Hard work is like trying to push a big rock downhill with bare hands, and smart work would be using a lever to push down the same rock! I think smart work and hard work go hand in hand. At the beginning of my career, I was a classical hard worker. I took instructions, understood my job and would immediately start working towards completing the task. Over the last 5 years, I have observed seniors and equipped myself with crucial skills. Today I can do a mundane job in lesser time, than I used to take back then. For instance, I use popular browser plugins allowed by my office, to detect plagiarism, eliminate grammar errors and improve any text in emails and documents. I also use online spell checker tools to double-check my drafts. I feel I have developed as a smart worker. But I firmly believe no one can be a smart worker without working hard first.
A smart worker is one who sets goals and is constantly working towards his/her goals. S/he also understood the importance of unwinding and keeping a healthy mind. A hard worker also works towards his/her goals just like a smart worker, but s/he might lack the traits of analytical thinking, problem-solving or delegation. I am a worker focused on results, and I do not hesitate to ask for help to get my work done. I have been described as a “smart worker” by the upper management, as I have been successful in leading my team to finish projects before time. In addition to this, physical health is a personal goal. Therefore, I spend an hour in the gym daily trying to work hard enough, to stay fit and sharp.
The difference between hard work and smart work is based on how I approach my task. Hard work would mean spending long hours to complete my work without any shortcuts. It definitely ensures results, but the process is long and stressful. Smart work would be aiming for the same results, but with planning and prioritization of tasks. In College/Law School, the trend of examination questions was repetitive. The questions asked in the last few years would be asked again. I realized this after my first semester. Since then, for the examinations, I would only study the previous 5 years’ questions. For the rest of the year, I would focus on studying everything else. Therefore, I worked hard to study the entire syllabus for my own knowledge and worked smart to score well in my examinations. A combination of both has guaranteed me the best possible results always!
It is best to answer this question with a personal example. I have worked with my current employer for the past 18 months. In the past 12 months, I have reduced costs by 14% and driven down wastage by 25%. How did I do it? Well, simply by encouraging new hires in my team to bring their own devices to work. That way, the office saved a lot of money on buying and issuing new laptops and desktops. Also, my new employees were comfortable with their own devices from day 1, and they mastered the use. This added more productive hours to the team’s plan. I do not believe in walking down a straight set path. I am a result oriented individual, constantly finding new ways to reduce costs, wastage and most importantly save resources like time and money. This broadly fits into the “smart work” category, but honestly, I think I am a combination of both – hard work and smart work. Besides, I quickly adapt to any work ethic that helps me achieve desired goals.
You must be logged in to post a comment.