Now’s the time to lay the best foundations possible for the year ahead. We’re all familiar with the expression, “work smarter, not harder,” in other words, maximize the efficiency of your resources. Here are a few of my tips to help you achieve greater efficiency for yourself and your organization.

Define the goal

What is your professional or organizational goal for the year? You know it, but now it’s time to condense it down into a few powerful sentences. Be specific because specific goals yield specific results. This is not an easy thing to do, but it will really help guide you throughout the year. Keep this definition of your goal somewhere you will see it every day so it will continue to inspire you and keep you focused. More focus, more efficiency!

Encourage open communication

Laying the foundations for enhanced communication between teams and departments will greatly enhance organizational efficiency. There’s no doubt better communication channels promote faster decision-making, facilitate more successful collaborations, and contribute to higher employee morale and spirit. Make a commitment to become a better communicator in 2020.

Adopt the best technology

The right technologies for your business can single-handedly boost organizational efficiency more significantly than any other measure you can take. It’s really worth it to do (or invest in) the proper research, identify the best products to support your organization and invest in them as soon as possible. Whatever the cost, it’ll be worth it.

Make time to exercise

It’s important to make time for exercise for a number of reasons. Firstly, exercise has been proven to lower stress levels. It improves circulation (good for the body and mind!) and greatly enhances your ability to concentrate. It’s also the perfect antidote to how many of us work – sitting at a desk for many hours at a time, not moving much and totally absorbed in our desktops or phones. Exercising alone or with your colleagues also enhances your work-life balance which in turn boosts your productivity.