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Time management is all about mastering your habits. Given that each day contains the same amount of time, the only thing we can control is our activities...and that's where habits come in. If you want to master your time, then begin by identifying and mastering your habits.
In what areas of your worklife have you developed habits? Research by time management experts reveal a number of areas common to most people:
- Attitudes
- Goals
- Priorities
- Analyzing
- Planning
- Scheduling
- Interruptions
- Meetings
- Written Communications
- Delegation
- Procrastination
- Team Time
These 12 dimensions vary in terms of importance and performance for each individual. In our experience, in using this approach with groups, it pays to wallk through these dimensions in the order in which they are presented...at the very least examining the first three dimensions before embarking on any changes in the remaining nine.
The reason for this approach is that, if Attitudes, Goals and Priorities are not pinned down, then all of the work around the remaining dimensions will have substantially less impact than if the first three were tackled.
We use an online self-assessment to allow people to gain insights into their time habits using these twelve dimensions. (See the end of this article for free sample reports in pdf format.) When we run group reports, and present them to participants in our workshops, we are consistently struck by the degree to which organizational, team and personal goals are almost always out of alignment. This becomes the starting point for most groups who attend our workshops.
Alignment of Goals and Priorities
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Mastering your time is not just an individual challenge, but also a group challenge. Identifying organizational, team and individual Attitudes, Goals and Priorities is an essential prerequisite to manging the remaining dimensions.
About Brian Ward
Brian Ward is a Principal in Affinity Consulting, an Edmonton Alberta based consulting practice. He is the author of Lead People...Manage Things. He has over 25 years of experience working with all levels of leaders and teams as a leadership coach, facilitator and consultant.
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