1. Steven A. De Jong, M.D. Professor of Surgery Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs Department of Surgery Loyola University Medical Center

3.  Time management or Task management  Essential for a productive and balanced life ◦ New health care environment with more responsibilities  Lots of intervening factors ◦ Stress ◦ Interruptions ◦ Life outside the hospital ◦ Multiple handoffs ◦ Planning and re-planning ◦ Personalities – good and bad  Balanced with ◦ Random nature of our work ◦ Other people and their personalities ◦ Your own behaviors and attitudes

6.  Is multitasking the solution or even possible?  Work faster or develop better habits? ◦ OR dictation as an example  Ignore patterns or analyze/plan the process? ◦ EPIC documentation example ◦ Keep a time log to look for typical time stealers ◦ Stop doing things that you can stop doing  Am I living from one deadline to another?  How can I adjust to “too much to do” each day?

7.  Procrastination  Indecision  Lack of planning  Unfocused activity  Unpunctuality  Too easy to access  Undependable  Unclear objectives  Missed deadlines  Easily distracted  Fear of failure  Perfectionism  Poor attitude  Cynicism/negativity  Forgetfulness  Poor communication  Disorganized  Low work standards

8.  Why we do it ◦ We are uncertain about the task ◦ We don’t know where to begin so we don’t ◦ We worry that the product won’t be good enough  How we fix it ◦ Ask for help and collaborate ◦ Just start and split large tasks into smaller pieces ◦ Try out a concept called time-boxing ◦ Reset your expectations  perfection not always required  Certain amount of self awareness helps us focus

9.  Work on your communication skills and articulate clearly what you are doing  Delegation – job description too big for one! ◦ Takes time up front but long term benefits  Start your planned task on time ◦ Once you fall behind schedule you are in trouble ◦ EPIC new patient dictation example  Finish on time at the expense of perfection ◦ Doing your best will be good enough if it’s on time  Saying “No” when you can = healthy boundaries ◦ Powerful effect to limit interruptions ◦ Encourage others to think instead of dumping on you

10.  Insecurity or “fear of being replaced”  Perfectionism or “I want it done just right”  False pride or “I don’t need anyone else”  Lack of trust

11. Ask yourself How important or urgent is it? Better focus

12.  The ABC technique  Time Management Matrix technique  Natural Laws technique  Time management model

13. Covey’s Time Management Matrix Technique Channel efforts into category 2

14. The "Jar" of Life

15.  Balancing personal and professional goals  Once set – stick to them with self-discipline ◦ Easy to get sidetracked with “multitasking” ◦ E-mail distraction avoided by “reading it once”  Make lists but avoid long lists ◦ You’re overwhelmed before you start ◦ Producing reasonable daily TTD lists  Identify clear criteria to help you choose  Be flexible as priorities can/must change  Reserve task time and protect it ferociously ◦ Balance an open door policy with a closed one  Make fewer commitments and deliver on time ◦ Avoid the trap of overloading your schedule

17.  Energy and focus separate 90% of managers from the top 10% who are more purposeful and employ useful habits  Bottom 90% ◦ Highly motivated & energetic but switch between tasks without much sense of purpose – poor leaders ◦ Procrastinators – they feel their efforts will not make a difference and are not good motivators ◦ The “disengaged” – focused but unexcited by work with little time for reflection or creative thinking

18.  Know your best time of the day and do the most demanding or difficult tasks then or first and get a sense of relief/accomplishment & morale boost  Don’t be too busy to take a break – rested leaders work, think and react better  Self-imposed deadlines are useful  Eliminate/limit time-wasters that drain efficiency ◦ Email, ineffective meetings, interruptions, negativity  Start each day with a plan and “do todays work today”  Have a life outside of work and don’t sell out on your own needs!

19. IS WHAT I AM DOING RIGHT NOW MOVING ME TOWARD MY GOALS?