believe they have no control over what takes up their time are doomed to life as a victim. You can’t control everything, but you certainly have influence.
MYTH 3: A professional keeps gobs of data in her head. Get stuff out of your head and on the paper or screen. Albert Einstein had to look up his own phone number; he didn’t see any value in keeping things in his mind that he could easily access by other means.
MYTH 4: You don’t have time. Usually, it is more accurate to say you are choosing to do something else with your time. Everyone has the same 24 hours. Also, take a look at big idea #6 below about the nature of tasks.
MYTH 5: You can multitask. Studies show the mind can hold only one thought at a time. We may “hypertask,” but be careful. Fast doesn’t necessarily mean efficient. If you do something poorly you create more work for yourself and others in the long run. Efficiency is only valuable when it is a function of effectiveness.
A speaker knows he has hit a nerve when you see heads go down to make notes. Using that as a measuring stick, here are eight of the most popular big ideas:
1. Know the difference between a time investment and a time expense. Too many managers think they don’t have time to do things that save time in the long run. If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it again? How many hours will you spend later because you didn’t take 15 minutes to nip it in the bud and follow something all the way through?
2. Work from a prioritized task list. A cornerstone of time management. Brain dump everything you have to do, then prioritize. Plan the work, then work the plan. You might not get everything done, but at least the most important things are more likely to get done.
3. Important things are rarely urgent; urgencies are rarely important. Everything feels urgent these days. Most “urgencies” are menial. Most important things don’t call, text, email, or IM you. Your time can easily be consumed by urgencies.
4. Know what’s important, and what’s not. This is one the most important skills of a successful manager. Prioritization is vital. Time and experience are the best teachers.
5. Outside forces can impact you, but they cannot control you. Only you can control you. Give that up and you are the eternal, miserable victim.
(Connued on page 37)
| 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40