Time is the one thing we just can’t get enough of. As Zig Ziglar said
“People often complain about lack of time when the lack of direction is the real problem.”
But it is also important to remember:
“The bad news is time flies, the good news is you’re the pilot” Michael Altshuler.
So how ever busy you are, make sure that you manage your priorities to get more out of your working day. You can do this by:
Being More Productive Between Meetings.
We all have days where our day is dominated by meetings and meeting after meeting means we have 30-minute gaps dispersed throughout the day. We often use these to grab a coffee or check emails – but using them in this way can reduce our productivity. Four 30-minute gaps accounts for up to 25% of our day. So by underusing this time we are effectively reducing our day by 25%! Despite all the meetings, you are still “the pilot” so take a few minutes at the start of each day to identify the gaps in your schedule. Identify and write down on your calendar what you want to accomplish in each time slot – anything from lower-value work (expense reports) to larger tasks you’ve been dreading (outlining your presentation) to creative work so that you can reflect on it later. How was your flight? At the end of the day look back and note what you’ve accomplished.
When the going gets Tough make sure you are Tougher
Procrastination is the thief of time, we all know that but how often do we put off the tough tasks either because we have too much to do, we dislike a task, or we don’t know where to start. There is always a reason to procrastinate if we let ourselves. You are the “pilot” figure out which of these is blocking you, you can then decide how to begin and get that tough task off your to do list. Here are a few tips which can help you get focused on the task at hand, even if you would rather procrastinate:
- Set deadlines for yourself in advance. Set time aside in your calendar to slot in tasks so you don’t end up saving everything until the last minute.
- Reward yourself. When you’ve finished a particularly dreaded task take time out, take a coffee break or go talk to a colleague. Or once you have finished the tough task (and not until you have) move on to a task you do like.
- Get help. If the problem at the outset is that you don’t know how to start, work with a colleague who can help you. This gets you unstuck and holds you accountable, but more importantly it gets you started as it’s not going to be easier to start tomorrow or next week or next month!
Our in house course, for up to 10 delegates, Personal Effectiveness and Priority Management can help all your managers become their own ‘pilots’ thus ensuring they Get More out of their Working Day. Contact Us to find out more.