As a leader in your company, any day of the week can be busy. But how many of those days do you feel productive? Most managers feel run-down as they leave the office, feeling that they were treading water or putting out fires, hardly making a dent in their real work. While this might seem like the norm, it doesn’t have to be – more importantly, it shouldn’t be.

Ready to have more productive days? Read on to learn how to make better use of your days and how to stay focused on top priorities even during the busiest of seasons.

Determine Your Top Priorities

As a manager or leader, you should be able to identify what your top priorities are. They may be driven by company goals, quarterly performance goals, or other factors. If you need some clarification or are unclear about your expectations, you should definitely talk to your own supervisor or manager for direction. It’s easy to get distracted with daily tasks and checking in with your workers to the point that your own work gets pushed aside. This is a huge mistake and one you need to correct quickly.

Upgrade Your To-Do List

To-do lists can be your friend or foe, depending on how you create them. First of all, the tasks on your daily to-do list should not run your life. Second of all, once you determine what your top priorities are, these become the projects that you must focus on, not ones that you can push aside to tend to smaller distractions. After keeping your priorities at the top of your list, feel free to include other tasks that are important to your job and rank them according to levels of importance and priority.

Determine Delegations

After you take an honest look at how you rank your (long) to-do list, you may notice that some of your tasks may be worth delegating to another team member. Maybe you’ve kept the responsibility because it doesn’t take much time, or maybe your worker hasn’t been trained in that are yet. Consider whether or not your team member or subordinate would benefit having that additional task as a learning opportunity. This will not only help strengthen your team but free up some time for you to focus on your top priorities and have a productive day.

Looking for More Management Tips?

If you want to know more about how to manage a stellar team, contact Concorde Personnel.

The New Year is just around the corner, which means that you might be thinking about new goals for yourself and your career. For many, finding a new or better job is one of those goals. As the job industry continues to shift year after year, it’s important to reconsider how you go about finding the right job for you, and yes, even getting hired at the  job.

In 2018, these are the five go-to tips to help you find the right job for you.

1. Don’t Rely on Qualifications

Yes, you read that correctly. Don’t rely on the qualifications listed in the job description as a clear indicator of whether or not you should apply for the position. If it’s a job you feel passionate about and that excites you, you should apply – even if you don’t have every qualification listed. It’s a small risk to take for what could be a major reward.

2. Create a Support System

As you look for and apply for jobs, begin to create a solid support system. This support system can help you find great job opportunities as well as act as your references when you get to that stage of your job search. Connect with previous coworkers and managers who would be happy to speak on your behalf. They may also know of open positions in your industry that you would be a great fit for. You also may want to consider using a staffing agency to help you along the way. They can assist in finding the right job for you, interview coaching, and you can use them for the short- or long-term.

3. Get to Know Mentors

If you look up to a mentor in your profession or admire a coworker or supervisor, get to know them. Ask them to have coffee with you one morning so you can get to know them, hear about their own career experience, and learn from their advice. It might seem awkward to you, but they’ll be flattered and eager to help another colleague find the success they’re looking for.

4. Make Your Own Decisions

As you seek for career advice and inspiration, remember to always come back to home base on considering what you truly want. People are always willing to give their opinions and feedback, which is great and often valuable, but ultimately, you need to find a job that you will be happy with, that can provide for you the life you want to live, and will help you reach your professional goals. Before you make any decision as you search for a job, make sure that it’s your decision and not someone else’s.

5. Adjust Your Resume for Keywords

As you apply to jobs, it’s important that you adjust each resume for the unique job position. Not only do you want to make sure it’s relevant to the qualifications and requirements, but you want to include keywords that match the job description. Especially when applying through job boards or career sites, the software can automatically scan for keywords, making some resumes jump to the top if they have more keyword matches.

Get the Job You Want in 2018

If you want more advice for finding the right job for you in the New Year, or you want help with your resume and cover letter, contact Concorde Personnel.