14 Time Management Tips

Do you want to make better use of your time at work? If so, you're not alone. We all want to be more productive in order to get ahead in our careers; however, none of us want to spend every waking hour at work.

Time management is really about managing yourself. It's about making a commitment to be more organized, maintain your focus and use your time to your best advantage.

Here are some tips to help you become active and proactive with your time.stick to the plan

1- Maintain a to-do list


Create a to-do list and make it a habit to continually update it.
Include urgent and non-urgent items so you'll never forget or overlook
anything again. Carry your list with you at all times, either in your
handheld or your daily agenda. Also, be sure to break down your
projects and assignments into specific action points. For instance,
instead of noting "Prepare Performance Reviews," write:

• Research absenteeism records on employees
  
• Review personal files
  
• Read employee goals
  
• Assess performance
  
• Prepare "Performance Review" documentation
  
• Meet with employees to discuss reviews
  

2- Allocate your time

Include an estimated time frame for each
action point and the date by which the task must be completed. If the
order in which you perform the tasks doesn't matter, you might be able
to accomplish something during unexpected pockets of free time. For
instance, you could research information on the 'net while waiting in
your office for a conference call to begin.

3- Set and respect deadlines

Be realistic about setting
deadlines and strive to meet them. It's true that any task takes the
exact amount of time allotted to it. Have you ever noticed how quickly
you can blitz through paperwork, delegate
assignments and make decisions on the last day before your vacation?
Although we tend to get a lot done when we're under pressure, it is a
lot less stressful and considerably more professional to establish and
stick to an action plan.

avoid wasting time

4- Use your time wisely

Consider
accessing your e-mail only at certain times of the day and let your
voice mail pick up your calls to give you an uninterrupted hour or two.
If possible, never touch the same piece of paper or e-mail twice. Do
not open your mail unless you have time to read it and take action on
it; that is, reply to it, delegate it, file it or discard it.

5- Get organized

Organize your desk,
your hard-copy and computer files and your e-mail folders so you can
find things easily. Far too much time is wasted searching for lost
information. Benjamin Franklin said it best: "A place for everything,
everything in its place."

6- Stay on task

Have a clearly designated "in" basket so
people do not put things on your desk randomly. Have you ever returned
from a meeting to find extra files, letters and documents all over your
desk? Instead of following your own schedule, you probably became
sidetracked by someone else's priorities.

7- Avoid disruptions

If you have a door, close it occasionally.
Having an "open-door policy" for your staff is self-defeating if you
don't have the time to really listen to their questions and concerns.
If a colleague comes to your desk when you're too busy to chat, ask to
set an alternate time to meet.

8- Collaborate and cooperate

Colleagues
will expect your work to be done on time, so be sure to avoid any
delays. You'll have the same expectations of them. To be safe, build
extra time into the project timeline to counteract unexpected snags,
miscommunications or missed deadlines. If your presentation date is the
25th, make sure you have everything scheduled for completion by the
23rd.

9- Avoid unnecessary follow-ups

If you delegate a task or
assignment to someone else, let it go unless it is your specific
responsibility to oversee it. Too many men waste valuable time
listening to or reading reports about someone else's project. If your
colleagues' research or business responsibilities do not impact your
day-to-day work, job performance or career goals, you should only express an interest by way of supportive conversation.

10- Cancel routine meetings

Determine if meetings are
absolutely necessary. If they are, establish an agenda and stay on
track -- start and end on time. If your presence is not essential for
the entire weekly operations review meeting, ask your boss privately if it might be appropriate for you to excuse yourself early.

11- Keep busy


Keep your skills sharp by having at least
one project on the go at all times. Two or more is even better, as it
gives you the opportunity to switch gears and concentrate on something
else for a change of pace. Working on different projects simultaneously ensures that you always have something to work on. It also keeps your mind active and your perspective fresh.

12- Pick your projects carefully

Make sure your work has value for the company and that it makes the best use of your skills.
There may be good reasons to decline a request to sit on a committee or
to refuse to take on an additional project; successful business
professionals know how to say "no." Ask yourself, "Will this advance my
career?" and "Am I able to commit the necessary time to this
assignment?" You will earn a lot more respect by collaborating with a
colleague whose expertise complements yours than by taking on
additional work on your own, overburdening yourself and burning out.

13- Stop procrastinating

It's human nature to postpone
unpleasant tasks. Schedule some of the more fun aspects of the project
to follow the negative ones. If you dislike working with figures, plan
to do the accounting tasks first thing in the morning when you're fresh
and there are fewer opportunities for distraction. If you continually
put things off and miss deadlines, perhaps you should look carefully at
your current job, your career goals, your strengths, and your
interests. Habitual procrastination is often a sign of dissatisfaction.

14- Reward yourself

Time management is not entirely about
work; it also involves scheduling some downtime to relax and recharge
your batteries. Plan rewards once your tasks are completed. This could
mean taking a coffee break as soon as you've finished reading the
engineering specifications report or planning a vacation once the new
product has been launched.make time to succeed

Resolve to pay
closer attention to how you spend your time. Watch how the business
professionals you admire allocate their time and emulate some of their
business practices. Avoid procrastination, maintain your focus and
practice good organizational skills, and you'll earn respect and
recognition in your career. Success comes to those who work hard and
know how to manage their time well.

Resources:
www.quotationreference.com
www.tsuccess.dircon.co.uk