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When times are challenging (for example, when you're faced with a pressing deadline or conflicting priorities) you might be tempted to take a shortcut. But these shortcuts can potentially have big consequences - they can undermine what you're doing and also put your professional reputation at risk. Contrary to popular belief, therefore, it is actually important to 'sweat the small stuff'.
Details are the small features that can be easily overlooked. For example, when you're using numbers like measurements or statistics, these need to be precise - something as small as a misplaced '0' can potentially make the difference between profit and loss. In your written communications, spelling mistakes or poor punctuation can create a bad impression. If you're organizing an event or a meeting, the dates, timings and locations need to be accurate, to avoid people turning up at the wrong time or place.
Paying attention to detail is vital for many reasons, including:
- Efficiency - correcting errors that could have been avoided is time-consuming and avoids the need for work to be re-done.
- Clarity - checking to ensure the meaning of any message is clear and specific will avoid misunderstandings further down the line.
- Safety - paying attention to guidelines like health and safety procedures can reduce the risk of workplace accidents.
Learn How to Pay Attention to Detail
Tips to help you stay on track:
- Give yourself time to double check everything. If you're working to a deadline, give yourself an earlier one (an hour, a day, a week) to allow time for checking over your work again, including re-reading any written information thoroughly, and making the necessary amendments.
- Get organized. Disorganization can cause you to overlook, miss or forget many details. Having good systems in place can help ensure you locate key information quickly. Investing time in organizing your workspace (including your PC/laptop) will not only make you more productive and efficient, it will lower your stress levels too, as you'll be able to find what you're looking for much more easily.
- Make lists. If you have a number of things that need to be completed within a certain timeframe, make a list of these and tick them off as they're done. To-do lists and checklists are also simple ways to stay organized, as you'll be less likely to lose track of the details when you have them written down - as long as you keep them to hand, so that you can find them easily! [1]
- Limit distractions from colleagues, family, friends, social media etc. When you're distracted, you're not going to be paying attention to the small details of the task in hand. Minimize interruptions by putting your phone on silent or setting your voicemail service, keeping your door closed, switching off email and social media notifications, and simply telling people you're not available at this time.
- Know your limits. Add work to an already packed schedule and your productivity and effectiveness will inevitably suffer - and when your brain has too much to cope with, you run the risk of missing crucial details. Don't be afraid to say 'no' or 'not right now' when you don't have time to take on extra work, and be sure to take regular breaks whenever you can.
- Don't go it alone. When accuracy is paramount, but you're not totally sure that you've got things right, the best advice is to ask someone else to be a fresh pair of eyes, to check for the little things you may have missed in haste.
- Finally, be kind to yourself. Remember that everyone makes mistakes! When you do, simply follow the three 'As':
- acknowledge this when it happens
- admit it
- apologise
Then learn from your error. Put a plan in place to ensure it won't happen again. This way, your credibility and professional reputation are more likely to stay intact, and you can reduce the risk of negative consequences for yourself and others too.
References[1] There are plenty of online to-do lists available - examples include
Remember the Milk,
Toodledo and
Todoist - some of these are also available as mobile phone apps too.
