Showing posts with label Efficiency and Effectiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Efficiency and Effectiveness. Show all posts

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Are you using your full capacity?


There is a way to do it better- find it!
Thomas A Edison

Brain power is identical for all. But the ability to think and act innovatively makes each of us a different personality. In order to be at our best, we have to think creatively.

In any situation we should try to enhance our productivity per unit of time. This is possible only if we tap into our hidden potential.  This yearning to be at our best will put us in a hall of fame one day.
It does not require a large organization and a global task to apply our innovation and creativity. We can aim to be at our best even in our day to day life.
 
This morning I was cutting vegetables in my kitchen. I had to do it quickly. I tried stretching my ability to cut one at a time to two at a time and ultimately to three at a time. I realised that all these days, even though I could have turned out more in less time, actually I was turning out less in more time!

Over this weekend, take any activity that you do and think if you can cut the time and triple the output.

Creativity is finding better way to do anything! It’s all about attitude!

N C Sridharan
www.thetimefoundation.com
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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Efficiency vs Effectiveness



‘The effective, vitalising work of the world is done between the
ages of twenty-five and forty.’
—Sir William Osler

The two terms ‘efficiency’ and ‘effectiveness’ have to be understood
correctly. It is very important to distinguish between these two
parameters. ‘Efficiency’ is about finding the best ways of doing an
assigned job. It is the methodology.

Then what is ‘effectiveness’? Analysing the word “effective” shows a
word within the word, namely “effect”. Effect means result. When you
say you are effective, you mean you produce a result. You may have
carried out some activity without any result, which is a waste of time.

This means you are not ‘effective’.

Your strategy should be to produce more effect or outcome with least
investment of effort and resources. This is ‘smart’ working. If you are
producing more outcome with more effort, you are working ‘hard’.
For example: Suppose you have currencies of various denominations
on your table amounting to Rs. 100. Imagine that a whirlwind blows
them all over your room. What would be your strategy for picking them
up?

If you are efficient, you will pick up the currency closest to you and
work towards the other end. If you are effective, you will pick the highest
denomination currency first and then the others!
Are you efficient or effective? In fact, you should be both effective and
efficient and combine them successfully.

(From my book 'The Gift of Time')

N C Sridharan
www.thetimefoundation.com