Thursday, May 22, 2008

Finding the Secret to Work-Life Balance in the Classic Science of Industrial Engineering

As an Industrial Engineer by training, I can't help but see life through the lenses of an analytical thinker. Today, I'll focus on one area of Industrial Engineering: Time and Motion Study

The Free Dictionary describes time and motion study as "an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort."

Per wikipedia, "A time and motion study would be used to reduce the number of motions in performing a task in order to increase productivity. The best known experiment involved bricklaying. Through carefully scrutinising a bricklayer's job, Frank Gilbreth reduced the number of motions in laying a brick from 18 to about 5. Hence the bricklayer both increased productivity and decreased fatigue."

That's it!

Work-life balance = maximized personal and professional productivity + decreased fatigue

Question: How do I increase productivity and decrease fatigue?
Answer: Reduce the number of motions in performing a task

Question: So, how does this apply to the busy life of female professionals?
Answer: Reduce your activity.

Question: How do you reduce them?
Answer: Streamline. Outsource.

At Attaché Services, we assist you with both. The Life Management Consultant offers expertise and a fresh perspective during one-on-one sessions where we walk with you through identifying your unique goals, challenges, and opportunities for making your life more productive. We help you divide your 'motions' into three categories:

1) Your true priorities
2) Tasks that need to be discontinued
3) Tasks you can outsource.

Then we take it a step further and give you a trusted outsourcing partner, in the form of a Personal Attaché. The Personal Attaché takes on all the tasks that need to get done, but don't necessarily need to be handled by you.

Contact us to start your own time and motion study. Maximize your personal productivity and efficiency. Work-life balance is possible.