HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME IN THE WORKPLACE.

 How To Manage Your Time in the Workplace.

Minimize distractions under your control

Where possible, control over your immediate work environment
can be crucial, effective and productive.

Clutter: A cluttered office can increase stress and be the result of delayed decision making.
Determine a place free from distraction (no cell phone or text messaging!) where you can maximize your concentration and be free of the distractions that friends or hobbies can bring!

You should also have a back-up space that you can escape to, like a library, departmental study center, even a coffee shop where you can be anonymous. A change of venue may also bring extra resources.
What is the best work space you can think of? What is another?

 

Weekly reviews

Where possible, control over your immediate work environment
can be crucial, effective and productive.

Clutter: A cluttered office can increase stress and be the result of delayed decision making.
Determine a place free from distraction (no cell phone or text messaging!) where you can maximize your concentration and be free of the distractions that friends or hobbies can bring!

You should also have a back-up space that you can escape to, like a library, departmental study center, even a coffee shop where you can be anonymous. A change of venue may also bring extra resources.
What is the best work space you can think of? What is another?

Prioritize your assignments

Weekly reviews and updates are also an important strategy. Each week, review your assignments, your notes, your calendar. Be mindful that as deadlines approach, your weekly routine must adapt to them!

What is the best time in a week you can review?

Achieve “stage one”--get something done!

When beginning your workday, get in the habit of starting with the most difficult subject or task. You’ll be fresh, and have more energy to take them on when you are at your best. Colleagues, clients and customers (even bosses!) are also less likely to interrupt you at the beginning of your workday.

For more challenging projects, try to be flexible: for example, build in “reaction time” when you can get feedback on assignments before they are due.
What topic or procedure has always caused you problems?

Postpone unnecessary activities until the work is done!

The Chinese adage of the longest journey starting with a single step has a couple of meanings: First, you launch the project! Second, by starting, you may realize that there are some things you have not planned for in your process.

Details of an assignment are not always evident until you begin the assignment.
Another adage is that “perfection is the enemy of good”, especially when it prevents you from starting! Given that you build in review, roughly draft your idea and get going!
You will have time to edit and develop later.

What is a first step you can identify for an assignment to get yourself started?

Identify resources to help you

Postpone tasks or routines that can be put off until a project stage is finished!
This can be the most difficult challenge of time management.

Learn to say “later”…
As workers we always meet unexpected opportunities that look appealing, then result in poor performance on a test, on a paper, or in preparation for a task. Distracting activities will be more enjoyable later without the pressure of a deadline, meeting, or review, etc. hanging over your head. Think in terms of pride of accomplishment. Instead of saying “no” learn to say “later”.

What is one distraction that interferes with your work flow? How can you effectively manage it?
Distractions:
If possible and permitted, minimize external distractions and improve concentration by relocating to an empty meeting room, closing a door, using headsets, ignoring in-coming telephone calls and email, etc. In your workspace, if colleagues interrupt, deal with the matter courteously and efficiently and excuse yourself to return to your task at hand. If in a meeting, it is crucial and respectful to stop any extraneous computing, reading, emailing, etc.

Use your “free time” wisely

Are there colleagues with special expertise?
How experienced is your supervisor?

What does the Internet provide? Are there specialists in the library that can point you to resources? What about professionals and professional organizations. Using outside resources can save you time and energy, and solve problems.
Write down three examples for that difficult subject above?
Be as specific as possible.

Think of times when you can accomplish "bits" as when going to a meeting, waiting on an associate, etc. Perhaps you've got notes to review? But before you test drive the latest iPhone recorder app at work, there are 4 things you should remember:

1. You Could Be Fired.

   You Are Being Recorded.

   If you are caught you could be terminated, and there will likely be little an attorney can do for you. Texas is an employment-at-will state. There are exceptions of course, but the bottom line is you need to balance the potential reward against a very real risk.

2. Don’t Delete Any Part Of The Recording.

   You would be surprised how many times employees' workplace recordings hurt their case because of what they say on the recording. And here’s the kicker, you can’t just decide it didn’t help and delete it, which leads to tip #3.

3. Record What People Will Likely Deny Later.

   If you delete any part of the recording or attempt to edit it, the recording might never be admitted into evidence in the case, and worse, you will subject yourself to a spoliation of evidence charge, meaning the jury may be instructed they can presume what you deleted hurt your case and that is why you deleted it. That’s not something you want the judge instructing the jury. 

4. Record What People Will Likely Deny Later.

   If it’s a sexual harassment case, record the harasser making inappropriate sexual remarks or others admitting they were sexually harassed by the same harasser. If it’s a discrimination case, record the discriminatory remarks made by your supervisor. Record termination meetings. But remember what you record that doesn’t help you will often be used against you.If you are walking or biking to work, when best to listen? Perhaps you are in a line waiting? Perfect for routine tasks like flash cards, or if you can concentrate, to read or review a chapter. The bottom line is to put your time to good use.

What is one example of applying free time to your studies?

Review notes and readings just before meetings

Review meeting notes just after

This may prompt a question or two about something you don’t quite understand, to ask about, or after. It also demonstrates that you are interested and have prepared.

How would you make time to review?
Is there free time you can use?

Review your ten applications above.

The first 24 hours are critical. Forgetting is greatest within 24 hours without review!
How would you do this?

Is there free time you can use?

Select one, and develop a new work habit.

Try something you have a good chance of following through and accomplishing. Nothing succeeds like a first successful try!

Effective aids:

Create a simple "To Do" list

Daily/weekly planner

This simple program will help you identify a few items, the reason for doing them, a timeline for getting them done, and then printing this simple list and posting it for reminders.

Write down appointments, meetings and deadlines on a chronological log book or chart.
If you are more visual, sketch out your schedule
First thing in the morning, check what's ahead for the day
always go to sleep knowing you're prepared for tomorrow

Long term planner

Use a monthly chart so that you can plan ahead.
Long term planners will also serve as a reminder to constructively plan time for yourself

Utilizing these tips can be the foundation of time management.
Many managers also find this resource scheduling software
a useful tool in guiding their team toward a successful conclusion.