To Work Smart, First Work Hard: A WFM Reality Check

In WFM, change is constant. Businesses evolve continuously, and WFM professionals must adapt by upskilling to meet new demands. It's a field suited for those who thrive on growth and lifelong learning, which is part of what makes it so dynamic and rewarding.

One common question I hear from new WFM professionals is: "How can I work smarter?" It's something I've heard often throughout my career, including from past managers who encouraged me not just to work hard but to work smart. It's a catchy phrase, but in practice, I’ve found that "working smart" doesn't happen without a period of intense, sometimes frustrating hard work.

When learning a new skill, the early phase often feels like stumbling through a fog. Progress is slow because I simply don’t know what I’m doing yet. I spend a lot of time experimenting, trying approaches that don’t yield results. But eventually, I stumble upon a small nugget of understanding—something that brings just a bit of clarity. I start applying this insight, and though I still make mistakes, more pieces begin to fall into place. Over time, these fragments of knowledge start to connect. Eventually, they form a coherent skill set that allows me to perform tasks more efficiently and effectively. That’s when the smart work begins—but only because I first invested the time to struggle and learn.

This process is especially true when getting hands-on with a new WFM system. People often look for shortcuts—step-by-step guides or expert tips—to accelerate their mastery. While guidance can help, the most effective path is to dive into the system and start exploring. Play with every function, test different workflows, and discover the tool’s capabilities and limitations for yourself. That’s when true understanding—and the ability to "work smart" with that system—emerges.

The first four minutes of this Lex Fridman clip capture the contrast between working hard and working smart.

There are no shortcuts to working smart in WFM—especially if you’re new to the field. The smart, strategic execution you admire in experienced professionals is only possible because they once did the hard work you're facing now. The initial grind, the failures, the experiments—they're not a detour. They are the path. So if you’re at the beginning of your WFM journey, don’t be discouraged by the learning curve. Lean into it. That’s where the transformation happens—from overwhelmed beginner to someone who truly knows how to work smart.