Hard Work vs Smart Work ???

Hard Work or Smart Work ???

This was the question asked to me during my interview for Accenture. “So, tell me Afreen, what do you understand by hard work and smart work and how would you differentiate both?”

My answer was a cold one until I thought over it for a month. Fortunately, I was selected in the interview but I really had to express what I actually think about Hard Work and Smart Work.

Well, you have to be ‘SMART’ about working hard, but hard work always pays. Just being smart or working smart is only half of the real story. Always strive for excellence and the rewards will follow. The fact remains that hard work and smart work must go hand in hand for you to be successful. Smart work is about making the right strategy, about following a disciplined work culture. Hard works translates your vision and ideas into results. Working hard and working smart are not exclusive of each other. Smart work teaches you to be more productive with your time. If you are happy with your current level of success, then smart work will surely allow you the luxury of not having to work as hard as you otherwise would. But if you want to reach the pinnacle of success in your chosen field, than smart work alone won’t really help.



I believe that hard work always gets noticed - perhaps not in the short run, but eventually people can’t help but notice hard work. And the rewards follow without you having to push for them. You need to stop worrying about doing ‘hard work’ or ‘smart work’; you should just concentrate on doing your best every day. Thinking about rewards and results saps your energy, creating ‘neediness’ in you. Rewards come to you when you are not looking for them continuously. When you step out to work with a passion to do your best, you will bring out the best in others as well! That itself is a great reward.



Last but not the least, you need to constantly innovate and improve. You need to work hard as well as smart. Success will follow gradually.