Time Management For Medical Professionals

Where Does The Time Go? Busy Schedules Too Many “Hats” Infrastructure Problems Conflicting Priorities

Objectives Review and describe common impediments to time efficiency Describe helpful time management principles and adjunctive tools Finish on time!!!

Time Wasters Phones and Pagers Visitors Meetings “Open Door Policy” Miscommunication Fatigue

Time Wasters, cont... Can’t say “No” Indecision Procrastination Clutter Lack of Direction Uncertain Priorities

Time Wasting Personalities The Bureaucrat –“Guardian of the System” (not the Mission) The Dead Wood –“Retired on Active Duty” The Crisis Maker –Not to be confused w/ crisis manager The Loner

Personal Time Management Myths “I’m always busy, therefore, I must be very productive.” “The more time I spend on this task, the better the product will be.” “I’ll have (or make) more time for other things later.”

The Truth Is… The “Law of Diminishing Returns” applies. You already have all the time you’re going to get. Getting the most out of your day, week, year, and life means managing TIME.

To Manage Time is to: Set goals and objectives Prioritize tasks Plan regularly for steps toward objectives Actively work to overcome your obstacles

Goal Setting Short and Long Term Personal and Professional Achievable Measurable Milestones –Baby Steps –Reachable in a day, a week…

Prioritization UrgentNon-urgent Important Not Important CrisesPreventions DistractionsPleasure

Short Term Planning Start of Each Day –list today's objectives Mid-day Adjustment –How are you doing? End of Day Milestones –How do you know you are finished?

Long Term Planning Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Milestones Personal Mission Statement – Celebrate Milestones

Overcoming Obstacles Anticipate them –plan ways to overcome or circumvent them Learn from mistakes Learn (when) to say: “NO”.

Day Planners, Etc. Help organize, prioritize tasks Set milestones Reminder of short and long term goals Alternative “planners” –computers –bulletin board, post-its, etc. –memory (for the gamblers among you)

When You Fall Behind... Consider: –closing your door –tactical delays –strategies for delegation or team efforts –letting the voice mail answer your calls –turning off your pager –It’s never too late to plan ahead!

Summary Where does YOUR time go? Do you have long and short term goals? Do you plan progress toward them? –Do you know when you’re there? Have you organized SOMETHING? –your planner, your desk, your mind?

A Pop Quiz!!! Who makes demands on YOUR time? Who can create MORE time? Who can reallocate the time you have? Who is in charge of MANAGING your time? Your goals? Your life?

Times Up!!! Back to you, COL Yetter….