Personal efficiency and time management

This programme provides a practical approach to maximising personal effectiveness and efficiency through effective time management.

Level

Programme is appropriate for learners at entry, intermediate and advanced levels.

Objectives

  • To clarify what we mean by time management
  • To appreciate the importance of self-management
  • To develop skills in setting goals and priorities
  • To identify a range of opportunities to improve personal efficiency

Process

Understanding Time Management – Mean by time management. Impact on performance. Time as relative to psychological state. Time management vs. self-management. Circles of influence / concern.

Self-Management – Taking responsibility for time management. Identifying ways I positively / negatively impact on time management. Self-discipline and continuous effort. Personal organisation. Positive image / credibility.

Time Management Process – Identify key steps in the time management process – recording time, managing time, consolidating time. 

Time Analysis – Identify work activities over the past week – specific activities with time spent. Log these on a time log. Categorise activities into broader groupings.

Prioritisation – Urgent vs. important analysis. Review time log – place activities on the urgent vs. important matrix. Consider the implications – have done in the past / need to do in the future. Share / challenge views on what is important / urgent.

Time Stealers – Identify key time stealers. Procrastination. Review time log and highlight key time stealers. Identify strategies to over come time stealers.

Thinking Time – Value of thinking time in a business context. Impact of a hurry up / doing culture on thinking time. Best time and place for thinking time. Exercising the pause button. Impact of thinking time on time management.

Goal Setting – Importance of goal setting. Vision vs. goals. Milestones. SMART goals. Celebrating success.

Decision Making – Logic vs. Intuition. Five Styles of DM – avoidant, telling, consultation, collaboration, consensus. Impact of indecision on time. Risk aversion – consequences / contingency planning.

Consolidation – Exercise thinking time and reframe your use of time from a daily, weekly, monthly perspective. Identify key opportunities to maximise efficiency in terms of priorities – high and low. Share reframe with partner – challenge / support thinking. Identify key learning for the future.

Supporting Change – Identify key changes to accommodate improved personal efficiency. Discuss impact of habit / autopilot on sustaining the change. Need for conscious competence / self-awareness. Personal commitment to take time out to formulate personal planning on a daily basis – establish a positive habit.

Tools & Techniques – SMART objectives, SWOT analysis, probability impact risk analysis, STOP / START / CONTINUE, effort vs. impact analysis, etc.

Personal Organisers – Identify various options for enhancing personal organisation – diary, PDA, email, to do lists, year planners, etc.

Personal Styles – Impact of personal style on time management / personal efficiency. Review psychometric on personal style – impact on self. Identify key strengths / challenges for effective time management. 

Options 

Programme is appropriate as 1 day workshop for 8 to 10 learners.