How to improve your execution abilities

Career success doesn’t have to hinge on working long hours. Finding a way to refine the way you work can streamline or overhaul old processes to make your working life easier.

Improving your execution abilities can be the key to becoming a highly valued employee whose efforts are noticed by your manager.

Here are a few strategies to boost your execution abilities, and more importantly, add value to your role.

4 ways to strengthen your execution abilities

1. Set clear plans of action

Before you undertake any work activities, think about how you will execute the task rather than just jumping in. This can take some discipline, but it means taking an organised approach to everything you do going forward, such as assembling the resources and people you need upfront, and recognising and addressing any possible sources of delays.

The time taken to plan your tasks can be a good investment. It should allow you to complete activities faster and with greater accuracy than if you jumped in head first.

2. Establish deadlines for yourself

Completing tasks on or ahead of time is an essential part of being an effective employee. The problem is that in the course of a working day you may face a number of interruptions, which can break your flow of thought and leave projects incomplete, or worse, overlooked altogether.

An easy way to improve your execution abilities is set personal deadlines – for each day, week and month. Note your deadlines down so that you have a checklist to follow. It can be a powerful tool that helps you stay on top of your workload.

3. Manage your time effectively

Good time management plays a critical role in improving your execution abilities. For example, you can assess which times of day you work best, and allocate more challenging tasks to these periods.

Avoid distractions such as chatting with colleagues or checking social media. It can waste valuable time, and these are things you can do during lunch breaks.

Resist the urge to check emails every few minutes – it can see you stray from the work at hand. Instead, consider allocating set periods of the day to review and respond to emails.

Remember to schedule regular breaks into your working day. Spending long hours at your desk can leave you fatigued and reduce your productivity. Set time aside to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and refresh yourself mentally and physically.

4. Be accountable

Being accountable simply means taking responsibility for your work. It’s about taking ownership of what you do, the projects you are working on, and the way you contribute to the company’s success. Accountability also means admitting you didn’t get it right when things don’t go according to plan.

To improve your accountability, be sure the people you work with understand exactly what you are asking them to do. Equally, when your manager requests a task, confirm what is expected of you and ask for clarity if there is anything you are unsure of.

Improving your execution abilities may take time but it is worth the effort. It can help you stand out as a valued team member, who brings productivity and added value to the workplace.