Time Management

Introduction  Do you keep some appointments and cancel others?  Do you complete some projects and not others?  Do you start new projects when you haven’t completed other projects to which you have committed?

Introduction  Do you have trouble sleeping because you’re thinking of things you need to remember to do the next day?  Have you ever forgotten an appointment with a key customer or your anniversary?  Do you fail to make your business plans happen because you allow time obstructions to get in the way?

Time Management to Make it Happen  Effective time management requires commitment.  It requires a time management commitment culture.  You and your management team must set the example.

Urgent vs. Important

7 Obstacles That Must Be Pushed Aside 1. Avoiding overwhelming tasks 2. Not learning from others’ experiences 3.Not saying “No” 4.Too much non-productive diversion

7 Obstacles 5.No time for contemplation 6.Not delegating 7. Not focusing on the future

1. Avoiding Overwhelming Tasks  You must list all events, both personal and business, on a To-Do List. Failure to do so leads to overlapping commitments.

Avoiding Overwhelming Tasks  Break a large list of things to do into smaller day-to- day manageable To-Do Lists.  Determine your priorities: how, when and who.

Avoiding Overwhelming Tasks  Goal  Strategies  Action Plans

Avoiding Overwhelming Tasks  There are numerous To-Do List systems/technology.  Use the To-Do List system/technology with which you are most comfortable.  If you’re not comfortable with the system/technology you’re using, you won’t use it.

Avoiding Overwhelming Tasks Benefits  Transferring your thoughts onto To-Do Lists frees your mind from thinking about tasks until you are ready to work on them.  Putting your thoughts down on paper will free your mind from thinking about them when you sleep

2. Not Learning from Others’ Experience  Attend seminars  Attend conferences  Read books, magazines, etc.

Not Learning from Others’ Experience  Avoid failures and save immeasurable time by learning what others have done.  There is over 200 years of business experience at an average TAB Board meeting.  Don’t reinvent the wheel.

3. Not Saying “No”  Saying “No” is a learned skill.  Saying “No” will remove you from many day- to-day problems and open up time for creativity.

Not Saying “No”  What is your fear of saying “No”?  Saying “No” provides challenges.  Be prepared. Some who are not used to hearing the “No” word from you, may react negatively when you first use it.

4. Too Much Non-Productive Diversion  Stop Web surfing  Change your habits  Get rid of junk s  Look at text messaging only twice a day

Too Much Non-Productive Diversion  Messy desk and bad filing system  Hire an Executive Assistant (if you can afford it) or engage a Professional Organizer

Too Much Non-Productive Diversion  Avoid non-emergency, non-business calls during working hours.  Keep an egg timer by the phone.

5. No Time for Contemplation Modified Open Door Policy: Clearly state open- and closed-door time periods to employees and family

No Time for Contemplation  Have a “cave” – home, bicycle, hike – where there are no interruptions.  Keep your “cave” free of interruption with a policy clearly expressed to others.

6. Not Delegating  Taking on too much will cause you to lose focus.  Too much on your plate means more day-to-day fires to handle.  Discipline yourself against taking on more then you can handle.

Not Delegating  Plan toward a time when you can delegate all that is not your Competitive Edge Strength.

7. Not Focusing on the Future  Leave “what I could or should have done” behind you.  Focus on making things happen today and in the future.

Not Focusing on the Future  Dashboards  Quick review of your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)  One page

Not Focusing on the Future Dashboards  Sales  Customers  Net Profit  Account receivable days  Prospect contacts  Sales per hour of staff

Not Focusing on the Future Dashboards

Open Discussion