CHAPTER 13 Managing Time and Stress

PLANNING THE USE OF TIME  Setting Priorities A. Highest Priority B. Medium Priority C. Low Priority D. Posteriority  Restructuring Time: The 80/20 Principle WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF MY TIME RIGHT NOW?

COMBATING TIME GOBBLERS  Handling Incoming Paperwork  Organizing Paper Flow  Managing Conversations  Managing Telephone Calls  BLOCKING OUT TIME

MANAGING ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS  Role Ambiguity  Overload (or Underload) of Work  Contradictory Expectations  Poor Preparation  Laid Back Atmosphere  Poor Match Between Staff and Jobs

Reducing Stress  Find ways to reconnect  Get in touch with a support group of staff  Identify and change whatever might be causing stress  Develop work habits that can help reduce unnecessary tension  Take time to care for yourself

SUMMARY  Because of tremendous demands most staff experience, they must make decisions on the best use of their time. This involves purposely establishing priorities, which includes what activities may need to be put aside. It also involves blocking out time to accomplish long term projects. Breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones is a useful technique. Managing stress should be a high priority for both staff and management.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION  1)Review your activities for the past week. What two examples can you provide in each of the following categories: Highest priority Medium priority Lowest priority Posteriority  2)What are ways that staff use their time efficiently or inefficiently in your agency?  3)What kinds of stress occur in your organization and what approaches do you or your organization take to alleviate stress?