Stitching Time to Save Nine – 5 Simple Ways to Effective Time Management from We Blog Better

Stitching Time to Save Nine – 5 Simple Ways to Effective Time Management

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:00 PM PST

A manager's post is one of the places in the office that is considered privileged but at the same time burdened with responsibilities.

This is why leaders like you need to maximize the time in your hands to make sure that every task is accomplished and delivered exactly when they are supposed to.

The problem is sometimes, managers and team leaders can be a little too overwhelmed by their duties that they can't help but drop one of the tasks that they are juggling. If you're having a hard time squeezing everything into your already tight schedule, here are five simple yet effective ways to manage your time.

1. Start your day on time.
How your day unfolds highly depends on how you started it, that's why it's crucial that you start the day right. If, for instance, your alarm goes off and you decided to sleep for another half an hour despite knowing that you could be late, the accomplishment of every task waiting for you in the office will be compromised.

Thus, it's vital that you get to work on time, earlier even, so that you can have enough head start in your work. Take into account how much time it takes you to prepare for and travel to the office. You can also start a practice where you estimate how much time a task is going to take, or how much time you'd be willing to spend on a specific activity. That way, it'll be easier for you to factor every task into your schedule. It should follow that you begin working on each assignment at the time you arranged and do your best to finish it, or at least accomplish something, within the given period.

2. Set a schedule and stick to it.
While not all managers are bound by unchanging schedules, you could be one of those whose daily grind consists of routine tasks. The great thing about having a repetitive timetable is that it's easier to track. When you become used to doing specific sets of jobs, establishing a schedule and sticking to it will be instinctive. Next thing you'll know, you'll be carrying out every task like clockwork.

Also, by sticking to a default way of doing things, you can easily make room for unexpected tasks. You'd know early on when's the best time to squeeze in jobs that you didn't anticipate. Speaking of schedules, one technique to maximize make the most of your time is by arranging for as many meetings as possible in one day.

3. Always be prepared.

One of the most embarrassing things that can happen to a manager or team leader is to show in a meeting unprepared. Not only it can make you seem negligent, it can also make you look inept. Being unprepared can also cause you stress that could be avoided by simply organizing your calendar and doing your tasks according to schedule. Stress that is uncalled for can slow you down and be detrimental to your overall performance.

Make it a point to prepare for tasks that require research or planning. For instance, if you're going to be in a meeting, draw up the necessary paperwork your superiors might need from you, or create your presentation in advance. If you're not assigned to do anything else but to listen and participate, you should at least review your notes from the previous get-together and come up with ideas you can contribute to the next one.

4. Do the important, not the urgent.
As a manager, you are expected to discern every task's degree of importance. This ability can help you identify which assignments should land the priority list and which ones can afford to wait. When you know the matters that require attention, you'll be able to carry them out first and meet your deadline. Tasks that are truly critical should be done first, while those that are marked urgent but can wait should be put off to a later date.

5. Delegate tasks.
You may be among the several superiors in the office but it doesn't mean that you have to do everything by yourself. Empower your team and subordinates by distributing tasks to those whom you can trust to perform efficiently. You can also entrust assignments to staff members whom you want to help improve their standing.

If you think about it, time management is all about discipline and willpower. Without these values, no trick will magically finish your assignments for you so you really need to rally your skills and values to make your time management efforts work. As motivational speaker Michael Atshuler said, "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." How you manage your time is on you.

The post Stitching Time to Save Nine – 5 Simple Ways to Effective Time Management appeared first on Weblogbetter - Blog Tips.