Finding Your Work Style

It goes without saying that everyone has their own style when it comes to completing work, and it is rare to find two coworkers who prefer to complete a task in exactly the same way. Of course, procedures are in place to ensure tasks are completed in an efficient manner approved by the company you work for, but there is always room for improvement and innovation. Every company should have a way for employees to suggest new ways to complete work in a process called “continuous improvement”, and it is through this that your own work style can either be acknowledged or accommodated should the company like your preferred method or innovation.

This, of course, is if you already know what your work style is, but what is yours specifically? There are a few things you can take into account when considering how you work best:

• Time Efficiency: There are a good number of companies that allow for flexible work hours, and finding which ones work best for you and your team is important. This requires some self-reflection and analysis to determine when you’re most productive, when you usually find the best time for meetings, when you typically check your messages, and more. By finding patterns in your work, you can similarly adjust your workday to be as efficient as possible, within the bounds of your control.
• Communication: Knowing how and when communication is important is a big step towards understanding your work style. Helping your colleagues understand the best way(s) to communicate with you and how you like to be communicated to are important answers that help you be productive more often. Having a solid list of contacts is also vital to getting your work done, as you will need to know who to speak to in times of crisis.
• Critical Thinking: When you have a problem that falls in your lap, do you prefer to think through it on your own, work with a team to solve it, or does it depend on the situation? Do you have a certain threshold where you find you’re consistently asking for help? This information can be especially useful for your team who can recognize the right moment to assist you when you need help.
• Constructive Criticism: What are the best ways for you to receive feedback on how to improve your work? Do you prefer having a face-to-face conversation with your colleague? In a remote world, this may include video conferencing calls. Perhaps you prefer comments directly on your work, or an email with a list of suggestions. The frequency of feedback can also depend on your method of delivery, since you will naturally receive much more feedback if you’re choosing to have it directly on your work, as an example.

These are a few starting points for determining your work style, and while they can be helpful towards helping you be more productive, it is important to also remember that your colleagues themselves will also have a work style that may clash with yours. Of course it is important to have you be as efficient as possible whenever you can, but you must also be mindful of your coworkers’ needs as well, and finding that balance is a key to developing a healthy workplace.

So, what is your work style? Do you feel as though your work is doing well to accommodate that style, or do you feel there are areas you can work on to improve your productivity?