CAD Manager – Efficient and Effective

When thinking of what a CAD Manager should focus on, there could be an endless list of things that need to be done. CAD Standards, troubleshooting, upgrades, etc. But when given the option of how to focus our time, we have fewer options. We can choose to be efficient or effective or neither or both.

Efficient means “producing a result with the least waste”. It means to gets the job done with little waste of time and energy.

Effective means “producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect”. When given the chance a CAD Manager should focus on being effective.

Most of the CAD Manager training, teaching and such leans toward being efficient. I am not say that this is wrong, but it cannot stop at that point. While it is true that we must look for ways to increase productivity and reduce waste, we must also look for the best areas to make progress. If we fail to prioritize the right things, then we may fail to be effective.

Efficient means that we are productive in producing the outcome. We are using less steps and gaining the goal with the least amount of misspent labor. This is one of the reasons you were hired for. Because you knew how to get things done with little waste.

Now as CAD Manager you need to add the trait of being effective. Becoming effective means that you spend your time on the most important items first. The ones that will make the biggest impact on the processes and the firm. By narrowing your focus on the most important items, you will produce the biggest changes and improvements.

Take the time to think about what you should be doing in your day. Ask yourself “What do I need to do today to make the firm more productive?”, “What can I do right now to make our company stronger?”

You may find that the answer is to create more efficiency in the processes. This is being effective. You may find that your need to do more training. This is being effective. You may find that you need to update the Standards. This is being effective.

Effective does not mean that you are forgetting about efficiency, it just means that you focus – to become efficient in the right areas. Efficiency that is directed in the wrong area is not as valuable as you could be.

Keep trying to clear away those tasks that, while adding to productivity, do not add to making your firm the best one in your industry.