Time Management: skills, tools, and techniques for taking control of information overload, telephone calls, interruptions, clutter, technology, and work.
11. Time Management - Taking Control To Do Categories Planning Meetings Projects Telephone Reading Correspondence Preoccupation Interruptions Other For each event/activity in each category: Record the time of day at start and finish. Calculate the minutes from start to finish. Divide the minutes by 480. Compare percentages for events and categories. Determine a cost to benefit ratio for yourself. Decide how you feel about it. Determine what you will do differently. Modify your behavior accordingly. Follow-up periodically to monitor progress.
12. Time Management - Information You Are Here Most frequently used is here Frequently used is here Less frequently used is here
Time is my most precious resource. Managing my time is a priority. What are the principles of time management.
I learned it is not done until it is documented. For years a simple “to do” list was my best time management friend. What works for you?
Time management has been a priority for all ages. We can learn from the experiences of others.
I’ve heard “time management” all my life. What are your favorites?
As a child I loved Aesop’s Fables. My life was directed by learning from my favorite childhood stories. What are your favorites? How are you sharing with other’s?
There are many ancient sources of time management wisdom. The Christian Bible contains many parables to teach the wisdom of time management. What sources are your favorites? How have you directed your time according to wisdom of the ages?
Technology provides time management tools. What are your favorites. How does technology help you manage your time?
I am not as effective as I want to be in all areas of time management. I can get “side-tracked.” How do you feel about your ability to manage your time? How can you improve your time management?
Effective time management, it is not that I don’t know what to do and how to do it. I just don’t take the time, every time. And, it costs me more than I like to admit, in more ways than I like to acknowledge. How do you control your time? How effective do you feel you are in these key areas of time management? Wouldn’t it be nice to have tested and proven practices for enhancing your time management in these areas?
I’m fairly organized with information, but I do experience information overload almost daily. Much of it is comes from searching for information. How do you manage information? Do you ever get side tracked?
I learned early to document my performance and progress thanks to childhood health issues. My problem was in not applying good time management practices in the other priority areas of my life. I don’t think I knew my priorities until I was well into my life and career. How do you manage your performance for your priorities?
At one point in my career, I was responsible for managing more than 70 meetings per week. I feel I became very good at managing project meetings. This is what I learned to do when at work. My problem was in not applying what I was doing to the other important meetings in my life. How do you feel about your time management of meetings? What will you do differently as a result of receiving and considering the practices in this list?
Follow-up is one of my greatest challenges. I have a weakness to assume that people know what to do next, and when to do it. I learned if it’s not documented clearly/concisely/correctly and communicated before the memory fades, it might not get done. What is your experience? What do you do, and why?
It has been my experience that there are people who have lots of time to drop by and chat. Another personal weakness of mine is the inability to stop my own chatter. I learned to say “I have 5 minutes”, and then start toward the door. What works for you with visitors, especially people who seem to really love to spend their time with you?
Telephones are 24/7. It hasn’t always been that way. This is what I’ve learned to do. What works for you?
I love reading. I’ll read the labels on soup cans. I actually read instructions. Not that I always follow them, and I don’t always read the instructions first. I’ve had to learn and practice time management of my reading. What about you?
Unforeseeables are very powerful in my life. I have a tendency to turn my attention from what I’m working on to what gets my attention. It is important for me to develop a plan and then to work my plan. Otherwise, sometimes I find missed opportunities and new problems at the end of the day. No amount of would’ve, should’ve, could’ve gets that time back. How do you manage unforeseeables?
Procrastination is another story in itself for me. I prefer to set my own pace you see. People closest to me often have to work hard to keep me on track, and to get me to practice what I preach in this area. I appreciate their efforts, and often apologize for wasting their time. They shouldn’t have to manage my time for me. How powerful is procrastination in your life? What can you do differently?
Time management is “personal.” At the end of the day ask yourself “am I happy with how I spent my time today?” How do I feel and what will I do differently are the two most important questions you can ask.
Time management is important to me because I need “a place to hang my hat.” My dad taught me the value of identifying and applying good habits. He was a poorly educated tenant farmer with exceptional intelligence and wisdom. He never failed to consider his priorities at the end of the day. “At the end of the day” time management for me is about finding and sustaining life balance. It helps to know my priorities in priority order. Health is first because when you lose your health you lose everything. Family is second because when the world turns against you, you can always turn to your family. Then come Work, Financial, Learning, and Social in that order. What are your priorities and how do you manage your time? Do you consider time to be your most precious resource?
I’ve found the time management principles, tools, and techniques shared with you to be valuable allies and servants. The only time they don’t work is when they aren’t used. What is your experience with effective time management? What will you continue to do, and what will you do differently as a result of spending your precious time with this presentation?