Time Management
Training Classes:
We help the participants in our
Time Management training classes to accomplish their time management goals through the use of our
Time Management Use Analysis Tools which include case study
analysis, time management skill analysis, group problem solving, priority
analysis, time management games and exercises, and on line pre-work.
For free, no obligation information on how we can help
you please contact
us today.
Participants in our Time Management training classes will learn:
- How to devote more time to important activities every day
- How to prevent those daily “fires” from undermining important
goals
- To identify and communicate goals that keep priorities straight
- How to design an effective To-Do list
- How to deal with interruptions
- The art of delegating low-priority tasks
- How to organize your “busy work,” errands, etc.
- How to use Time Blocks to maintain effectiveness
- How to eliminate most annoying paper work
- To balance professional responsibilities with personal time
- To choose and use time management tools
- How to set goals and evaluate them so that they provide value
- How to stop procrastinating NOW
- How to say NO (in a nice way, of course)
- Identify and arrest time bandits
Time Management:
Effective Time Management Classes - Common Problems
This is the last article in a series of three written as a result of a Time Management course that I recently attended. Please read the first two articles of this series for more background on prioritizing and becoming more effective with your time management. Remember, when asked "How do you eat and elephant?" The response should be "one bite at a time." This same philosophy holds true with project completion and time management.
Some people - like myself - need an activity log that directly spells out the amount of time that you allocated or spent on a specific project/task. This allows me not only to remember what I have actually been working on from one day to the next but accurately see where you spend most of your time and make the necessary adjustments. Be as accurate as possible when recording your entries as this will help you see where your time is being wasted. The more accurate you are the better. You can go as far as entering in the tasks and people that steal most of your time. The following list, although brief will hit a nerve with most people. Some of the biggest time stealers of all are as follows:
• Unwanted guests: be direct and ask them "How can I help you?" Immediately get down to business. Even go so far as to stand up when you feel the need to stop the conversation. Another small detail that is quite effective is to remove the chair from your office so there is no comfortable place for them to sit.
• Water-cooler discussions: bring a large bottle of water and refill less often during the day.
• People showing up late to meetings or meetings in general: have an agenda and action items that need to be discussed. Set a time limit and adhere to that time limit.
• Doing someone else's job because you found it easier and quicker: than to watch them suffer. I am guilty on both ends of this spectrum. Everyone has a role and responsibility set. Enough said.
Another statistic that amazes me is the fact that Cyber Monday, the Monday following the usually notorious and hectic Black Friday in total sales. People are supposed to be at work - working but that is obviously not the case any more. This is yet another time waster that we are all guilty of in some manner.
Having a bit of a routine throughout the day is not always a bad thing. It is only bad when it affects the entire day and work productivity. The routine may in fact save you some time in the long run - but manage it wisely. There will also be a few times during the day when you have to step away for a cigarette break - even if you do not smoke like myself. These are the times that allow your mind to re-energize itself and allow you to concentrate better on the tasks at hand. As you know the worst time of the day to have a meeting generally tends to be between the hours of 2pm and 4pm. This may be the opportune time for the breaks that are much needed.
We can all be more effective throughout the work day and at home with better time management skills. Hopefully I have given you an idea of at least a few things that you can take away from this series of articles for your daily use. There have been a few things that I have put into effect and I have already seen the results. Hopefully you will too.
SR Anderson: link
Category: Time Management Classes
Archived Time Management Training Tips
