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Real-World Time Management
In this instructive guide to time management, author Michael Dobson provides tips, techniques, and commonsense advice that will give anyone better agency over his or her time and significantly increase productivity. Real-World Time Management does this by offering readers valuable tips on how to: set priorities; stay on track; keep a closed-door policy; avoid interrupters; and reduce stress. You’ll also learn how to handle distractions, stop procrastinating, delegate tasks, deal with meetings, and manage time effectively while traveling.Most of us dream about having a few extra hours in our day for taking care of business, relaxing, or engaging in the activities we most enjoy. But how can we make the most of our time when it seems as though there aren’t enough hours in the day? Now newly updated, this enlightening and essential guide will help leaders and frontline employees alike wrangle and order their time--no matter how hectic their lives may seem.
- GenresBusiness
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 13, 2011
A short book that could still be shorter.
This is clearly aimed at someone who is not me. Someone who is white (check), male, capitalist, has an assistant, is scared of technology, likes people, and wants to succeed in middle-management. Nevertheless, it has some time management techniques I find useful, or hope to find useful, namely:
(1) Make to do lists
(2) Update your to do lists daily
(3) Organize your to do list by priority and urgency
(4) Do one task until it's complete, then proceed to the next one.
(5) If you do the easiest but least urgent tasks first, you will never get around to the important ones.
(6) Aim to deal with each piece of paper (and email message) once
(7) Throw out what you don't need
This is all very basic, but I needed the reminders.
This is clearly aimed at someone who is not me. Someone who is white (check), male, capitalist, has an assistant, is scared of technology, likes people, and wants to succeed in middle-management. Nevertheless, it has some time management techniques I find useful, or hope to find useful, namely:
(1) Make to do lists
(2) Update your to do lists daily
(3) Organize your to do list by priority and urgency
(4) Do one task until it's complete, then proceed to the next one.
(5) If you do the easiest but least urgent tasks first, you will never get around to the important ones.
(6) Aim to deal with each piece of paper (and email message) once
(7) Throw out what you don't need
This is all very basic, but I needed the reminders.
September 21, 2011
Lots of great tips to work in to your daily routine - ie. Turn off Outlook in your most productive hours at work (and the notifications!). Set aside time during the least productive hours to check emails or have meetings, etc. I've been finding that I get more done this way :-)
June 11, 2019
The points and notes I took from the book.
Number one tool that I applied and it really worked is the prime or quiet hour rule. First thing in the morning for one hour - no phone calls, no visitors, meeting - just quiet, uninterrupted work, use that hour for important tasks: planning, completing presentation or major report. That hour is blocked in my calendar so that colleagues can see that time is taken.
2. Time management values effectiveness over efficiency. Efficiency refers to how well you do something. Effectiveness testing determines whether you should be doing it at all!
3. Leave the work at the office, in my case if I know I can finish work at home, I get relaxed and not focused at work, not a good practice
4. Minimize interruptions
5. Self inflicted delay: Procrastination in my case is doing the easy or trivial first, postponing the difficult, making unrealistic time estimates.
If your boss procrastinates, write up your proposed action plan and say : Dear Boss, unless I hear otherwise from you by (date), I will go ahead and..”
If your boss dumps everything on you at the last minute, show him or her your to do list. Ask what additional items will displace.
If your boss overwhelms you with work, ask him or her to prioritize tasks.
On each assignment, find out how much authority you’ve got. Once you clarify authority, carry out the project without step-by-step approval.
Ask for specific deadlines for each major segment
Number one tool that I applied and it really worked is the prime or quiet hour rule. First thing in the morning for one hour - no phone calls, no visitors, meeting - just quiet, uninterrupted work, use that hour for important tasks: planning, completing presentation or major report. That hour is blocked in my calendar so that colleagues can see that time is taken.
2. Time management values effectiveness over efficiency. Efficiency refers to how well you do something. Effectiveness testing determines whether you should be doing it at all!
3. Leave the work at the office, in my case if I know I can finish work at home, I get relaxed and not focused at work, not a good practice
4. Minimize interruptions
5. Self inflicted delay: Procrastination in my case is doing the easy or trivial first, postponing the difficult, making unrealistic time estimates.
If your boss procrastinates, write up your proposed action plan and say : Dear Boss, unless I hear otherwise from you by (date), I will go ahead and..”
If your boss dumps everything on you at the last minute, show him or her your to do list. Ask what additional items will displace.
If your boss overwhelms you with work, ask him or her to prioritize tasks.
On each assignment, find out how much authority you’ve got. Once you clarify authority, carry out the project without step-by-step approval.
Ask for specific deadlines for each major segment
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews