More than every once in a while – something of value is worth repeating.  So, this week’s feature article is a TIMELESS one that bears repeating.  In fact, I will continue to hear this complaint and you will continue make it until you dig your heals in and do the work it takes to change your behaviors.

One of the biggest struggles my clients face is how to effectively manage their time so that everything important gets done. With our busy lives, constant interruptions, an abundance of technology that quite frankly often hinders us verses helping us, the desire to be available 24/7 and the “I can do it better and faster myself” attitude, it’s a wonder we get anything done!

You need to change your behaviors. Ask: “What do I want to achieve by seeing time differently? Take your power back and make the decision to do things differently, to do them better. The 5 critical time management strategies are:

Plan/Goal Setting

• Have clear measurable annual goals.
• Keep a daily list of action steps required.
• Take time each morning to plan what needs to get accomplished that day and the required action steps to complete the tasks.

Prioritize

• Tackle the A-1 most important tasks first and delegate or delay B and C level priorities as much as possible.

Time Block

• Identify your key daily and weekly activities and then schedule them in your calendar.
• Respect these time-blocked activities as you would a doctor’s appointment or dinner out with family and friends.

Avoid interruptions

• Do not allow co-workers or others to distract you during the workday.

Delegate

• Know what your time is worth! What is your hourly rate?
• Know that to succeed and create profitability, you can’t do all of he work by yourself, so practice delegation.
• Routinely assign tasks with a very clear definition of what is to be done.
• Routinely assign tasks with a very clear definition of whatis to be done.
• Routinely assign tasks with an explanation of the consequences of the action.
• Routinely assign a deadline for completion when you delegate a task.
• Have a systematic approach for following up on work that you have delegated.

Ideas are a dime a dozen, implementation is the key. So, tonight when you go home or first thing tomorrow morning, look this over and identify 3 ideas and even decide how to implement them!

3 Bonus Strategies:

1.       Quit Multi-tasking

o    Research has shown multi-tasking makes you stupid – you’re not focusing on and completing any one particular thing.

o    Sometimes multi-tasking is useful (driving and listening to audio cd’s; exercising and listening to audio cd’s, talking to a friend while fixing a meal).

o    TASK: identify moments of multi-tasking that hurt you.

o    Use the 2-minute rule: if you can get it done in 2 minutes or less, it’s OK. Otherwise, put it aside.

o    Stop negative multi-tasking.

2.       Biggest Time Waster: Unrestricted access to you!

o    Those who are available 24/7 have a lack of integrity with self.

o    Create boundaries that serve you.

3.       Buy and use an egg timer!!!

4.       The Fax:

o    It’s fast but not so easy and instant like email or a phone call. It encourages thoughtfulness with communication

o    When you are so available it makes people automatically think: “Oh…he/she doesn’t have that much work”.

o    Encourage people to communicate with you via fax; it will save you hours of previously wasted time.

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