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A four-step process can help you make the most of the hours you have available

1. Start by thinking about your most important on-the-job objectives. What tasks do you need to complete in order to achieve those objectives? How much time should you be spending on those tasks? Ask yourself these questions first to identify and prioritize your goals.

2. Then, analyze how you spend your time. Often, managers think they’re using their time to accomplish vital tasks. But in reality, they’re spending time on activities that don’t enable them to achieve their high-priority objectives. For example, they squander hours each day rather than planning long-term strategy for their department. To use your time more effectively, you need to figure out how you’re actually spending your time—and compare it to how you should be allocating it. This process will help you to identify ineffective time- management practices.

3. Now you can schedule your time more effectively. Once you know what your goals are, how you’re actually spending your time, and which ineffective timemanagement practices you’re falling prey to, you can change the way you schedule your time. That includes using time-management tools more effectively and building schedules that support your priorities. It also means allocating time for resolving unexpected problems and taking advantage of unplanned opportunities.

4. Continually monitor and improve your time-management strategies. Once you’ve created a schedule, put it into action. Monitor what happens, identify problems, and fine-tune your time- management strategies so that you constantly improve the way you’re using your time.

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