategies. A few small changes can make a drastic impact on your work output.
Divide and Conquer
Nothing stalls the initiation or completion of a large project faster than dwelling on its magnitude. Break the project down into smaller, manageable tasks and plan them in your schedule. This will allow you to communicate your progress to management and provide opportunities to make adjustments along the way. Plus, being able to check off a completed task is highly rewarding!
Take a Break
Not in the literal sense. Take a break from your phone, apps, and social media. Studies show that technology can hinder time management and productivity by enabling constant distraction and mini breaks, which add up to large amounts of time.
Do Not Disturb
Use technology smartly. Putting your phone in Do Not Disturb for a designated time allows you to focus on the task at hand. Managers use this tip regularly as the temptation to check a quick email or reply to a non-urgent message is just too great.
The 5 Minute Stretch
This is the time-blocking or Pomodoro method. Simply put, work for designated time blocks, such as 30 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This strategy is key for staying on task while avoiding burnout.
Employing a few simple strategies to improve your time management will greatly enhance your productivity and allow you the gift of deciding what to do with that bonus time.