When it comes to working under pressure, the natural instinct to work at a faster pace and for longer hours is understandable. But working in a frenzied, panicked state will not produce better outcomes. Instead, the opposite will occur, and burn out the team.
Productive teams continue to work effectively under pressure by avoiding the following three things, according to Inc. magazine.
1. They don't compromise quality for speed. The level of quality you want your team to achieve must be determined at the outset of a project, not when you are already approaching the deadline. Once you start cutting corners to work faster is the point of no return when it comes to quality, according to Inc.
2. They don't consistently work long hours. You can sprint when you see the finish line, but you can't run the whole race at that pace. Working late once in a while is expected, but working late every night is a sure path to burnout. Everyone eventually reaches a point of diminished returns when they really need break, according to the report. Humans need adequate time to relax and recharge — don't deny your team this fundamental truth. Instead, model self care so your employees do the same.
3. They don't work frantically. Rushing inevitably leads to preventable mistakes. And as mistakes accumulate, dealing with them actually slows you down even more. For many healthcare providers, working with a sense of urgency is an important part of the job, but even then it is critical to work at a deliberate pace to avoid potentially life-threatening errors. To create speed, you must first set cultural norms and processes that define quality, hours and pace, according to Inc.
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