Czaro Strategic Communications

There are signs the economy is improving, but the economy is bigger than one or two statistics.

Although unemployment numbers are slowing, layoffs are still happening and workers are stressed – hoping they get noticed for the right reasons. Now’s not the time to fly under the radar if you want to survive the next round of cuts. It’s time to perform at a higher level.

The week’s almost over. How’s your To-Do List look?

Take stock of what you accomplished the past five days. Then think about how your productivity stacks up with that of your co-workers. Concentrate on the people you think aren’t pulling their weight.

They’re easier to spot today because most companies have experienced significant layoffs the past 10 months. Businesses are running lean and every time they dehire someone, those fortunate enough to keep their jobs are stretched a little thinner.

Evaluate your productivity and see if your workload falls in any of the following three danger areas.

• Work hard on the wrong things. You can work 60 hours a week, functioning at a high level and not be valuable to your organization. Are you producing revenue or costing the company money? Are you working on projects that support the company’s goals or are you operating on your own island? Most companies would rather keep an employee who works hard on the right things than an over-achiever who accomplished nonessential tasks.
• Short-term projects vs. long-term value. If your workload consists of short-term projects, tasks that are easily accomplished or all your work will be completed at the end of the month – be scared. If, on the other hand, you’re job description includes many long-term initiatives that will add more and more value in the months to come, you’ll fair much better.
• Talk and think instead of do. If you are a strategist who thinks big thoughts and isn’t shy about sharing your opinions – you have valuable skills. Strategic thinking takes a lot of time, but in today’s economic environment you have to be able to produce actual work. If you’re a manager or director and all the work is being done by your team – what value are you really providing? If you’re the first to comment and the last to volunteer, you might rethink your priorities.

If you’re getting all your work done well, one time and it provides value to the company, you can relax a little. But, if you spend more time relaxing instead of working, you might have a few empty boxes handy. Other suggestions?