How to Improve Time Management Skills Quickly

Time Management is an approach to business and life that encompasses any tool, policy, or process which allows people to do more in less time. Businesses are particularly interested in time management, believing it is of prime benefit to the bottom line. Time can't be stored or returned once lost, and good time management avoids regrets of inaction and inefficiency. Time management skills are not difficult to learn or incorporate into daily life, but they do take diligent effort to utilize effectively.

Instructions

1. Use a calendar to improve and track time management. Select one that fits into the way you work and use your time. Are you on the computer all the time? Then use an electronic calendar with alarm system. Gmail's calendar features is a great and free online time management tool. Even cell phones have calendar programs for people on the go. If you prefer paper, then purchase a high quality calendar organizer such as a Franklin Planner. Retail outlets sell the less expensive Day Planner brand.

2. Consistently use a calendar and input all known deadlines (i.e. birthdays, monthly reports etc...) as soon as possible. A calendar is only as good as the information it contains, making consistency key. Time management is only as good as the diligence with which it is practiced.

3. Develop the habit of checking the calendar every day. Electronic alarms fail so they are a backup, not a primary reminder. The best way to never forget something is to write it down in the calendar and check the calendar every day (or week, whichever works best).

4. Keep a to-do list and prioritize it according to importance, the value an activity yields, scheduling constraints and the critical path (see step below). Don't just check items off when complete, but note who was involved, whether or not a message was left, package tracking numbers etc... to create a handy reference of task outcome

5. Break projects or goals into a series of interim steps and, for time management tracking, assign deadlines in the calendar to trigger appropriate follow up so tasks are completed on schedule.

6. Create a critical path to improve time management and task efficiency. Critical paths are used in project management and list dependent tasks, their time frames and deadlines to find lag times and identify critical points in a project. Knowing the critical path makes it easier to prioritize tasks and harness the law of concurrent work (see next step).

7. Multitask and utilize the law of concurrent work whenever possible. Multitasking takes some practice and careful analysis to master, but it is an essential time management strategy.

8. Perform a S.W.O.T. Analysis on work flow and daily tasks. S.W.O.T. stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Are tasks being done at the right time? What would make them easier? How can strengths and opportunities be maximized while minimizing weaknesses and threats?

9. Create goals that are SMART; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Relevant with a Timeline.

10. Assess whether or not time management skills are improving on a regular basis. If they aren't identify whether the root cause is beyond your control or whether you need to make adjustments in your approach to time management.

Tips & Warnings

• It's important to assess whether the solution is improved time management or if additional resources are required. For example, if sales double, it might be better to hire another customer service representative as opposed to trying to improve efficiency.