The most important resource in your arsenal : Your time.
"If only I had more time........I could have.... "
It's not uncommon to hear statements like, "If only I had more time........I could have.... " Does it mean, availability of more time means doing more work? No it's not assured. I cn tell any number of examples where in people have done more work in an hour than what others could have done in a week. So, where this leads to?
It leads to the point that mere availability of abundant time will not assure a proportionate increase in the quantum of output. It's your ability or strength to utilise the time in the best possible ways.
We are all endowed with 24 hours a day. In this respect God has not shown any disparity. Both a Prince and Pauper are given the same amount of time. So the number of hours at our disposal are 24 hours. They are fixed. So we have to increase our abilities to squeeze more quantum of work from these fixed hours. It's not necessarily the quantum of energy that boosts your output, but also your own flexibility and finding a slot or two which you feel are filled with unproductive activities and using these new found slots for your advantage.
For example, Unknowingly some of the time stealers creep in to our daily routine which simply gobble away our precious time.. These are known as "Time Eaters" in the Time management parlances. The secret of efficient time management is to identify such "Time Eaters", and eliminate them. And arrange them according to "Urgence" and "Importance."
Prioritize.
Once again the issues "Urgency" and :Importance" come to the fore. Human tendency is that we always attempt to handle "Urgent " jobs first, neglecting the "Important." Remember to keep all your attention and focus on "Important." Squeeze extra time from the existing time, by eliminating the time stealers. Identify the essentials and eliminate the non- essentials
Pareto Principle.
For an effect to take place, there should be a cause. Because, we know that there won't be an effect without cause. If you see smoke, there must be a fire. This is known as cause and effect rule. Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto's observation that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people in the year 1906 made this principle famous by the name Pareto. I a nutshell Pareto principle can be said hat a "few" play a vital role in bringing about a change in "Many".
It means that one should concentrate on 20 percent that matters that bringm80 percent results. In terms of Time management, its enough to work on 20 percent called "Right Things" to get a result of 80 percent. The remaining are not right things and it will be an exercise in futility to work on other things which are not "Right Things."
MultiTasking or chunking?
Many of us resort to multi tasking in order to gain time. We undertake many tasks at a time and handle them simultaneously.. Once it was a favoured way of working to beat the time. But it's no more. Chunking is the preferred way now for effective results. Its not fast, but ensures perfect results.
Chunking.
Chunking means dividing the task in to small pieces and attending the small pieces one after another. This is considered as the best way. Though its not the fastest way, it's accepted way for solid sound way for am effective way of Time management. Its systematic and easy to review the progress. And provide an opportunity to take up corrective measures in the very early stage of a task.
Extracting time from the existing time
We cannot create time. But we can find loose gaps and nudge them close to create a gap that can be utilized to our advantage.For example, the oldest and the best of getting a head start is Getting up early morning and finish off all your jobs. This gives a head start to start the day early and take up the job coolly without rushing. I know many corporate chiefs prefer this method of gaining an edge over others
Meetings are a big area to find idle gaps.
Departmental meetings should be held precisely without unnecessary agendas. Avoid ddepartmental meets unless they are very essential. Things which can be managed through a simple phone talk don't need an elaborate meeting.
Instruct your PA
to filter all the incoming phone calls when the meeting is in session. Similarly it's extremely essential to know, what are your 'Time stealers' and what are your 'Time Savers.'
Know your Time Savers.
All the people linked with you should know all about them. Time stealers like unnecessary phone call which is mainly just saying Thanks to a party or client or a well wisher that can be done through a message through your representative or PA.
Delegate-
The most vital Time management trick.
All the jobs may not need your attention. There are some jobs you don't have to do. They can be done by another person or a family member as the case may be.Give such jobs to your assistants, so that you can be on some other important jobs. By taking the bulk of the job on your shoulder you are inviting inordinate delays. Don't forget your subordinates will be too glad to take up the responsibilities of a part of the job. This creates a confidence in them. and you are preparing a second line of leadership.Be it your employees or family members, delegating power creates a feeling " We too count". And this feeling itself greatly contributes in strengthening relationships.
It will be wiser to be a miser
Would you throw away your Money? As a matter of fact nobody would throw away money. Because Money is not grown on trees. Money should be earned Pie by Pie. Obviously you understood the value of money. Can you extend the same thinking towards Time? Would you look after the Time as carefully as you look after your money. Successful people do it.
Find out, where your time goes
It is quite common in the society people do what they like and devote most of the time in doing the things they like, not on those activities which are required to be done. The famous Parker's principle owes its origin to an incident in India. An official information was sent by the head office to nits resident representative in Patna that a consignment of Road rollers was sent by rail and cautioned that the consignment has to be taken delivery on the very day of its arrival in Patna in order to avoid demurrages . The Representative made 18 rounds every day to Patna, because the cinsignment of tractors took 18 days to reach Patna.
Now say How far the activities of the resident representative are justified? . Here the required action was to delagate the job of knowing all about the arrival of the tractor consignment . But , the representative has not done the required actionbecause he wanted to do what he likes. He wanted to go the place where his wife's relatives are there. With the pretext of taking delivery of the treactor consignment he has done what he liked to do. Nevr cared to mange his time.
This is how our priceless time is being squandered.
So what's the solution?
Solution has been suggested by our own seers, not by experts from Fancy business schools of repute thousands of years ago. Kabir 's Dohas are well known to all. Each Doha is a volume of knowledge. Kabir said long ago the secret of Time management in his simple but effective Doha.
"Kaal Kare So Aaj
Aaj kare So ab." The Doha means that a job scheduled for tomorrow should be done today itself. The job meant for today should be done now. Is this not the epitome of "Time Management"?This Doha throws light on the fact that Time management is as old as hills
The biggest thief of time- Procrastination.
Situations that lead to WASTAGE OF TIME will be there always around us. They lure us. They invite us. "Come on man, take a breather. After all you have been working for the last so many days relemntlessly. And now you are on the verge of completing your task in a moment. Come on and take rest." Many fall prey to the viles of the thief procrastination and just take a wink. That's all. this small time is enough for a deluge to sweep you off. When do you finish the job ?
Be aware of procrastination. You should be a strong willed person and say No to procrastination. Remember the saying of Swami Viveknanda's quote." Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached."
Take a breather. Heave a sigh of satisfacion, but not before you trach your goal.
Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off util the dayafter tomorrow what should have been done the day before Yesterday- Napolean Hill
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