I have been in the business world for 47 years now and one thing that never changes is managing our workload and setting priorities. Everyone I talk to is trying to keep up with the accelerated pace of business and change. At Office Dynamics, we always seem to be in a flurry of activity throughout the year but certain seasons are busier than others. Plus we always have to be thinking 6 – 12 months out because of being in the training industry.
Regardless if this is your really busy season or not, I would like to offer you some of my greatest tips. I will do this in a 4 Part Series of Monday Motivators. Other topics I will address over the next 3 weeks are: Control Your Day and Get Things Done; Reducing Information Overload; Build Structure out of Chaos. I promise to keep these Motivators short and to the point since your time is precious.
Managing your time is about . . .
- Managing priorities and staying on the “A” priority before moving to B or C. Often people would rather do what is quick and easy. The truth is we need to stay focused on the “A” priority items of the day. We must not get pulled into the allure of what is quick and easy.
- Being flexible throughout the day and quickly adapting to changes. While our To Do lists are great, as you know, flexibility is key. I always say that our To Do list must be fluid. It is just a guide but we can’t be married to it.
- FOCUS!!! Hugely important in this age of non-stop distractions. Example: Can you even stay focused enough to read this entire Monday Motivator or are you watching what’s popping up in your Inbox? Or on your phone or listening to the conversation next to you?
- Stopping throughout the day and assessing items to be done. I love to pause mid-afternoon and re-asses where I am with my work. I determine what I have accomplished thus far and what I must finish before the day ends. You can ask yourself these questions: 1) What must get done before day’s end? What is the negative impact if I do not get this done? 2) Am I currently focusing on the most important item in my leader’s eyes? 3) What is coming up in the next few days that I must take action on today? (be future-focused while being in the moment)
- Using effective “tools.” We are so fortunate today to have so many tools and apps. While I love some of my old-fashioned methods, I would like to encourage you to talk to your peers and see what tools they use for greater efficiency.
- Work smarter (not harder). I believe many of you who read my Monday Motivators work hard. Today it’s about working smarter; taking some time throughout your day to think, assess, decide and possibly delegate.
This blog was created from our Monday Motivators series. Monday Motivators is a weekly note offering practical ways to create a new mindset, change behaviors, develop positive relationships and thrive in the workplace with energy, effectiveness, and excellence.