New Thinking 3: Managing time and setting priorities
“It’s not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is what are we busy
about?” Henry David Thoreau
Most people have busy lives and time pressures don’t go away!
The ability to manage time by knowing what’s important and focusing on that is the first
step to success. The next step is to develop the organisation and discipline to make the best
use of your time.
Be organised
There are many tools available to help you organise yourself and your work. Try
experimenting to learn what works best for you. Once you have established your goals, you
will need a system to help make them happen. If you are disorganised, it makes life more
difficult for everyone who has to deal with you, especially if you are a manager.
Disorganised managers create disorganised staff.
Most successful people have a diary system (whether it be pocket, desk, electronic or a
combination of these) that they use to allocate time to activities. Whilst diaries are good for
the smaller short-term view, year planners are better and easier for seeing the bigger
picture.
Keep a daily ‘To Do’ list
This is the simplest and most powerful tool of time management. To be really effective, a
‘To Do’ list must be made every day, at the same time and be written down.
Once you have made your list, start with the important things. You may feel tempted to get
the easy things out of the way first. Don't! Ask yourself what you need to have achieved to
go home feeling satisfied at the end of your shift.
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