Time management is the cornerstone of productivity. You can be motivated and experienced, but you may not meet your potential without hitting deadlines and being reliable. How can you learn the time management skills that make you a better employee? Here are a few things you can start doing today to increase your efficiency.
Goal Setting
Did you know that, according to a study by the Dominican University of California, people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them? By writing down a goal, you start to hold yourself accountable. One suggestion is to use SMART goal setting:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
Prioritization
The next step is to learn to prioritize. Many companies reinforce the idea that workers need to master the ability to multitask, but this isn’t always practical. The human brain isn’t wired to multitask at all. Instead, what we’re good at is prioritizing. Determine the most important or challenging tasks and make a plan to complete these first.
Scheduling
Time management is also about scheduling. You know that double-booking yourself can create a snowball effect in your schedule. Instead, plan your calendar, so you have the time and ability to complete necessary tasks and arrive at meetings or appointments on time. For example, if you have a meeting at 10 a.m. that will last an hour, don’t schedule another meeting for 11 a.m. If the first meeting runs long, you’ll find yourself rushing and unprepared for the next one.
Delegating
There is one more critical aspect to time management. Delegation is the ability to disperse work among multiple people to increase efficiency. Leadership is all about delegation, but you can get help from your coworkers if your request is handled correctly. Work with your team to utilize everyone’s strengths to get tasks done quickly.
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