In order to work in a smart and effective way with a limited set of resources, it is important to manage time and understand its significance in our day to day life. Time demands respect, be it a business scenario or a daily life situation. If we are able to do effective time management, our success in every sphere of life is guaranteed to a large extent. As the famous proverb goes “Time and tide wait for none”, the importance of time can be well understood.
Measure efficiency with time management-
- Each activity which we do should be allocated time carefully to increase efficiency.
- Allocating time to every activity according to its priority is important.
- We all have limited time, therefore it should be utilised judiciously.
Priorities should be set for each task as per the demand of the situation and the time required to complete each task.
Steps to manage time effectively-
Time management has an important role to play in our daily lives as well as on our work front too.
Planning- In a business scenario, if we plan our day well by allocating time to be spent on different activities, we tend to be more effective and the business working and growth becomes steady. It is important to list down activities in the form of tasks to be done on a given day and allocate time appropriately to each task.
The most important task should be finished first followed by the task with lower priority on the business task plan list. Minimize and finish pending work as soon as possible. The aim of the business should be to meet the time deadlines set for each task.
Set the goals and define motives- Without defining the goals and working is like the captain of a ship which was lost at sea. The goals need to be practically achievable and not unrealistic.
Decide on a deadline- Setting a deadline is important, then we need to work judiciously to meet the deadline for each task and then assess our performance based on the business goals.
Proper allocation of time to each task- Decide on the time to be allocated to each task according to its priority.
Allocate time to each activity judiciously- Allocating time to each task requires careful assessment whether the allocated time is justified to a task or needs to be reworked on.
Some useful tips to do effective time management:
Be organised- Keep all the business related papers and necessary documents in place in the office. The work place should be spic and span without any clutter. The time taken to retrieve a document should be minimal which will ultimately increase the efficiency level.
Minimise misuse of time- Eliminate activities from the schedule which are a complete waste of time like gossip and watching TV. Be more focussed keeping in mind the business goals. Finish the more crucial tasks first and also complete them within the stipulated time.
Focus on work and the business growth- Work towards fulfilling the tasks and think of ways for the utilisation of resources to enhance business growth.
Use desk calendars and organizers- Managing time effectively becomes easier by using calendars to plan our events and schedule our work and meetings accordingly. They can also be used to keep track of our progress and take timely corrective actions if needed. Setting reminders is also very helpful for important events.
To manage time effectively, a person needs to be very disciplined and work oriented. This enhances the productivity of business concerns and also helps to develop the overall personality of the business professionals. Overall, time management has a positive effect.
The 4 important W’s of Time Management
The 4 W’s govern the management of time
Prioritise-What is to be done first
Schedule-When to do it
Allocate-How much time required for a task
Assign-Who is the appropriate person to do a task
The above criteria lay the foundation for time management and assist in maximising the efficiency of any business.
Time management can be described as an art to do things as you desire in a very comfortable manner, but a lot of diligence and practice is required to manage time effectively.
