Time Management is Possible With These Methods

There are many things in life that are out of your control. Time management, however, is not one of them. We want to give you some helpful methods to manage your time well. Individual habits like this will surely distinguish you as a leader.

The truth is that time is the greatest equalizer in life. No matter who you are, your age, income, gender, race, or religion, you have the same amount of time as the next person. There are a lot of great time management methods out there, and we will give you our favorites in a moment, but the important thing is to pick one and work it! Be consistent with your method and you will see results.

A popular method is Covey’s Time Management Grid. You take your current ‘to-do’ list and sort all the activities into the appropriate grid. Then, assess the amount of time you have to accomplish the lists and, if necessary, reallocate activities. The bottom line is to do the important things first!

Another method is The Ivy Lee Method. The simplicity may astonish you, but it’s simple enough to actually work. At the end of each work day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks.

1. Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance.

2. When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task. Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task.

3. Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.

4. Repeat this process every working day.

It may seem counterintuitive to dedicate precious time to learning about time management, instead of using it to get on with your work, but the benefits are enormous such as: greater productivity and efficiency, less stress and friction, and greater opportunities to achieve important life and career goals. On the contrary, failing to manage your time effectively can have some very undesirable consequences like: missed deadlines, inefficient workflow, a poor professional reputation and a stalled career, and higher stress levels.

So pick a method and get started! Remember, a stuffy room can make you feel sleepy, so turn down the temperature, and notice the effect of food on your ability to focus. We are excited to see your increased accomplishments with your new time management skills.

Until next time, lead on.

The Leadr Team