How to improve your self-management skills at work

In today's fast-paced world, the demands of the workplace are ever-increasing. Many find themselves caught in the race to keep up. If you frequently experience stress, you are not alone. According to the ADP Research Institute's People at Work 2022 report, stress is a common experience among Singaporeans. Over 73% report experiencing stress at least once a week at work. 

Given these challenges, how do you reduce the stress faced in the workplace? 

One way is to examine your self-management skills. Improving these abilities can reduce stress levels within the dynamic professional environment. It fosters healthy relationships and leads to a more fulfilling life. 

These skills are vital tools or behaviours. You can not only manage your personal and professional activities but also thrive in a high-performance work culture. The skills enable you to self-manage your career trajectory and enhance your employability. 

Employers across sectors often prioritise the self-management abilities of potential job seekers. These skills may give the employer confidence in your capabilities in challenging roles. They are more likely to trust you for a project or role. 

Here's what this article will cover: 

• Definition of self-management skills 
• Why are self-management skills important? 
• Assessing your self-management skills 
• Self-management strategies in the workplace 
• How to improve self-management skills 
• How to list self-management skills on your resume 
• Conclusion 
• FAQs 

Definition of self-management skills 

Self-management is your ability to regulate your behaviours and emotions in various settings. This means excelling at professionalism while adapting to unique social and business settings. If you have a strong sense of these skills, you can set goals and proactively work towards achieving them. 

Examples of effective self-management skills include the following: 

Organisational skills 

Industries across the board often follow a structured approach to business operations. This means they need a high level of organisation. If you possess strong organisational skills, you can effectively plan, prioritise, and execute important tasks ensuring adherence to schedules and meeting deadlines. This also includes efficiency, punctuality, and a strong focus on strategic planning and execution.  

Accountability 

Knowing when you're wrong and taking personal responsibility are two essential self-management abilities you can have. Holding yourself responsible can help you evaluate yourself, maintain integrity and honesty, and better understand how to proceed after acknowledging mistakes. You can ask for feedback from your managers or seniors to help you understand areas you need to work on and incorporate them into your future tasks.  

Goal alignment 

If you don't set goals, you're less likely to be motivated to perform at your best. Setting clear and attainable goals helps you meet benchmarks and business goals at the workplace. It also allows you to manage your time and actions effectively. You can also coordinate with your team members to discuss and set project-related goals. This helps align your tasks to meet the collective goal.  

Time management 

Employers highly value punctuality for work, team meetings, and appointments. Strong time management skills can help you meet deadlines, enhance productivity, and contribute to group achievements. With effective time management, you're less likely to get distracted. This enables you to focus on organising your day around deadlines. It can also help you to better collaborate with team members. 

Stress management 

The stress of job hunting can be just as overwhelming as the stress of actually working. Managing your emotions can assist you in maintaining a clear mind to balance job performance and personal well-being. Seeking out employee assistance programs or professional support can aid in effective stress management and the development of emotional intelligence. 

Why are self-management skills important? 

Given the chance, who wouldn't want to improve themselves to be better at what they do? 

This is why self-management skills in the workplace are so important. If you showcase these skills to your employer or hiring manager, they know they can trust you with challenging and demanding tasks. This indicates that you can: 

• collaborate with team members  
• solve problems effectively 
• take accountability 
• work in high-pressure situations 
• organise your workload 
• meet deadlines 
• stay motivated throughout tasks or important projects 
• incorporate feedback from co-workers and seniors into your work 

Assessing your self-management skills 

Before you begin improving your self-management abilities, understand where you stand. While you can analyse yourself, getting feedback from others may also be helpful. 

Here are some tips for assessing these skills: 

Review feedback 

One of the best ways to assess your self-regulation skills is to get feedback from others at your workplace. This can be your peers, supervisors, or employer. Asking for feedback can foster cooperation and group harmony among team members. Additionally, if you are looking for new opportunities, you may ask your friends or family for feedback. 

Reflect on how you set goals 

Reviewing your goals can help you meet work expectations and increase productivity. You could feel your major goals are too generic or not well-thought-out. So, consider making necessary adjustments to make them more relevant and achievable. This can help you reflect on your work performance and identify areas for improvement. Break your goals into milestones that are easy to track and achieve. This keeps you on track and motivated.  

Ask yourself if you adhere to timelines 

Another essential aspect to consider when assessing your self-awareness and developing self-motivation is your adherence to timelines. You should evaluate how you are at time management. Ask yourself: Do you manage your time well? Do you find yourself procrastinating often? You may want to set deadlines to stay focused on the task. Commitment to project timelines is a crucial part of Singaporean companies.  

Reflect on your organisational skills 

Do you suddenly find yourself with several tasks and no idea where to begin? Reflecting on your organisational skills can help you better understand how to prioritise daily tasks. This can also help with your time management and problem-solving skills.  

Self-management strategies in the workplace 

Now that you have learned about various self-management strategies, you may wonder how to apply them in the workplace.  

Here are several techniques you can use, depending on your workplace: 

Plan your day 

Using self-management abilities, you can plan your workday. This can help you organise and prioritise your tasks to enhance productivity. It can also help you manage your time and avoid procrastinating. Try making a to-do list of your daily tasks or important projects to work on. This also enables you to plan for activities that contribute towards your personal development and focus on your personal goals.  

Use your calendar 

Many workplaces provide you with a calendar to schedule and manage your tasks. You can download one on your mobile device if you don't have a calendar. This can help you track tasks and focus your efforts on the most urgent ones. 

Arrive at work on time 

Punctuality is crucial in workplaces as it showcases healthy self-management and discipline. By arriving on time, you'll avoid delaying your tasks. This will enable you to produce quality work within deadlines and maintain accountability. Additionally, being punctual can leave a positive impression in the workplace. 

Take short breaks 

Taking breaks can help you stay focused and productive in high-pressure work settings. It's important to take short breaks to prevent burnout. It can also help you feel refreshed and reduce mistakes at work. 

How to improve your self-management skills 

Now that you've clearly understood where you stand regarding your self-management abilities, you can explore ways to improve them. 

Here are some methods for improving your skill set: 

Review your strengths 

Your strengths can help you work better in a diverse and competitive environment. Take time to identify what you excel at. Consider how you can leverage these strengths to your advantage. Reviewing your strengths can help improve your organisational skills, productivity, and time management. 

Prioritise 

You may find yourself working on multiple tasks. Identify which task is due first or which is more important and make that a priority. This can help you set goals, prioritise tasks by their importance, manage your schedule effectively, and maintain focus.  

Evaluate your progress 

Taking a step back to assess your self-management journey is critical for improvement. By evaluating your progress, you can identify areas for growth and reduce mistakes. It also helps make necessary adjustments to enhance your skills effectively. 

Use helpful tools 

If these steps feel like a chore, you may want to use the right tools to help you out along the way: 

• Organise your schedule with a calendar 
• Take daily notes in a physical or digital notebook 
• Use sticky notes to remind you of tasks throughout the day 
• Set notifications or alarms to remind you to take breaks 

How to list self-management skills on your resume  

When listing self-management skills on your resume, ensure they immediately catch the hiring manager's attention. Consider creating a separate section for clarity and alignment with the job role. 

List your skills in order of strength or relevance. For example, if you excel in organisation, list organisational skills first to showcase your strongest abilities. Be honest and ensure your skills match the job requirements. 

Here are some examples of self-management abilities that you can include on a resume: 

• deadline management 
• stress management 
• emotional regulation 
• prioritisation 
• adaptability 
• problem solving 
• organisation 

Conclusion 

Self-management skills play a crucial role in enhancing both personal and professional performance. By improving your emotions and behaviours effectively, these skills enable you to excel in various aspects of life. They empower you to enhance various soft skills, manage time and emotions effectively, prioritise tasks, set achievable goals, and more. 

Whether you're seeking new opportunities or aiming to advance in your current role, evaluating and honing your self-management skills is essential for success. 

FAQs 

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about self-management: 

1. What are the seven principles of self-management? 
   ⁠The seven principles of effective self-management are time management, self-motivation, stress management, adaptability, effective decision-making, goal alignment, and personal development. 
2. How do I handle setbacks and failures in self-management? 
   ⁠You may experience hurdles on your journey to improving your self-management. The best way to handle a setback is to accept the mistake, have self-awareness, and seek feedback to prevent it. 
3. Should you list self-management skills on your resume? 
   ⁠Hiring managers often view strong self-management skills favourably. Including them in your resume can improve your chances of getting your desired job. 
4. How can strong self-management skills benefit my career? 
   ⁠By assessing and developing these skills, you can improve your time management, emotional regulation, stress management, organisational skills, adaptability, strategic planning, and teamwork.