MANAGING YOUR TIME

BUSINESS GROWTH

IF YOUR MANAGERS COULD HANDLE THEIR TIME BETTER THEYD BE HANDLING YOUR BUSINESS BETTER ,TOO.

Nothing affects your success as a manager as much as your ability to manage your time . Yet of all the resources you have , this vital element is the least understood , the most ignored , and the worst managed. The simple truth is that executives unable to manage their time cant manage . Instead of acting ,they react; instead of anticipating problems they are busy trying to solve them. Effective managers make thing happens they run their jobs ; their job dont run them - Dr. Alec Mackenzie

DANGER SIGNALS!?!
How can the individual manager tell whether he has a serious problem with time management ?

WHAT ARE THE DANGER SIGNALS ?

1. 2. 3. 4. If only I had more time . I havent got a thing done today . But its because I need more staff you see . Is that the time ? just where did it go .

One often hears these executive bleats . They are the early warning signals indicating that the job needs to be reorganized.

...(cont.)

Constantly working long hours is another danger signal . This is a doubtful practice anyway as the manager who works at night generally works at low efficiency. Yet another warning is excessive fire fighting . Some managers like an atmosphere of hurry and bustle . They are never happier than when putting out fires .But a lot of fire fighting is a sign that problems are not being solved. It means that the same old problems keep coming up again and again. Either the manager doesnt know how to solve the problem, or he hasnt enough time to do it. Some managers are encouraged, by the very nature of their job, to bad work organization. They have trouble shooting jobs, where time fragmentation is inevitable, so they tend to carry over a butterfly style even to the part of the job that can be controlled .Trouble-shooters must be wary. Other danger signals are evident when managers feel that they would like to contribute more, and perhaps have particular projects in mind, but have not been able to get them started.

(cont.)

There are many reasons why a manager may feel his job needs reorganizing He may think that he is doing a lot of work which could be done by his subordinates .He may feel that he is not devoting his time logically between the most important aspects of his work. He may be worried about not having enough time for creative work , or that the event of the day seems to determine how he spends his time, or that he is unable to get projects finished due to constant interruptions .
A manager may feel that he needs a better definition of his job objectives, and what needs to be done to achieve them. If so, he will need to study this in detail .His boss should participate, and also if possible his colleagues. This is beyond the scope of his article , but it is important that objectives are clear before setting out to improve time management. For if a manager does not have a clear idea of his job objectives and how they are linked to the goals of his company, then he may punish up being very good at getting the wrong things done .

Is work piled up? Am I behind? What kind of work is lagging? My regular reports , the work for which I am accountable? Or is it high leverage new ideas, or creative thinking? Am I making full use of my people through delegation? Do I have a system for staying informed on the progress of a planned job?

Pity the overworked executive! Behind his paperwork ramparts, he struggles bravely with a seemingly superhuman load of responsibilities . Burdened with impossible assignments, beset by constant emergencies, he never has a chance to get organized. Pity him but recognize him for the dangerous liability that he is.
- Rendall

TIME WASTERS
(Organizational compulsion and traditions often are a source of time wastage. Total organizational commitment and efforts are required to facilitate effective return of Executive Time Investment )
* Lack of dynamism/direction * Boss * Centralized Decision making * Short term survival orientation * Meeting lack duration - long duration * Confusing in priorities * Responsibilities without authority * Tradition / Red tapism * Telephone/communication facilities * poor staffing policies *Unavailability of people * Role confusing

( It is essential to differentiate DOING from MANAGING, ACTIVITIES from RESULTS, being busy from being effective , and detail strategy. Planned priorities and objectives give executives a sense of direction and aid in purposeful utilization of various resources ,including TIME. ) * Lack of priorities * Unclear objectives * Inadequate policies/procedure * Role ambiguities * failure of delegate * Poor filing/Information system * Incomplete subordinate * Lost in operating details * Paperwork/procedure mentality * Over management of subordinates * Unrealistic time estimate .

My Boss is my Chief time waster this appears in every list of time wasters . There is a basic reason for this, the numerous contact of a subordinate with his boss provide many occasion for time waste. It is extremely important for the manager to be aware of the effect he has on his subordinates time. There are three sins that are committed with wearying frequency- transmitting instruction poorly, keeping subordinates waiting , and interrupting their work.

TIME WASTERS
(Often executives indicate the external factors to be the primary sources of time wastage. But when a proper time analysis is made, they discover that the !man within! Is the main source generating such time wasters as:
* Hazy value system * Lack of self-discipline * Indecision * Habits * Procrastination * Playing safe * Frustrations * Past experience * Lack of clarity of purpose * Insecurity * Excuses * Overcautious approaches * Impatience with details * Over socializing tendencies

(External events and happenings affect the effective use of time. Often these external factors are projected as the chief factors of time wastage. External factors are blamed for ones own lack of imaginative endeavors. Excuses, alibis, comparison are used for reason for ineffectiveness )
* Interruption * Drop in visitors * Change of events * Social Myths on loyalty of long hour. * Excessive public relations demands * Expectations of personal favors * Political affinities/influences

TIME WASTERS
TIME WASTERS
*Lack of planning

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Failure to see the benefit. Action orientation Success without planning

SOLUTION
Recognize that planning takes time, but saves time in the end. Emphasize results, not activity. Recognize that success is often in spite of, not because of methods. Write down goals and objectives. Discuss priorities with your subordinates . Say no. Put first things first. Develop a personal philosophy of time relate priorities to a schedule of events.

*Lack of priorities

Lack of goals/objectives

*Over commitment

Broad interests Confusion in priorities Failure to set priorities

TIME WASTERS
*Management by Crisis

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Lack of planning Unrealistic time estimate Problem Orientations Reluctance of subordinates to break bad news.

SOLUTION
Same solutions as for lack of planning. Allow more time. Allow for jerk inputs. Be opportunity-oriented. Encourage fast transmission of information as essential for timely corrective action. Take time to get it right. Save the time of doing it over. Distinguish between urgent and important. Planning pays and repays. Attempt less. Delegate more.

*Haste

Impatience with details Responding to the urgent Lack of planning Attempting too much in too little time.

*Paperwork and reading

Knowledge explosion

Read selectively. Learn speed reading .delegate reading to others.

TIME WASTERS
*Routing and Rival

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Lack of priorities. Over management of subordinates

SOLUTION
Set and concentrate on goals. Delegate non-essentials. Delegate; then give them their hand .Look to results, not the details of methods. Do it elsewhere. Meet visitors outside. Suggests lunch or breakfast meetings. Hold stand-up conference. Screen. Say no. Be unavailable. Modify the open door policy. Screen and group calls. Be brief. Stay uninvolved with all but essentials. Make decisions without Meetings.

*Visitors

Enjoying of socializing

Inability to say no

*Telephone

Lack of self-discipline Desire to be informed and involved Fear of responsibility for decisions.

*Meetings

TIME WASTERS
*Indecision

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Lack of rational decisionmaking process.

SOLUTION
Get facts, set goals, Investigate alternatives, make division and implement it. Track result. Delegate the right to be wrong. Use mistake as a learning process.
Train. Allow mistakes. Replace if necessary. Delegate fully. Give credit. Insure corporate growth to maintain challenge. Balance the workload. Staff up. Re-order priorities.

Fear of making mistakes.

*Lack of delegation

Fear of subordinates inadequacy Fear of subordinates competence. Workload on subordinates.

TIME MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLE

NEED FOR TIME MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
Numerous articles have been written on the subject of time management, may containing similar recommendation for the conservation of this valuable resource. Too many of the time articles focus upon gimmicks, such as how to save time by not having a desk in the office, or how to dictate in your car to save an hour. These tips may be invaluable to a small sector of a business community, but their practicality for the majority of manager is, at best, considered doubtful. The management of time, per se, is a management process itself, which consist of the function of planning, organizing and controlling. That is, to manage ones time entails planning and organizing for its efficient use as well as controlling its use.

Learning how to manage time would seem to be enhanced through development of principles that could be applied according to the situation.

1.

PRINCIPLE APPLICABLE TO PLANNING

Planning is selecting among choices. Planning the use of ones time involves finding out first how it is now used, deciding how it should be used, and scheduling its proper use in the manner described. * principle of time analysis Time analysis is a prerequisite to time management. Keeping a daily log of activities which records increments of 15 to 30 minutes duration over a span of not less than two week is essential as the basis of the analysis * principle of daily planning Daily planning, formulated after business hours the previous day or early before business hours on the same day, in consequences with near term objectives and events, is essential to the effective utilization of personal time. *principle of budgeting by priority The time available in the workday should be budgeted for the accomplishment of those items of work having the highest priorities.

2. PRINCIPLE APPLICABLE TO ORGANIZING

The organizing function concerns how the manager organizes his work and his environment to become more efficient in the use of time . The first organizing principle is:
Principle of Delegation delegation of all possible work items consistent with limitations of the managers job is essential to provide the time needed for managerial jobs. Principle of activity Segmentation Work items similar in nature and requiring similar in nature and requiring similar environmental surroundings and resources for their accomplishment should be grouped within divisions of the work day. Principle of control and interruptions Adequate controls and/or arrangements of activities to minimize the number and duration of unnecessary interruptions is essential to time managements. Principle of minimization of routine Type work- Work items which are routine in nature and which constitute little value to overall objectives shall be minimized.

3. PRINCIPLE APPLICABLE TO CONTROLLING

After planning and organizing the work in line with the applicable principles there remains only plan implementations and daily follow up. AS MOORE STATES : The concept of control through plans and schedules is Fundamental to sound management and to increasing effectiveness To gain his objective as planned he compare the actual expenditure to the resource with the plan and the schedule . The variance permits make him to make decisions about the plan, the schedule , and the performance , and the adjust all three in tune with his objectives and conditions he is facing.

This involves the use of following principles:

Principle of plan Implementation and follow up Implementations of the daily follow up is essential to time management. Principle of repeated Analysis Time usage analysis should be repeated at least semiannually to preclude reverting to poor time management habits.

TOWARDS A PERSONAL TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Most people take a haphazard approach to managing their time. Theyve heard that such-and such a tactic will help save time , so they try it once or twice , then perhaps drop it and switch to another. Few people in the Frenetic world of management actually have a time management strategy made up of a combination of tactics . For every individual manager there is a particular combination of principles that would result to a particular solution to his time problem. But if he is unaware of what these concepts are, how can he choose the mix that will lead to the best course of action? The object of this article is first to list the most pervasive principles of time management, and then show how a busy executive can apply techniques based on these principles in a selective , custom-tailored manner.

The key concepts of time managements include at least the following:

Towards a personal Time management strategy

1. Time analysis- A daily log of activities for at least one week, taken in 15-minute increments , is essential as a basis of effective time analysis . It should be repeated at least semi annually to avoid reverting to poor time managements practices. Anticipation- anticipatory action is generally more effective then remedial action . Since a stitch in time saves nine, expect the unexpected and plan for it. Planning- every hour spent in effective planning saves three to four in execution , and gets better results. Both long range and daily planning , preferably formulated before or after business hours, essential to effective utilization of personal time.

2.

3.

4.

Flexibility- flexibility in scheduling personal time may be necessary to adjust to forces beyond ones control. Objective and priority settings More effectives results are achieved through purposeful pursuit of planned objectives than by chance . If time is not allocated to tasks in ordered sequence of priority, managers will tend to spend time in amounts inversely related to the importance of their tasks. Deadlines- Imposing deadlines and exercising self-discipline in adhering to them aids managers in overcoming indecision , vacillation, and procrastination. Alternatives In any given situations, failure to generate viable alternative solutions limits the likelihood of selecting the most effective course of action. Consolidation similar tasks should be grouped within division of the workday to minimize interruption and to economize in the utilization of resources and expenditure of effort.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Concentration of efforts- As critical few actions generally produce the great bulk of results . Effective managers concentrate their efforts on the critical few events. Effectiveness- Efficiency may be defined as doing any job right, effectiveness as doing the right job right. Efforts, however efficient, will be ineffective if performed on the wrong time, or with unintended negative consequences. Delegation- Authority for decision making should be delegated to the lowest level consistent with good judgment and available facts. Managers tend to promote upward delegation unwittingly by encouraging dependence of subordinates upon them for answer s. this result in doing the work of subordinates. Visibility- Keeping them visible (those things) you intend doing increases the certainty of achieving your objective. You cant do what you cant remember.

10.

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Few people can apply all these principle simultaneously . But once a manager knows them, he can make up his own personalized strategy, composed of certain tactics that work best for him- and that work best in combination with other selected tactics.

A MULTI-TACTIC STRATEGY
President Charles Hummel of Barrington College has a strategy composed of many tactics: He practices exception managements, concentration of efforts ,consolidation, planning , priority setting and visibility. As he explained it, for the professional manager everything starts with planning. One of thousands of managers using a pocket diary, he records the objectives for the day in priority order. He concentrates his efforts on the top-priority task first. He practices interruption control through secretarial screening of calls and visitors; planned unavailability is his ultimate defense. Calls-backs not handled by others are consolidated into a period convenient to him. Visible records of short range objectives are maintained by individual officers of his administrative team. As a matter is being discussed and its disposition agreed to, Hummel is noting the decision on a sheet listing all matters discussed with each team member.

Hummel plans systematically for both the short and the long term. Planning for one to five year is done formally with his administrative staff and board. He plans for his day the afternoon before and the early morning of that day. He allocates an hour at the end of the week to plan the next week, and a day at months end to plan the next month. This day , whenever possible , is spent away from his office in a hotel room without a telephone. Hummel likens the impulse spending of time to the impulse buying practiced by most Americans. Before getting to the item he really needs in the store , one often spends his money on items that catch his eye on counters along the way. On arrival at his goal his supply of money may be exhausted. so it is with time, says Hummel we are tyrannized by the urgent and by doing the things ought. effective time management , he concludes, is a practical imperative for the professional manger. Most of these principles , you may have observed , are really just common sense . But it often takes uncommon sense to put them together into a viable solution

A realistic and courageous preparation of EXECUTIVE TIME LOG or Time Inventory, is an essential must for effective use of time.

There are two basic question :

(a) (b) Am I doing the right job? Am I doing the job in EFFECTIVE way.

Time log
Its Significance All research on TIME MANAGEMENT highlighting the importance, necessity and efficiency of the Time log or diary method. The time log or inventory is necessary because the painful task of changing our habits requires far more conviction than we can build from learning about the experience of others.

(b) Analysis of present time usage

Time analysis on the basis of a record kept for two or three weeks is a prerequisite for effective time management. The Manager himself or an assistant /secretary keep the daily record of all the tasks and activities from morning to evening in segments of 30 to 60 minutes. It is also important to indicate by whom the activity was initiated and under which category that particular activity falls such as planning, review, meetings with individuals, group, with boss, paper work, traveling, public relations etc.

(c) A typical record sheet given in the next page can be modified to suit your own requirements.

TIME RECORD SHEET

TIME
8.30-9.00 9.00-9.30 9.30-10.00 10.00-11 11-11.30 AFTERNOON

DETAIL

INITIATED BY

WITH WHOM

CATEGORIES

(d) Analysis of the Time Record Sheet

Once the time record sheets have been completed for a period of three or two weeks, it is necessary to study each activity asking the following important question to test the relevance and utility of each item activity: 1. 2. 3. 4. What would happen if this werent done at all ? What would happen if this were left till later ? Could this be done by someone else just as well, if not better ? Is this contributing to my subordinates effectiveness or is it wasting his time ?

(e) Re-allocation of time

on the basis of the analysis and questioning one can easily reallocate time to the significant priorities and eliminate the activities which are not contributing to effectiveness .

(f) Some research findings

The common findings of many mangers who took the trouble to prepare a time log to the significant priorities and eliminate the activities which are not contributing to effectiveness. Pin pointing and defining the priorities appear to be a difficult task. Manager tend to feel that every task is important. Another finding was that considerable time was spent in reading for information material sent by their subordinates. Noting prepared at many levels, and make the files bulky. Many senior managers are at a loss as how to stop this passing the buck approach. Delegation by results and periodic reviews are the two missing items in many senior mangers work life. Time spent in meetings is abnormally high. The unscheduled meetings often convened by top officials tend to destroy the priorities and plan of the subordinates.

HODONTS analysis of the various type of time logs or inventories reveal the senior managers are more often busy with day to day activities rather than long term policies and strategies. It is pathetic to note that most managers do not even invest one hour per week for any type of self development. Above all, the analysis of time log usually reveals the many miscalculations in the mind of Managers concerning the vital priorities of their jobs, where their time is allocated and what are the areas of improvement. Priorities need to be balanced and should cover the different aspects of ones life and ones situations. In practical terms priorities should include: (a) Job- both technical and managerial; (b) Personal growth and development; (c) Family concerns; and (d) Leisure time activities.

And all effective executives control their Time Management perpetually. They not only keep a continuing log and analyze it periodically. They set themselves deadlines for the important activities, based on their judgment of their discretionary time. Time is the scariest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed. The analysis of ones time, moreover, is the one easily accessible and yet systematic way to analyze ones work and to think through what really matters in it.

know thyself, the old perception for wisdom , is almost impossibly difficult for mortal men. But everyone can follow the injection know thy time if he wants to, and be well on the road towards contribution and effectiveness .

ABC ANALYSIS

STUDY AND PLAN YOUR WORK LOAD

ESSENTIAL
Must do this work personally rework very closely with whoever does it. TOP PRIORITY

IMPORTANT-IF-TIME
This item is worthy of my attention If I can afford the time to denote it.

Second priority

BASICALLY NON-ESSENTIAL
My doing it needs more Justification than my Not doing it.