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Have you ever given your 100% to a task and didn’t get the results you expected? You’re not alone. We tend to associate effort with success and skip on a critical concept in the equation—i.e., knowledge. Here’s everything you need to know about smart work and hard work:

How Do Hard Work and Smart Work Differ?

Smart work focuses on producing maximum results while using minimum labor. Another excellent example of smart work is using Microsoft Excel to make monthly spreadsheets and calculations instead of doing it manually.

On the other hand, hard work is based on the idea that the more effort and time you put into something, the greater the results you’ll achieve. While hard work is the road to success, sometimes smart shortcuts are needed.

What Are the Characteristics of Hard Work?

1. Commitment:This requires a lot of commitment and, at times, can become challenging. As a hard worker, you’ll need to work consistently toward what you perceive to be worth it no matter how tough the situation. Success only comes after putting in effort and time.
2. Monotonous:Hard work focuses on quantity, which can get tiring and monotonous. However, if this is something you’re passionate about, nothing can stop you from reaching the top.
3. Traditional Format:This is based on the traditional idea of doing work, and there aren’t many changes added.

What Are the Characteristics of Smart Work?

1. Knowledge: Smart work requires in-depth knowledge of the work you have in hand. This is what makes work easy, and you’ll be able to achieve more with less effort.
2. Builds Strengths:When you acquire in-depth knowledge about your work and find ways to improve the strategy to achieve the goal, it builds your strength and skills.
3. Saves Time:Compared to hard work, being a smart worker will save you tons of time. You’ll derive new and logical ways to achieve your short-term goals.

Tips for Working Smartly

Delegate Tasks 

Some prefer to complete tasks on their own to ensure everything is done their way. This mistake can affect your productivity level. Trust your team enough to delegate tasks and offer the right space to work. Teamwork is the recipe for success.

Plan Ahead

Take the lead at work. No matter how big or small the project is, make a to-do list so you can work according to a specific timeframe. Creating a step-by-step plan will ensure you’re organized and make success more measurable.

North America’s keynote speaker Steve Gilliland offers a range of virtual sessions and in-person motivational presentations. He is a member of the NSA Speaker Hall of Fame and posts educational and inspiring content on his YouTube channel.

“Gilliland is a breath of fresh air. ‘Very inspirationa.l’ ‘awesome’ and ‘awe-inspiring’ were just a few of the comments we received.”   – Alethea Leandro-Farr, AgSafe