Did you resolve to get more organized in 2012? How is that working out for you so far?
Managing your time is perhaps the most difficult organizational challenge you face. You can always declutter your desk, rearrange your workspace, or get your files in order. But getting control of your schedule is one of those grand intentions that suffer because it involves setting rules for others who interfere with your productivity.
A terrific resource for those of us who struggle with never having enough time is Laura Stack, president of The Productivity Pro (www.TheProductivityPro.com), a time-management training firm that specializes in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations. (Is there any other kind?) Her fifth productivity book, “What to Do When There’s Too Much to Do,” comes out in July.
Laura is also president of the National Speakers Association, an organization to which I also belong. She is the personification of the old adage, “If you need something done, ask a busy person.” Why is that true? Because they have probably figured out how to best use their time.
And if you haven’t attended one of her seminars, Laura has possibly been helping you already. She is the designer of The Productivity Pro planner by Day-Timer.
You don’t have to wait until July to start reorganizing your schedule. Laura shared some thoughts with me about the biggest problems people face when the clock is the enemy.
The #1 time-management challenge that people face is not taking time to think, she says. They are busy putting out fires, directing day-to-day operations, and dealing with distractions, but they should be spending time concentrating on strategy. They should incorporate “thinking time” on their calendars, which allows them to prepare for impending crises and deal with them proactively, rather than reactively.
Laura recommends “strategy retreats” for leaders every few months, a weekend all alone, without email, to write, think, dream, and plan. Assess mission statements and progress toward meeting goals. She acknowledges that setting aside this time is a tremendous challenge but emphasizes the importance of intense focus.
We discussed the role of technology in managing our time. I don’t go anywhere without my iPhone and iPad – I’m afraid I might miss something important. Laura admits that while most people think technology should enhance time management, she cautions that at the same time, it blurs the boundaries between our work and personal lives.
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