Time Management

Social Responsibility- Time Management

 

TIME MANAGEMENT
There is close affinity between man and nature. We look at phenomena of nature and shape our life accordingly. The natural phenomena - the daily cycle, the seasonal cycle, air and water - all flow in a punctual manner with complete perfection of time management. There is absolute conformity to punctuality to the laws of nature which is essential and integral part of life on this Mother Earth. If we learn the lessons of punctuality and time management from the natural phenomena, we can expect an upward graph of competence and performance.

We often hear in certain circles that the professionals say "I already know how can I perform better than I am performing right now, but I have no time." This clearly indicates that we are professionals and we do accept ignorance which is silently creeping in. Time and tide never wait for any one. Time keeping does not mean looking at our watch and keep time. It means several things:

Have you taken appointment if you wish to meet someone for business purpose?
"Do you inform that meeting is likely to be of certain duration?
" Do you inform that meeting is likely to be on certain points to be discussed?
"Do you limit your meeting to specific points?
" Do you intervene and hijack the talk?
"Do you keep people waiting if someone has come to see you?
" Are you punctual to your appointments?

The simple answers to these posed questions specifically talk of time management which is an essential and integral feature of a gentle and perfect business tycoon. The way we use one hundred and sixty eight hours a week, tells others about our personality like our clothing, personal hygiene and personal habits do.

One such fallacy about time management
The busier I am, the better I am using my time.
We may keep our self-busy endlessly under the above impression and it does not imply that we are using our time effectively. We may be busy in doings things which we can do best and ignoring other things. Urgency of a thing may not imply the higher level of importance of it, which must seek our attention and time. It may be easily delegate-able task.

Factors affecting effective utilization of time - Awareness about time robbers
Internal Factors External Factors
Procrastination Telephone Interruptions
Failure to delegate Infrastructure Problems
Obscure Objectives Ad-hoc Meetings
Failure to set priorities Socializing
Poor scheduling Sudden drop-in visitors
Lack of self discipline Lack of information
Lack of relevant skills Excessive paper work
Attempting to do too much at once Communication breakdown
Failure to plan Lack of competent personnel
Guidelines for effective time management

Guidelines suggested here are neither exclusive nor exhaustive due to ever changing nature of circumstance, individual's effectiveness and business environment. So these may be amended by the user by making required inclusions and exclusion as per personal his/her discretion.

Personal Time Management - Setting priorities, analysis of time utilised, categorization of tasks into Important, urgent, routine, delegate-able and non-delegate-able. I am to ask myself as to "How can I do this task effectively next time?".
Time Management - Subordinate Group: setting up priorities for them, discussion of these priorities with the group, and getting their acceptance, Monitoring performance against priorities, analysis of variations with respect to time utilised and its impact on overall performance.

Time Management - Controlling time spent with other groups: Setting a fixed time block for them, Filtering all visitors of this category deliberately with the help of PA or immediate subordinate.
Techniques to Manage Time
" Know what is important
" Consciously plan your time-schedule 10 minutes to do nothing.
" Choose how you communicate
" Tackle tough jobs first
" Quit doing petty tasks
" Remember Pareto's 80/20 Rule
" Delegate and develop other's delegation
" Break the "Do It Yourself" habit
" Clear your desk as early as possible it leads to crystal clear thinking
" Reduce frequent meetings and meeting time periods
" Make a To Do List at the beginning of the day in office
" Discreetly set cut off time-period at the start of the day so that you can concentrate on the most important aspects of the tasks needing immediate attention.

Comments from people who have visited the site

Truly v interesting and a service that's badly needed in this market.

Sunil Rao
Editor - South Asian Focus

I visited your website. thanks. It is indeed very very impressive.But of little use to me as never in my life  (I am 75 plus)) I had had anything to do with anything even remotely connected with business. I shall of course keep it in my mind for reference to anyone who may be able to make use of it. Needless to say, I am really impressed with the vast horizon of your knowledge and activities. Wish you best of luck.

Ranvir Chawla,

ranvirc@hotmail.com

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