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Posted by Arindam Nag

Wed, Jan 18, 2012 @ 04:36 PM

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Effective time management means reducing the impact of time wasters and doing tasks effectively.Effective time management will enable managers to remove distractions and inefficiencies in the work process. Below are some principles of effective time management that need to be kept in mind.

• 1) Planning: Good time management starts with careful planning. Strategic planning is necessary to accomplish tasks in the best possible way. A manager therefore needs to plan in advance before jumping into action. A few hours of proper planning will save you from long hours of ineffective work.
• A few guidelines:
• a) Specify the required tasks
• b) Set goals which are attainable
• c) Make room for contingencies

• 2) Prioritizing: Prioritizing the tasks is the next most important strategy when you want to manage time effectively. Prioritize different tasks based on their importance. By understanding the order of priority of tasks, managers will be able to make effective utilization of the available time.
• A few guidelines:
• a) Schedule tasks based on priority
• b) Be a productive thinker

• 3) Focus: Once tasks are prioritized, it is important to focus on each task, one at a time so that they are completed in the best possible way. Focusing on individual tasks minimizes the chances of making mistakes and helps in better management of time.
• A few guidelines:
• a) Do not embark on more than one project at a time
• b) Do not work at a stretch for too long– take periodic breaks

• 4) Deadlines: Always set a deadline for the allotted work. Having a deadline will help managers to stay focused on the goal that needs to be achieved. This will not only help them check the status of their work periodically and assess how far away from goal they are but also enable them to take corrective measures in case of any deviation from the planned path. Lack of a deadline will make the manager lose track of the work that needs to be completed.
• A few guidelines:
• a) Break up bigger tasks into smaller chunks and set individual deadlines
• b) Set realistic deadlines

• 5) Discipline: It is true that effective management of time is possible only when the manager sticks to the given plan. This involves being disciplined. Self-disciplineis an essential time management strategy that helps in realizing the given goals.
• A few guidelines:
• a) Maintain consistency in work
• b) Check periodically to see if you are on schedule

A successful time management strategy involves becoming aware of time as an important resource. This will help managers to organize their tasks based on priorityand successfully accomplish their tasks as per the given plan.

Tags: Time Management strategies, time management techniques