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Personal effectiveness for recruiters

July 2, 2015  /   No Comments

Nicki Cresswell

Recruiters can’t rely on meeting targets alone to showcase their worth, says Nicki Cresswell.

As we approach the mid to late summer, recruiters all over the country will be faced with the prospect of graduates and school leavers seeking temporary or permanent roles.

It’s a busy time, and while it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet targets, it’s also a time when you can set yourself apart. At this time of year, you regularly have to work at peak performance to keep your workload manageable, and there will always be distractions which can impact on your productivity.

Most of us can relate to days when you just can’t motivate yourself or are too easily distracted by calls or emails. This is when you need to think about tools to help you focus, and to master the art of personal effectiveness. Although it’s a broad term, it ultimately comes down to one skill – taking responsibility for getting something done, a skill that’s invaluable for you and your colleagues.

To kick-start the process, you need to recognise what drives you to be effective. Most of us work well under the right kind of pressure. Pressure provides focus and direction which effective people can use to their advantage. Knowing what you need to do in a set timeframe often catapults us to success, but it can be difficult to replicate this every day when you need to fill a competitive post or review and recommend a selection of CVs.

Additionally, to work at your peak you need to be in the right frame of mind. If you’re tired, upset or angry this may have a knock-on effect, and in a pressured office environment these feelings can restrict our ability to perform at our optimum.

To manage these distractions, you need to create an effective positive mindset to overcome any negative thought patterns. When you do start getting distracted or overcome with frustration, challenge these thoughts, as quite often we can catastrophise the situation. By simply looking at a problem differently, it might not seem as bad as you first thought and subsequently you can get back on track with your day.

Another aspect of being effective is being consistent and able to stand your ground. Whether it’s your boss, candidate or a demanding client, you need to be assertive to be successful. Being a ‘yes’ person and constantly making promises is not a good model to follow, as you are setting yourself up for a fall and probably working long hours to manage all the extra work.

Learning to say ‘no’ can be difficult as it is perceived as a negative response. However, you don’t need to be negative when you say it. When you do need to push back, show understanding and reassure the person you’re talking to. Being open, honest and direct often opens up shared ground and can lead to negotiation, which could lead to a better solution from your point of view. There will always be someone you need to say ‘no’ to more than once for the same request. Remain calm and firm, and repeat why you are saying ‘no’.

Along with the personal attributes to managing your efficacy, there is also the practical side. One of the key skills of successful people is good time management. Learning not to procrastinate and tackle tasks head on will help you be more productive throughout the day. This can be addressed in a few simple steps:

1. Make a list – it may sound simple, but ranking what you need to do by importance gives you direction for the day and helps you prioritise tasks;

2. Don’t put things off – if you’re avoiding a particular task because it’s too intimidating or boring, divide it into smaller chunks (it helps to set deadlines for these to make you complete them). Finally, when you finish a task that you’ve been putting off – or when you start one that you would normally try to avoid until the last minute – give yourself a reward;

3. Take a break – many experts believe taking time out can boost your performance because your brain needs some downtime every so often. For instance, taking at least 30 minutes off at lunchtime could help you to concentrate more effectively in the afternoon;

4. Manage distractions – if you work in an open plan office with lots of phone calls, distractions can be plentiful. An effective way to cope with distractions is to schedule time to deal with them, for instance, aim to check your emails at certain times during the day, rather than on an ad hoc basis or constantly. You may also want to set aside some time when you’re not disturbed. If so, make sure your colleagues know that you don’t want any distractions and switch off your phone;

5. Share your priorities with a colleague/superior – knowing that a third party is aware of what you are committed to achieving will strengthen your productivity and increase your focus. They can also provide support and direction if required.

When you manage yourself well, it can help boost your efficiency and productivity. And as an added bonus, your stress levels may decrease too as you’ll have more time than you did before.

Everyone struggles for motivation or drive on certain days, but recognising this issue and putting steps in place to counteract it is a great way to manage yourself, your clients’ needs and your workload.

Nicki Cresswell is wellbeing training coordinator at CABA.

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  • Published: 9 years ago on July 2, 2015
  • Last Modified: July 1, 2015 @ 11:19 pm
  • Filed Under: Industry Insider

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