Time Management In The Workplace
Have you been persistently overwhelmed by pending assignments lying at your desk that has been driving you nuts? Do you feel entrapped and can’t get yourself out of the plight? Then there is but one way to release yourself from the trap—time management skill. One thing you must realize that we all are granted the same amount of time to fulfill our personal and professional responsibilities. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. once said, “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” Then why is that, some find it too meager and flounder where as other find it enough and thrive? Well, the only differentiating factor seems to be the time management skill. Every organization works on deadlines. An individual constantly needs to be on his toes to finish off all his assignments within stipulated time frame. So, it becomes even more important for you to be more proficient in time management to promote your own career advancements and also for the betterment of the organization you work for. So, don’t dilly-dally any further and read this article to improve your time management skills.
Tips For Time Management At Workplace
Organize Your Workspace
Organize your files, schedules, desk and notes in an orderly way so that you don’t waste time looking for these things. When you spend some time to set up your repetitive procedures and routine work, you eventually save a lot of time on a daily basis.
Prepare A To Do List
One of the first step towards efficient time management in office is to prepare a “to do list”. To do list will give you a clear view of what you have in hand and you will be able to prioritize your work. One of the critical benefits of having a to-do list is that when you look at the finished works, it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Set A Rigid Deadline
Michael Chabon said, “I have a deadline. I’m glad. I think that will help me get it done.” Deadlines though may seem annoying in fact are the instruments, which ensure high productivity, efficiency and the optimal use of your time. Set rigid deadlines and commit yourself to them. Deadlines restrain your mental fluctuations and will keep you on your toes, which in turn is immensely beneficial for your career advancement. Keep evaluating your progress from time to time and make sure not to exceed your deadlines even if there are no apparent consequences.
Get Rid Of Procrastination
In Christopher Parker words, “Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” The habit of procrastination weighs heavily upon one’s success and career advancements. If you possess one such vice, then get rid of it as soon as possible.The spirit of the time is such that you must seize all the opportunities, which come your way to foster your professional advancements, and there can’t be room for even an iota of procrastinating tendencies. Time is precious and you can’t afford to fritter it away. If you are confronted with a challenging assignment, don’t dilly dally and get over it as soon as possible.
Prioritize Your Works
One of the ways of time management and to ensure a better or more fruitful accomplishment of your work is to prioritize them in accordance of their value and urgency. At your workplace, you will often have to face the challenge of completing many assignments at the same time. You can’t let yourself to be overwhelmed by them. All you need to do is to categorize all your works and put them in three different groups based on their priorities and name them accordingly. For instance red the highest priority, blue the second highest and green the third.
Avoid Multitasking
Devote all your energy and concentration on one project at a time. According to a study at the University of California, multitasking impedes the brain’s ability to absorb information, while research by Glenn Wilson, visiting professor of psychology at Gresham College, London, showed that people’s problem-solving performance dropped by the equivalent of 10 IQ points when they multitasked, and their stress levels went very high. Therefore, do not juggle several tasks as it will lead to degradation in your productivity and will end up consuming more time than that had they been tackled individually.
Delegate Assignments
Know your capabilities. There is absolutely no harm in discussing work with your fellow workers. You can’t do almost everything on your own. Distribute work amongst your team members. It is never a good idea to over burden yourself with all the works as it will make you panic which will result in low productivity and you will end up consuming more time than you can actually afford to.You must share your work load with others to finish assignments within the stipulated time frame.
Be Punctual
Avoid taking frequent leaves from work unless it is an emergency. Make it a habit to reach office on time. Don’t take too many, coffee or smoking breaks.
The above-mentioned tips on time management are simple and easy to adopt. All you have to do is read the article carefully and embrace all the methods that have been mentioned above. Life is a race and you can’t afford to limp. To win the race you must outperform all the others and time management skill is the most fundamental of all the ammunitions at your disposal.
