Time management is not something you are born with. I used to be a terrible time manager and I have learned to be extremely effective time manager. Before we address effective Time Management, let’s address the most common time gobblers.
They are:
Lack of planning or prioritizing
Telephone interruptions
Disorganization or cluttered desk
Procrastination
Drop-in visitors
Lack of self-discipline
Ineffective delegation
Unrealistic expectations
Inability to say, “No”
Leaving tasks incomplete
If you want to provide your employees with an online outstanding Time Management program Contact Us Now; you can also subscribe to and access our Online Virtual Training Program by visiting www.mmsvt.com.
Some people resist planning because they want to use their free time to relax; they want to go with the flow, being spontaneous, avoiding structure, and believing that they know everything they have to do because it is stored in their head.
Here are some tips:
Plan your day the night before
Take time to plan your time
Schedule appointments with yourself
Evaluate your effectiveness at the end of each day
Breakdown large projects into small tasks
Use small pockets of time to your advantage
Take small projects to do while you wait
Implement weekly, monthly, quarterly changes
If you allow for telephone interruptions, here are some solutions…
Ask someone else to answer the phone
Screen your calls with caller ID
request that people e-mail you instead
Determine what you will and won’t address
Take only calls that relate to your To Do List
Allow for emergencies, don’t plan on them!
If you have a disorganized or a cluttered desk here are some solutions…
Eliminate piles
Make your own policy about incomplete projects
validate yourself every time you throw something out
set aside time to organize and purge
Encourage filing regularly
validate each time you exhibit the new desirable behaviors
Before you leave the office each day, clean your desk
Procrastination is one of the most common time gobblers. Here are some solutions…
Always start with something easy
Do what you’re avoiding first
Eliminate all distractions
Just do it!
Set reasonable short-term objectives
Promise a reward when the project is done
Set a deadline date and stick to it
Stop reinforcing the behavior you want to change
Start reinforcing the behavior you want to ingrain
Do you allow visitors to dictate your day? Here are some helpful solutions…
Create clear boundaries
2. Give people an alternative time that works to talk to you
Place a high value on your time
Risk disapproval
Sequester yourself
Be ruthless with your own satisfaction
Do you have a lack of self-discipline? Here are some solutions…
Hold yourself accountable
Provide rewards or consequences
Give pats on the back to reinforce behaviors
Build your self esteem
Try these effective delegation techniques. Her are some solutions…
Select jobs to be delegated
Organize the information
Select the right person for the job
communicate with clarity
Provide full disclosure
set expectations
invite feedback
monitor and follow up
Encourage, guide, direct, and provide feedback
Do you set unrealistic expectations?
Tell yourself the whole TRUTH. Then you need to build in a cushion on top of that truth. Your issue is that you imagine the best and don’t anticipate the “stuff” that happens, like traffic, accidents, other people being late or missing deadlines. If you imagine that you live in a perfect world think again… Always anticipate what could go wrong and then factor in that possibility. If it doesn’t happen you’re ahead of the game!
Try these realistic expectations…
Only list what you CAN get done
Accurately assess the time factor in traffic, parking, etc.
Create a buffer zone for the unanticipated
Take charge of things working out to your advantage
Do you have trouble saying “No?”
Do you have one specific person who always asks you to do something for them, and they say, “Oh it will just take a few minutes…” and you believe them AGAIN and AGAIN!
Here are some solutions:
Start getting what you want
Create boundaries
Get your projects and tasks accomplished
Manage your satisfaction
Reinforce your self esteem
Do you start and have trouble completing tasks? Here are some solutions…
Make a completion policy with yourself
Reinforce your self-confidence
Validate your self-worth regularly
Build your credibility with others
Become ruthless with yourself
If you follow the steps, you will get the results. Old patterns will need to be broken to ensure success. Do one thing differently, and then reward yourself. Remember, 21 repetitions will change an old habit into a new behavior pattern.
Start Today!
If you want to provide your employees with an online outstanding Time Management program Contact Us Now; you can also subscribe to and access our Online Virtual Training Program by visiting www.mmsvt.com.
Author Resource:-
Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott is an International Author, Motivational Speaker, Management Consultant and Original Coach Trainer since 1974. She is the Founder and Chair of The Motivation Management Service Institute Inc. To know about Dr. Cherie, please visit her website www.DrCherie.com. You can access her Online Virtual Training programs by visiting http://www.mmsvt.com
HTML Ready Article. Click on the "Copy" button to copy into your clipboard.
Author Resource:-> Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott is an International Author, Motivational Speaker, Management Consultant and Original Coach Trainer since 1974. She is the Founder and Chair of The Motivation Management Service Institute Inc. To know about Dr. Cherie, please visit her website www.DrCherie.com. You can access her Online Virtual Training programs by visiting http://www.mmsvt.com