1. Time & Priority Management

2. Agenda Why Time Management Techniques usually fail
5 Keys to Improved Time and Priority Management
10 Things to do right now to improve
3 Things to remember
Summary

3. Why Time Management Doesn’t Work
Normally people attempt to be more efficient with their time when they should be assessing their effectiveness
You will be more effective when you do less, as opposed to trying to cram more into your day

4. 5 Keys to Improved Time & Priority Management
Understand where your time is currently being allocated
Be aware of your time wasters
Identify Priorities and set goals
Plan your activities to achieve your goals
Take initiative and overcome procrastination

5. Understand where your time currently goes
Track your time for two weeks – be honest
Time tracking tool on the web

6. Be Aware of Your Time Wasters
Meetings
Perfectionist Tendencies
Other peoples’ crises
Unclear roles or goals

7. Identify Priorities & Set Goals
Not everything can be a priority (focus on 3 – 7)
Your priorities must align with those of the larger organization
Ask “so what?”
Practice the 80/20 rule.

8. Plan Activities to Achieve Goals
Don’t spend more time planning than doing
Plan Action against major goals on a weekly basis
Weekly Planning tool on website

9. Take Initiative & Overcome Procrastination
Be disciplined
Use to do lists, but make sure they are prioritized
Ask why you might be procrastinating
Fear?
Perfection?
Waiting for a deadline?
Overwhelmed?

10. 10 Things to do Right Now
Forward the phone when necessary for short periods of time
Turn off the chime, and only tend to your two or three times per day. Do not respond to s in real time if you can avoid it.
Keep focused on the “end product” at all times. If you cannot see a clear line of site between a particular activity and a high level goal, then that activity should be questioned.
Learn and follow your rhythm – Assign tasks to the appropriate time of the day or week. If you are a morning person, schedule tasks requiring concentration and effort at that time of day.
Carry tasks to completion. Do not allow tasks to linger.
Avoid picking-up and putting-down – get small irritations off your desk now.
Arrange set times for recurring tasks.
Set specific times not to be disturbed. An open door policy is a good idea, but there’s nothing wrong with closing that door for one hour per day.
Learn to say “No” by clearly articulating your goals. If a task or activity does not clearly relate to one of your goals you should push back at whether you should be involved in that task.
Develop an ‘unexpected visitor’ strategy. Regularly scheduled one with one meetings with direct reports can pre-empt multiple interruptions during a week because those employees will save their issues for the appropriate time.

11. 3 Things to Remember
Time pressure is often a symptom of one or more other problems
You’ll be more successful when you do less rather than more
Be disciplined, not a Fat Smoker