 How do I prioritise my time? Accept this fact now, you can never finish everything on your "to do" list! What you need to get done are the most important tasks. Time management is about spending the right amount of time on the right things. The grid below can help.
Points to note. PROGRESS TASKS are those tasks that move the organisation forward, working on new processes and procedures that avoid the last minute panics. "Work smarter not harder!" POUNCE these tasks must get done at the expense of others. You must learn to be realistic about deadlines, if you have "must do today" tasks you cannot afford to be side tracked. [Learn to say "not today" to less important tasks] PLAN Get into the habit of planning work into your diary, block out chunks of time to get work done. Protect this time by putting it in the diary. You do not want others to control your time when you want to work. PASS This is fertile ground for delegation, remember though you will have had to plan for this. You cannot pass on unrealistic deadlines. PARETO In this case refers to the fact that 80% of the result comes from 20% of the effort. You cannot let perfectionism kill you in this box. Ask your self "what is the minimum I need to do to meet the requirement?" PARK Refers to the fact that some jobs just go away, you know who they come from, try ignoring them. The bin can be a useful tool here. Much "nice to have" rather than essential work can be found in this box. Finally, the aim is avoid PANIC and PROCRASTINATION, the more you can PLAN [being proactive] the less you will fight fires [reactive]. Always ask yourself "Is this the best use on my time, right now?"
This page was last updated on: 24 September 2000 |
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