Time Management
Time Management – The Key To Opening Success In Your Life
Posted on May 13, 2012 |
Focus is a key component when it comes to time management. Loss and gain can be achieved when it comes to implementing the use of time management. Many individuals have heard of the “Pareto Principle”. Perhaps you have not heard this term used? It is the same as the “80:20 Rule”. This little rule actually makes a lot of sense when it comes to time management. It states that when an individual puts forth the effort to do something, and it is not managed appropriately in the terms of “time”, 80% of that activity will only produce approximately 20% of the results intended. Then, if you flip the coin, and do something that is managed appropriately in the terms of “time”, then it will produce 80% of the results with only 20% of effort put into it. This rule clearly outlines the fact that time well managed is time that is more productive.
Many individuals fail in the area of time management simply because their perception of this concept is out of line with what is appropriate. These individuals often view time management as a restrictive set of rules that must be adhered to or less negative consequences will arise. When this type of outlook is taken, it often results in failure. While it is important to understand that there are many core essentials when it comes to time management, these are not meant to be negative, but constructive. Some of the core essentials include scheduling time as appropriate and necessary, setting goals that are relative to the outcome that you wish to achieve, creative planning, and being able to prioritize appropriately.
When it comes to being successful in time management, it is important to know and understand that certain skills are required in order to succeed. Not only are these skills important to the success of time management, but they are also important when it comes to growing as an individual. These skills include the following:
- The ability to make decisions
- A high level of emotional intelligence
- Skills in critical thinking
- Multitasking skills
If you have a good grasp on the skills mentioned above, you are more likely to succeed when it comes to time management skills.
Time management can be included in every single aspect of your life. It is important to appropriately balance both your personal and professional life when attempting to manage your time. If you make a point to do this, you will be much more effective in every area. Many do not realize that it is actually necessary to take the time to make sure that there is a delicate balance between their personal time, as well as their professional time. If you manage one, the other will simply fall into place. Just remember, the secret to managing your time does not rest in the ability to stay busy, it rests in the ability to produce results in every single aspect of your life!
There are generally six areas that personal and business coaches focus on when individuals seek professional assistance for time management development. These areas include the following:
1. The Physical
2. Social
3. Career
4. Intellectual
5. Spiritual
6. Emotional
If you are attempting to increase your time management skills, it is important that you focus on these six areas as well. By doing so, you will find that it is relatively easy to accomplish all that you set out to each and every single day.
The following details steps that you can take in order to get a better grasp on your time:
1. First, it is always important to plan in advance. At the bare minimum, it is important that you carefully outline the things that you must do each day, prior to starting your day.
2. When planning your day, it is essential that you prioritize your tasks.
3. If you must, keep a detailed list of the things that you must complete during the day in order to ensure that you do not lose track of your time.
4. Learn to say “no” to commitments that you find will hinder your productivity and time.
If you follow the tips listed here, you will soon find that managing your time is a simple task.
Time Management Tips to Being Action Oriented
Posted on May 4, 2012 |
Encouraging Better Time Management ? Link Behaviors to Personal Work Goals
Posted on April 26, 2012 |
You have decided that your employees could benefit from better time management. Specifically, you want them to do better at managing interruptions, prioritizing tasks, planning activities, and meeting deadlines.
You did all the right things. You sent everyone to time management class, showed videos on time management, and bought the latest TIPS books on managing time. You even emailed your employees several websites that contained some great ideas. Still, you have seen very few changes. Or if changes do occur, they are temporary.
So how do you encourage improvements, especially the long lasting kind? Try linking the time management improvements you want to your employees’ personal work goals. For example, suppose you wanted employees to do better at prioritizing tasks. You might explain how prioritizing tasks could lead to achievement of the following personal work goals:
• Increased personal productivity
• Increased personal quality
• Less need to work overtime
• Less personal frustration and stress
• More time available to take a full lunch
• Less time spent on the telephone explaining delays to customers
Don’t fret if you don’t see your employees’ personal work goals on this list. You will have an endless list of personal work goals to choose from if your employees are not doing a good job of managing their time. That’s because if they are not managing their time well, they are probably complaining. Use these complaints (or goals) to explain the personal benefits of better time management.
What makes this approach more effective than classes and videos?
This approach is more effective because you create a heightened sense of the value and urgency around better time management. You also approach improvements with a focus on personal benefits to employees. Finally, and most importantly, this is not a one time strategy for improving time management. This is something you can use whenever you talk to employees. So the next time your employees wistfully talk about how they would love to take a longer lunch, improve their quality, or have less stress, link these goals to a specific time management behavior you want.
More Time Management Benefits
Posted on April 18, 2012 |
There are lots of benefits available from using time management effectively. These are benefits that you can gain to enable you to have an easier life. By adopting time management in an effective way you can boost your life and enjoy yourself more. This article explains some of these benefits.
Financial Stability
You can gain greater financial stability when your time is managed correctly. Not only will you find the time to get more done at work, but you may also find the time to work extra hours, resulting in more money. Your newfound attentiveness to your work may also get you a raise and thus increase your income.
The financial benefits do not end there, with the spare time gained through proper time management, the potential for financial gains are endless. You may find the time to look into investment opportunities, start a small business, or discover other means of generating extra income. Time management allows you to be more productive, and productivity can lead to greater financial stability.
Stronger Family Bonds
One of the important advantages of time management is the creation of more family time. Since your time is managed properly, everything is completed within its set limits, and you no longer have to neglect your family to get more work done.
When you spend more time with your family creating lasting memories, the results are stronger family bonds. You do not have to make excuses anymore as to why you are missing an important event, why you can’t help them with a project, or why you have to work all weekend. With good time management skills you are able to spend the spare time you have with your family.
Better Health
An increase in the amount of time that you have can help you to achieve better health. If you have more time, you can cook yourself healthful meals, instead of eating unhealthy fast foods. You may also find the time to exercise and keep yourself in better shape.
A reduction in stress, another one of the advantages of time management, can also help you live a healthier life. With lower stress you are less likely to develop digestive problems, ulcers, or headaches. With good time management you get an overall greater sense of well being, and an increased ability to better care for yourself.
With so many advantages of time management, it is easy to see why there are so many who strive to achieve it. With a little bit of patience and the proper activities and techniques proper management of your time can be obtained. When you have become successful, you will be able to reap the many advantages that good time management has to offer.
If you’d like some more thoughts, tools, tips and techniques on time management then visit my web site www.time-management-huddle.com. The site has lots of information and free tools to help you tame time. You’ll find out how to turn the benefits into real and tangible actions to enable you to find the benefits that we all could use.
Improve Your Time Management Right Now!
Posted on April 10, 2012 |
“We never seem to have enough time to get everything done. I think we need some time management tips. How can we find more time? “Can you come and do a workshop for us?’ asked a Manager responsible for training in a multinational, in a recent request.”No problem – when would you like to schedule it?” I replied. ”I’ll have to get back to you. We are thinking about it, but we’re looking in about 3 months time because we’ve got so much to do at the moment” Well, there’s a bit of a surprise! Um…I wonder why they need time management training! Well probably time and priority management might be more helpful. For those of us who need more urgency, here are a few things you can do. Firstly let’s see what tasks are urgent and which ones are important. Put these in order and place a time value on each of these: a specific time and date that you decide to use would help.
The next thing to do is analyse your skills, diagnostic, decision making (and procrastination) and time management skills. What are these? Diagnostic skills involve your ability, as a manager, to identify a situation and formulate an effective response. This is something you most likely deal with on a daily basis. You must be familiar enough with the inner workings of your operation to recognise immediately when something goes wrong. It is this quick reaction that will lead you to successful resolution. Decision-making skills are just as important as diagnostic skills. Once you’ve identified a problem you must have the ability to weight your options and make an informed decision. Too many managers find themselves faced with a handful of options, only to fumble with insecurity when it comes time to make a final choice. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while. Occasional mistakes are acceptable if you regularly make good decisions. You are, after all, only human. Time management skills are the one thing I find to be absolutely essential to the inner workings of any good organisation, leadership or management training program, or individual business manager. Can you walk into your office any given morning, or at the beginning of any week, and quickly identify what needs to be done? Are you able to place the tasks you need to accomplish in a properly prioritised order? The art of time management includes not only scheduling your own work, but also knowing, what is urgent, important and when you need to begin delegating to others. You have a team for a reason and should never be afraid to assert your authority and assign additional tasks if needed. If you don’t feel as though you can delegate to your team, it’s time to assess whether or not you have the right team. Effective time management means that everything is prioritised so that each task is completed on time and nothing is overlooked. You have a complicated job, so you should strive daily to keep it as simple as possible.
Probably the most important factor is when you decide on what needs to be done, do it now! Go on, have a try! You’ll be surprised how much time you save.